Oral Health Research Group

One of the major societal challenges is to increase the awareness of oral health as an integral part of general health and well-being. The Department of Clinical Dentistry aims to promote positive attitude and behavior toward a better oral health, especially in the north of Norway. The research activities at the Department of Clinical Dentistry focuses on oral health communication, behavioural dentistry, preclinical and clinical research, especially in domains related the knowledge and practices of graduating European dentists on the prevention and management of oral diseases, including oral infections.

Main goals

The main goals of the research group are summarized in two pillers as follows:

Research on dental public health, oral health communication, oral health psychology and behavioural dentistry

The overarching thematic focus of research has been communication related to health topics, both in terms of communication between dental health professionals and patients and between patients. The research conducted include aspects related to communication, oral health illiteracy and the relationship between stakeholders in the context of healthcare. A substantial part of research activities has investigated the phenomenon of dental anxiety. Most recently the department has also taken interests in how attitudes and psychological phenomena among dental health professionals are related to their clinical practice and life in general, for instance how mentalization capabilities among dentists and dental students impact their perception of clinical encounters and quality of life.

Research on preclinical, clinical and experimental dentistry

The group is conducting research on oral biomaterials, oral microbiome, evidence-based practice, and identification of clinical and molecular biomarkers for future oral disease risk assessment. The group aims to use clinical data obtained from large epidemiological studies conducted in the north of Norway (for example, Fitfuture and Tromsø Study 7) to map the oral health status among the population in Norway, primary in the north of Norway, for a better prevention and evidence-based approach to deliver high quality oral health services. The research output aims also to emphasis the role of dental health professionals in Norway and elsewhere to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics by advocating for responsible use of antibiotics in the community.

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RESEARCH GROUP MEMBERS

Mohammed Al-HaroniProfessor, Head of Department of Clinical Dentistry (Group leader)

Jan-Are Kolset JohnsenProfessor / Oral Health Psychology

Asbjørn JokstadProfessor, Oral Prosthetics and Stomatognathic Function

Aida Gacic MulicProfessor

Sigbjørn LøesProfessor

Paula Hanna Therese FridAssociate Professor

Bo Wold NilsenAssociate Professor

Anne Margrete GussgardAssociate Professor, DDS, MSc, PhD, Diplomate of The American Board of Periodontology

Linda SteinAssociate Professor Dental Public Health

Gro Eirin HoldeAssociate professor

Rania Al-MahdiAssociate Professor

Andreas SchmalfussAssociate professor

Anca VirtejAssociate professor / endodontics

Main goals

RESEARCH GROUP MEMBERS

Mohammed Al-Haroni – Professor, Head of Department of Clinical Dentistry

Jan-Are Kolset Johnsen – Professor / Oral Health Psychology

Asbjørn Jokstad – Professor, Oral Prosthetics and Stomatognathic Function

Aida Gacic Mulic – Professor

Sigbjørn Løes – Professor

Paula Hanna Therese Frid – Associate Professor

Bo Wold Nilsen – Associate Professor

Anne Margrete Gussgard – Associate Professor, DDS, MSc, PhD, Diplomate of The American Board of Periodontology

Linda Stein – Associate Professor Dental Public Health

Gro Eirin Holde – Associate professor

Rania Al-Mahdi – Associate Professor

Andreas Schmalfuss – Associate professor

Anca Virtej – Associate professor / endodontics