Oral and Systemic Diseases

The Oral Health CRC's research in this area aims to evaluate Australia's oral health problems, as well as the links between oral health and systemic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, pre-term and underweight birth and certain cancers.

The information discovered by the Oral Health CRC will assist Government to set oral health policy, and improve communication with "at risk" groups.

Three main projects have been established:

• Oral disease epidemiology
• Oral and systemic diseases
• Microbiome and biomarkers

Oral disease epidemiology

This project aims to expand current knowledge of oral health status and related behaviours, quality of life and the patterns of use of oral care services among groups of Australians.

This project will produce an information tool to enable better understanding of oral health demographics, with a focus on addressing the current health inequalities across children, the elderly, and rural and indigenous communities.

Oral and systemic diseases

There is emerging scientific evidence which show associations between oral health and systemic diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, pre-term and low weight births, Alzheimer's disease, cancers, respiratory diseases and rheumatoid arthritis.

This project aims to increase understanding of the links between oral health and systemic diseases by adding to the knowledge base on genes, proteins, peptides, metabolites and bacterial species associated with major oral health conditions.

Microbiome and biomarkers

This project aims to obtain information on the microbiological and molecular biomarkers of oral and systemic diseases. By identifying molecules which are associated with disease, Oral Health CRC researchers plan to develop a multiplex diagnostic test allowing early detection and better treatment of diseases.