Core Research Area
The University of Iowa College of Dentistry is a worldwide and national leader in dental public health. Within this broader field, research focuses on barriers preventing (and related supports for) underserved populations including low-income children, older adults, and persons with special needs due to developmental disabilities or medical illnesses. Researchers also study environmental and dietary effects on oral health through longitudinal studies.
Robert Bowers
Assistant Professor
Dan Caplan
PhD, Professor
Peter Damiano
MPH, Bernstein Endowed Professor
Dharini van der Hoeven
PhD, Associate Professor, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs
David Johnsen
MS, Professor, Dean Emeritus
Jennifer Sukalski
PhD, Assistant Professor
Brendan Young
PhD, Associate Professor
John Warren
MS, Professor
Steve Levy
MPH, Wright-Bush-Shreves Endowed Professor
Mike Kanellis
MS, Professor
Teresa Marshall
PhD, Professor
Michelle McQuistan
MS, Associate Professor
Karin Weber-Gasparoni
PhD, DEO, Pediatric Dentistry
Updates
Fluoride Skepticism in Focus: Alex Harper’s Research on Attitudes about Fluoride Use
Friday, February 7, 2025
As debates surrounding fluoride gain attention across the U.S., a dental student from the University of Iowa is tackling the issue head-on. Alex Harper, a fourth-year dental student, is investigating attitudes about fluoride and tap water. As misinformation erodes trust in science, Harper’s research provides timely insights into public perceptions and oral health behaviors.
Iowa Dentistry Contributes to Groundbreaking Research Aimed at Reducing Childhood Tooth Decay
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Iowa Dentistry played a significant role in a major clinical trial funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) that has yielded promising results in the fight against childhood tooth decay.
NIH awards dental faculty a grant to investigate the impact of adult Medicaid coverage on children
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Julie Reynolds, assistant professor in the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, received a $300,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to study changes in Medicaid adult dental coverage and impact that these changes have on children's access to care.
NIH awards subcontract to Iowa Dentistry researchers
Thursday, June 15, 2023
The University of Iowa was one of four research institutions, along with Michigan, Duke, and Indiana, collaborating on a newly-funded National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)/ National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant investigating the causes and implications of adolescent tooth decay, especially among underserved populations.
New Frontiers in Teledentistry
Thursday, April 20, 2023
A team of University of Iowa oral health researchers and dental providers at the Community Health Centers of Southeastern Iowa teamed up to deliver and assess the effectiveness of teledentistry in a nursing home setting.
NIH awards grant to Iowa dental faculty
Thursday, August 25, 2022
The National Institutes of Health awarded Steven Levy and his research team a $325K grant to identify factors that are associated with improved oral health-related quality of life through early adulthood among those who participated in the Iowa Fluoride Study. This is the first study that will make predictions about oral-health related quality of life based on longitudinal data.
NIH awards Semprini Training Grant for Oral Cancer Project
Thursday, June 16, 2022
Jason Semprini, a T90 trainee in Iowa Institute of Oral Health Research and a Ph.D. student in the College of Public Health, was awarded a F31 grant—a training grant for mentored dissertation research for his project, Evaluating the Impact of Medicaid Dental Coverage on Early-Stage Oral Cancer Detection.
Improving Dental Outcomes for Underserved Populations
Thursday, December 16, 2021
After working as a dental hygienist for several years, PhD candidate Jennifer Sukalski began pursuing health disparities research on access and use of dental care in Iowa. Her research looks at barriers to dental care in a holistic manner taking into account perceived social status.
Incorporating Dental Care into Palliative Care
Thursday, December 9, 2021
Palliative care is a specialized form of health care that attempts to meet the needs of the whole patient, taking into account each patient’s values and goals to make informed decisions about managing pain and treatments. Xi Chen is bringing insights about palliative care to dentistry, focusing on improving oral health awareness, relieving pain, and helping a patient live as well as possible for the rest of their life.
Patient-Centered Dental Home, Dental Quality Indicators Clearinghouse Release
Thursday, December 9, 2021
The University of Iowa Public Policy Center's Patient-Centered Dental Home project is designed to improve the organization and delivery of dental care in a variety of care settings and in an integrated manner with other health care services. As part of this project, the PPC developed an interactive, online PCDH Clearinghouse of approximately 500 oral health quality measures and standards, which is now available.