The UI College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics is a global leader in oral science and dental and craniofacial research

Dental Research with a lasting impact

At the forefront of innovation, the College of Dentistry is advancing oral health research with a mission to address both foundational and emerging challenges in dental science. Our research spans a wide range of topics, from improving patient outcomes and developing new technologies to tackling the underlying causes of oral diseases. Each study, whether in the lab or clinic, reflects our commitment to enhancing the quality of life for individuals and communities around the world.

Over the last several years, the UI College of Dentistry has more than doubled its external research funding from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), vaulting from 24th in the nation and $2.2M to 13th overall and $4.8M in the latest rankings.

8

major areas of research

# 13

nationally in NIDCR funding

$ 26M +

in funding since 2022

40 %

of DDS students participate in research

Research News

University of Iowa participants in the National Oral Health Conference 2026

Iowa Dentistry Well Represented at the 2026 National Oral Health Conference

Thursday, April 23, 2026
Faculty, students, residents, and alumni from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics had strong representation at this year’s National Oral Health Conference, which brings together leaders in dental public health from across the country.
Hongli Sun and Jacob Miszuk

Hongli Sun's research team has their work recognized as a top‑cited article

Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Research led by Hongli Sun has received national recognition for its impact in the field of biomaterials science. A paper published in the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials has been named one of the journal’s top 10 most‑cited articles published in 2024, according to the publisher Wiley.