Cruzan Center for Dental Research

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UNMC College of Dentistry Cruzan Center for Dental Research

The college has experienced substantial growth in research since the opening of the Cruzan Center for Dental Research in 1998, made possible due to the generosity of Dr. and Mrs. Winston V. Cruzan. Dr. Cruzan was a 1938 graduate of the College of Dentistry. The center was established to conduct well-designed clinical trials and clinical studies, and receives funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), private foundations and industry. 

The clinical research faculty and staff perform a broad spectrum of well-executed studies in dental, oral and craniofacial research, including clinical trials and studies on local delivery of antibiotics and host modulation to treat periodontal disease (periodontitis), local anesthesia, toothbrushes, toothpastes, mouthwashes and dental materials.

The clinical research facility houses four large dental operatories, a reception area, data entry/storage center, preparation laboratory and conference space. To obtain additional information regarding the Cruzan Center for Dental Research, please contact Dr. Peter J. Giannini.

Clinical Research

A clinical trial is a form of clinical research that seeks to evaluate the risks and benefits of a drug, device or other types of treatment. Clinical trials in dentistry are conducted to find better ways to prevent, diagnose or treat oral conditions such as dental decay, periodontal disease or the oral side effects of systemic diseases such as dry mouth. Clinical trials and studies conducted by our researchers have been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), private foundations and industry.

Clinical trials and studies conducted by our researchers have been funded by both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and industry.

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR/NIH) Sponsored Research 

Wayne B. Kaldahl, DDS
Four Modalities of Periodontal Therapy

Richard A. Reinhardt, DDS, PhD & Jeffrey B. Payne, DDS, M Dent Sc
Estrogen and Cytokine Effects on Periodontitis
Low-Dose Doxycycline Effects on Osteopenic Bone Loss

Richard A. Reinhardt, DDS, PhD
Lymphocyte Subpopulations in Periodontal Tissues

Jeffrey B. Payne, DDS, M Dent Sc
LPS-Monocyte Interactions in Periodontal Disease

Industry/Foundation Funded Research 

Dr. Thyagaseely Premaraj and Dr. Sundaralingam Premaraj
Title: Shift in Species Composition of Supra gingival Microbiome as a Risk factor in Dental Caries – a comparative study with braces/Invisalign® treatment
Funding agency: Align Technology

Dr. Mark Beatty
Title: Viscoelastic Properties of Human Facial Skin
Funding Agency: Veterans Administration Rehabilitation R & D

Dr. Ted Mikuls (UNMC College of Medicine) and Dr. Jeffrey Payne
Title: Periodontal Disease and P. gingivalis in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Funding Agency: American College of Rheumatology Research and Education Foundation

Dr. Julie Stoner (University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center) and Dr. Jeffrey Payne
Title: Examining Multilevel Associations in Dental Research
Funding Agency: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIH) 

Dr. Amy Killeen and Dr. Richard Reinhardt
Title: Local Minocycline to Reduce Future Inflammation and Bone Loss in Periodontal Maintenance Patients
Funding Agency: DH Reinhardt Scholar Fund, Nebraska Dental Association (NDA) Foundation Grant, Dr. Mick and Mary Dragoo through the NU Foundation’s Periodontal Development Fund 

Richard A. Reinhardt, DDS, PhD, Caren M. Barnes, RDH, MS and Gerald J. Tussing, DDS, MSD
Long Term Open Label Multicenter Phase 3 Trial of the Safety and Efficiency of Minocycline Periodontal Therapeutic System (Minocycline PTS) Adjunctive Use in Patients with Adult Periodontitis

Jeffrey B. Payne, DDS, M Dent Sc and Richard A. Reinhardt, DDS, PhD
Effect of Smokeless Tobacco on Inflammatory Mediators

Richard A. Reinhardt, DDS, PhD and Thomas M. Petro, PhD
Immune Responses in Type 1 Diabetic Periodontitis

Richard A. Reinhardt, DDS, PhD and J. Bruce Bavitz, DMD
Local Anesthetics For Dental Procedures

Jeffrey B. Payne, DDS, M Dent Sc and Richard A. Reinhardt, DDS, PhD
Effect of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs on Oral Mucosal Lesions

David L. Hoffman, DDS and Wayne B. Kaldahl, DDS
The Effects of Periodontal Therapy in Private Practice on Glycosylated Hemoglobin Levels of Diabetic Patients

Caren M. Barnes, RDH, MS, Richard A. Reinhardt, DDS, PhD, Gwen L. Hlava, RDH, MS and Trudy Meinberg, RDH, MS
A Comparison of the Safety and Efficacy of a High-speed Powered Toothbrush and a Manual Toothbrush Affecting Plaque Accumulation and Gingival Bleeding

Caren M. Barnes, RDH, MS, Richard A. Reinhardt, DDS, PhD, Gwen L. Hlava, RDH, MS and Michelle Sensat, RDH, MS
A Comparison of the Safety and Efficacy of a Powered Toothbrush and a Manual Toothbrush Affecting Plaque Accumulation and Gingival Bleeding

Caren M. Barnes, RDH, MS

  • Comparison of Four Commercially Available Toothbrushes
  • Comparison of Plaque Removal/Gingivitis Reduction Efficacy of Six Toothbrushes After Three Months of Normal Usage
  • Comparison of the Antiplaque and Antigingivitis Effectiveness and Gingival Abrasiveness of Four Experimental Toothbrushes After Three Months of Normal Usage
  • Comparison of Three Marketed Toothbrushes in Controlling Plaque Accumulation and Gingivitis Severity Following Twelve Weeks Usage
  • Comparison of the Efficacy of an Electromechanical Flossing Device and Manual Flossing in Affecting Interproximal Gingival Bleeding and Plaque Accumulation
  • Comparison of the Efficacy of a Powered Toothbrush in Affecting Plaque Accumulation and Gingival Bleeding
  • Clinical Evaluation of the Prophy-Jet
  • A Clinical Comparison of Piezoelectric and Magnetostrictive Ultrasonic Scalers
  • Effects of an Air-powder Polishing System on Orthodontically Banded and Bracketed Teeth
  • Comparison of Five Commercially Available Disposable Prophylaxis Angles
  • An Evaluation of Disposable Prophylaxis Angles
  • Evaluation of a Plastic Prophylaxis Polishing Cup Compared to a Conventional Natural Latex Prophylaxis Polishing Cup
  • A Clinical Study to Compare the Plaque Removal/Gingivitis Reduction Efficacy of Six Toothbrushes After 3 Months Normal Usage
  • Effect of Frequent Daily Use of Microdent-Containing, Sorbitol Based “Sugar-Free," Breathmints In Reducing Dental Plaque Accumulation
  • One-Time Use Cross-Over Clinical Study to Compare the Cleaning or Plaque Removal Effectiveness of Two Commercial Toothbrushes
  • A Comparative Evaluation of Three Marketed Toothbrushes in Controlling Plaque Accumulation and Gingivitis Severity
  • Passive Immunization Against Streptococcus mutans Mediated Dental Plaque Formation in Humans
  • A Clinical Comparison of the Efficacy of an Electromechanical Flossing Device or Manual Flossing in Affecting Interproximal Gingival Bleeding and Plaque Accumulation
  • A Comparison of the Sensonic Plaque Removal Instrument and A Manual Toothbrush in Affecting Gingivitis and Plaque Accumulation
  • An Evaluation of IPE Mouth rinse to Affect Plaque Prevention and Plaque Reduction
  • A Comparison of the Efficacy of a Rowenta Powered Toothbrush (MH700) and the Oral B Braun Powered Toothbrush in Affecting Plaque Accumulation and Gingival Bleeding

Caren M. Barnes, RDH, MS, Richard A. Reinhardt, DDS, PhD, Gwen L. Hlava, RDH, MS and Michelle Sensat, RDH, MS

  • A Clinical Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Plastic Prophylaxis Polishing Cup Compared to a Conventional Natural Latex Prophylaxis Polishing Cup
  • The Effects of Aluminum Trihydroxide Airpolishing Powder on Dental Restorative Materials and Enamel
  • A Comparison of a Waterpik Double-Motor Powered Toothbrush and a Manual toothbrush in Affecting Interproximal Bleeding Reduction and Plaque Accumulation
  • An Examination of the Effect of the Sonicare Powered Toothbrush on Salivary Flow on Patients With Xerostomia Secondary to Head and Neck Radiation Therapy
  • A Comparison Of Irrigation To Floss As An Adjunct To Tooth brushing: Effect On Bleeding, Gingivitis and Supragingival Plaque
  • The Effects of NUCare Root Conditioner on Gingival Healing

Caren M. Barnes, RDH, MS, Richard A. Reinhardt, DDS, PhD, Gwen L. Hlava, RDH, MS and Trudy Meinberg, RDH, MS
A Comparison of the Safety and Efficacy of a Rowenta High Speed Powered Toothbrush, the MH700 Powered Toothbrush and a Manual Toothbrush Affecting Plaque Accumulation and Gingival Bleeding

Gordon Mahanna, DDS, MS and Caren M. Barnes, RDH, MS

  • A Randomized, Investigator-Masked, Multicenter Study to Compare the Safety and Efficacy of Nystatin Oral Suspension and Nystatin Frozen Oral Suspension in the Treatment of Patients with Oral Candidiasis
  • A Phase III, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Cevimeline in the Treatment of Xerostomia Secondary to Radiation Therapy for Cancer in the Head and Neck Region

Sponsors of these studies have included:

  • American Academy of Periodontology Foundation
  • Church and Dwight Co., Inc.
  • Daiichi Pharmaceuticals
  • Dentsply
  • Dominic J. Biondi Associates Inc.
  • IBAH, Inc.
  • Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
  • Oral B/Braun
  • PharmaNet, Inc.
  • Procter and Gamble
  • Rowenta
  • Skyvision, Inc.
  • Smokeless Tobacco Research Council
  • Sunstar Butler
  • Teledyne Water Pik
  • White Hill Oral Technologies
  • Young Dental Mfg., Co.