An effective grant is one that “teaches a man to fish.” By rewarding excellence, the Foundation strives to continuously improve the quality of the research applications that are submitted each year and of the specialty's overall research program.
Proposals are evaluated in the spring and fall by the Research and Scientific Affairs Committee. The highest-scoring resident and faculty applicants receive a $500 prize. In 2007, the recipients of this award were Drs. Gretchen Dalrymple, John Nusstein, Hong Li and Kevin Rowland. Following are snapshots of their projects.
Researcher Aims to Begin Chair Side Testing for Antibiotic Resistance
Dr. Gretchen B. Dalrymple, University of Maryland
Spring 2007, Resident
To date, information regarding the antibiotic resistance pool in the endodontic microbiome does not exist. Dr. Gretchen B. Dalrymple, a second-year resident at the University of Maryland , is in the final stages of a project designed to investigate the microorganisms that possess antibiotic-resistant virulent genes. The study group was comprised of patients with primary or persistent infections with a focus on the occurrence of three specific antibiotic-resistant genes; penicillin-resistant, tetracydine-resistant and vacomycin-resistant.
With the results of this research Dr. Dalrymple hopes that “dental professionals will begin to screen patients chair side for certain DNA strands that are nonresponsive to antibiotics,” which would ultimately lead to “prescribing more proper antibiotics for the patients.”
View the original research proposal. You can also find out more about the results of Dr. Dalrymple's research at the 2008 Annual Session on Friday, April 11, during her oral research presentation at 11:30 a.m. in Room 14 of the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre.
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Ultrasonic Irrigation and Pain Management
 Dr. John M. Nusstein, Ohio State University
Spring 2007, Faculty
In the late 1980s, Drs. Lev, Goodman, Haidet and Archer studied the use of ultrasonics to help in cleaning root canals. Based on this study, researchers at Ohio State University developed a new irrigating protocol involving the use of ultrasonic irrigation. As the preliminary results were presented many questions arose including—would the use of ultrasonic irrigation cause an increase in intra- and postoperative pain due to the amount of energy used during the irrigation process? Dr. John M. Nusstein developed a study aimed to answer this question.
Dr. Nusstein explained what practical implications and achievements he hopes will come out of this ongoing study. “We are hoping that the foundation we have laid on the benefits of ultrasonic irrigation in removing vital and necrotic tissue, smear layer and bacteria will lead to a commercial product that would be available for use by all endodontists. Our initial studies have given very positive results so far. We [are] hoping that the use of ultrasonic irrigation would be no different than traditional irrigation in terms of intraoperative and postoperative discomfort. Our results have shown that no difference exists.”
View Dr. Nusstein's original proposal.
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Beyond Bacteria—Could Viruses Play a Role in Endodontic Infection?
 Dr. Hong Li, Oregon Health & Science University
Fall 2007, Resident
“Why are some endodontic treatments not working and are microbes other than bacteria involved in endodontic infection?” Dr. J. Craig Baumgartner, chair of the department of endodontology at Oregon Health & Science University enlisted Dr. Hong Li to help find the answer to this question. While most researchers focus on bacteria, Drs. Baumgartner and Li realized it was time to think about other causes, specifically the relatively unknown relationship between viruses and endodontic infection.
Dr. Li's preliminary study of the relationship between the herpes virus and endodontic infection will investigate the disease process. Her work may establish a positive correlation with the herpes virus (human cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and herpes simplex virus) and the symptoms or severity of the disease. If she is correct in her theory, she will then go on to study the mechanism of this relationship, which could ultimately lead to antiviral therapy in endodontic treatment.
View Dr. Li's original proposal.
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Getting to the Root of Cold Sensitivity
 Dr. Kevin Rowland, Southern Illinois University
Fall 2007, Faculty
Dr. Kevin Rowland and his diverse team of researchers (an anatomist, endodontist and pharmacologist) at Southern Illinois University will spend the next several months investigating Transient Receptor Potential (TRP, pronounced “trip”) channels. TRP channels are essentially little pores in the nerves that innervate our teeth. These channels are responsive to changes in temperature and cold sensitivity. The lab at SIU focuses primarily on pain mechanisms and Dr. Rowland himself says that he is most interested in “how we perceive our world and how we perceive the feeling of cold especially during pulpal pathology.”
The study will look for two different types of activity after a tooth injury; an increased ionic flow through the TRP channels and/or an increased number of TRP channels. By doing this research, Dr. Rowland hopes to “understand how cold sensitivity or cold allodynia increases” which could ultimately be used in the production of pharmaceuticals that would potentially block or alleviate cold channels.
View Dr. Rowland's original research proposal.
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