Research Priorities
Diabetic Dental Technology Group (DDTG) at the Afsar Biomaterials Research Lab is proud to present the "Impact of Diabetes on Dentin Mineralization."
Diabetes mellitus (DM) can have an impact on dentin's physical and mechanical properties, potentially affecting most dental treatments. Dentin is a yellowish, mineralized tissue that supports the enamel and encloses the pulp chamber. It is composed of 60% inorganic apatite and 40% fibrillar protein collagen arranged in tubular structures oriented from the pulp chamber to the enamel and cementum boundaries. Despite its importance in dental treatments, only a few studies have explored the impact of systemic diseases like diabetes on dentin quality.
There is currently no understanding of why dental treatments for diabetic patients fail more quickly than usual. Recent research by DDTG suggests that individuals with diabetes have altered levels of inorganic trace elements, which negatively impact the quality of dentin mineralization. DDTG has two primary goals:
To understand the impact of systemic diseases such as DM on the quantity of inorganic trace elements and its mechanism of action, which directly affects the quality of dentin apatite.
To study innovative biomaterials to improve the longevity of oral treatments for diabetic patients. Currently, clinicians provide the same standard of care for diabetic patients despite their compromised tooth properties.
By achieving these goals, DDTG aims to raise awareness among the research community, educators, and clinicians about new technology and its implementation through continuing education programs.
Thank you again for your interest. Here is a list of the publications we have on this topic:
Saghiri MA, Karamifar K, Fakharzadeh A, Conte M, Morgano SM. Effect of diabetes on tubular density and push-out bond strength of mineral trioxide aggregate to dentin. Journal of Endodontics. 2020 Nov 1;46(11):1584-91.
Saghiri MA, Aminsobhani M, Gutmann JL, Kawai T, Nath D, Hirschberg C. Effect of diabetes on rotary instrumentation of dentin. Journal of Endodontics. 2021 Aug 1;47(8):1301-7.
Saghiri MA, Tang CK, Nath D. Downstream effects from diabetes mellitus affected on various tooth tissues: A mini review: Effects of Diabetes on Tooth Structure. Dentistry Review. 2021 Dec 1;1(1):100002.
Saghiri MA, Obeidi A, Nath D, Morgano SM. The effect of diabetes mellitus on the shear bond strength of composite resin to dentin and enamel. Odontology. 2022 Jan;110(1):92-8.
Saghiri MA, Nath D, Rahmani B, Amini S, Karamifar K, Peters OA. The effect of diabetes on Fracture Resistance of Teeth: An in vitro study. Australian Endodontic Journal. 2021 Dec;47(3):499-505.
Saghiri MA, Freag P, Nath D, Morgano SM. The effect of diabetes on the tensile bond strength of a restorative dental composite to dentin. Odontology. 2022 Mar 4:1-7.
Saghiri MA, Rahmani B, Conte M, Nath D, Peters O, Morgano S. Diabetes Mellitus affects the microhardness of root dentine: An in-vitro study. European Endodontic Journal. 2022.
Saghiri MA, Sheibani N, Kawai T, Nath D, Dadvand S, Amini SB, Vakhnovetsky J, Morgano SM. Diabetes negatively affects tooth enamel and dentine microhardness: An in-vivo study. Archives of Oral Biology. 2022 Jul 1;139:105434.
Saghiri MA, Vakhnovetsky J, Vakhnovetsky A, Ghobrial M, Nath D, Morgano SM. Functional role of inorganic trace elements in dentin apatite tissue—Part 1: Mg, Sr, Zn, and Fe. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. 2022 Jan 15:126932.
Saghiri MA, Vakhnovetsky J, Vakhnovetsky A. Functional Role of Inorganic Trace Elements in Dentin Apatite—Part II: Copper, Manganese, Silicon, and Lithium. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. 2022 May 7:126995.
Saghiri MA, Vakhnovetsky J, Vakhnovetsky A, Morgano SM. Functional Role of Inorganic Trace Elements in Dentin Apatite Tissue—Part III: Se, F, Ag, and B. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. 2022 May 4:126990.
The Diabetic Dental Technology Group (DDTG) at the Afsar Biomaterials Research Lab is proud to announce their work in the field of detecting systemic diseases through the voice.
Xerostomia, also known as dry mouth, is a condition characterized by decreased salivary flow. There is limited research on using voice analysis to detect xerostomia, but some studies have suggested that certain vocal parameters, such as jitter and shimmer, may be altered in individuals with xerostomia. However, the evidence is not yet strong enough to establish voice analysis as a reliable and accurate means of detecting xerostomia, and further research is needed to validate these findings. Currently, xerostomia is typically diagnosed through a clinical examination and patient self-report of symptoms. The voice should not be used as a sole means of diagnosing xerostomia, and individuals with concerns about their health should always consult a medical professional. The Diabetic Dental Technology Group (DDTG) at the Afsar Biomaterials Research Lab is pioneering the use of voice analysis for the early detection of systemic diseases, including xerostomia, Parkinson's, depression, and diabetes. Although there is limited research in this area, some studies have shown promise in using vocal parameters such as jitter, shimmer, pitch, formants, and spectral features to detect these conditions. However, it is important to emphasize that voice analysis should never be used as a standalone diagnostic tool and should always be combined with other diagnostic methods, such as clinical examination, patient self-report, and traditional medical tests.
DDTG recognizes the potential of this cutting-edge technology and is committed to advancing the field by conducting further research to validate the findings and improve the reliability and accuracy of voice analysis in detecting systemic diseases. In addition, the group aims to educate and raise awareness among the research community, educators, and clinicians about the potential benefits and implementation of this technology through continuing education programs.
Thank you again for your interest. Here is a list of the publications we have on this topic:
Saghiri, M.A., Vakhnovetsky, Θ.A. and Vakhnovetsky, Θ.J., 2022. Scoping review of the relationship between diabetes and voice quality. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, p.109782.
Vahdati, M., Gholizadeh HamlAbadi, K., & Saghiri, A. M. (2021). IoT-Based healthcare monitoring using blockchain. Applications of Blockchain in Healthcare, 141-170.
Saghiri, M.A., Tang, C.K., Saghiri, A.M. and Samadi, E., 2023. A mini-review of pathological voice recognition. Advances in Human Biology, 13(1), p.17.
Project Collaborators:
Professor Celia Stewart is a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders at NYU: Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. She provides classes in Voice Disorders, Interdisciplinary Habilitation of the Speaking Voice, and Motor Speech Disorders. She maintains a small private practice that specializes in the care of the professional voice, transgender voice modification, neurogenic voice disorders, and dysphagia. She has published in the areas of spasmodic dysphonia, transgender voice, dysphagia, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease. She is an invited, international speaker performing workshops in Belgium, Greece, Sweden, Canada, and the United States. Dr. Stewart coauthored the recently published Voice Rehabilitation: Testing Hypotheses and Reframing Therapy
Dr. Behroozmand is an Associate Professor of Communication Disorders (COMD) and the Director of Speech Neuroscience Lab in the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina. He has background in Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience and his research is focused on investigating the neural bases of speech production and motor control in the human brain. Dr. Behroozmand's lab utilizes a wide range of techniques including electrophysiology (EEG, ERP, ECoG), functional neuroimaging (fMRI) and high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) to study sensory-motor mechanisms of speech in healthy individuals and patients with neurological disorders. The ultimate goal of this research is to gain knowledge that can be translated into the development of novel diagnosis and clinical treatment methods to enhance speech communication and improve quality of life in patients with speech disorders.
Diabetic Dental Technology Group (DDTG) at the Afsar Biomaterials Research Lab is proud to present the "Impact of Diabetes on Dentin Mineralization."
The Lab aims to:
Enable fabrication and characterization of novel biomaterials-related technologies
Provide unique, cutting-edge resources to students at all levels so they may pursue their biomaterials-related research and innovation interests
Stimulate interdisciplinary collaborative research by providing core biomaterial facilities to Rutgers University, industry and other inter-institutional partners
Train individuals and foster education in biomaterials fabrication and characterization techniques for professional and scientific development
Gain knowledge of the compositional and microstructural features of preventive and restorative dental materials
Further explore concepts of biocompatibility
Apply definitions and applications of the mechanical and physical properties of dental biomaterials
Explore principles of materials science as relate to dentistry
Educate on such topics as proper manipulation and application of dental materials
Analyze material and structural defects relevant to clinical failure of dental restorations and prostheses
Investigate criteria for selecting materials for patient-centered clinical practice
The Bio/Nano Dental Materials & Devices Lab is also a regular recipient of federal grants. Example of NIH funded projects include NR21 -24560293