'Biodontics' Promotes Biotechnology to Dentists; University of Connecticut Dental School Faculty Member Creates New Dental Specialty.

Byline: U. Conn. Health Center

FARMINGTON, Ct., Sept. 5 (AScribe Newswire) -- When the federal government wanted to know what could be done to move biotechnology more efficiently from scientists and inventors to dental practitioners, University of Connecticut dental school faculty member Dr. Edward Rossomando suggested Biodontics.

An emerging dental specialty, Biodontics, was conceptualized, developed and refined by Rossomando, a professor of Biostructure and Function. Biodontics applies molecular biology and biotechnology to clinical dentistry, or put another way, biodontics will train dental students, dental residents and dental school faculty in the best use of biotechnology to improve the oral health of the public.

Officials at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, a branch of the National Institutes of Health, were intrigued with the idea and awarded Rossomando a one-of-a-kind, two-year, $322,000 grant to bring the concept to educational reality. The vehicle is an innovative educational program to introduce the entrepreneurial process to dental students, faculty and practitioners.

The thinking reflects some research Rossomando did and posits: If dentists are made familiar with what happens from the time an idea occurs to when it is patented, licensed, manufactured, tested, approved and finally marketed, the acceptance of new products into dental practice will be enhanced.

"I was pleased when the NIDCR sponsored the research into Biodontics," Rossomando said. "I was particularly gratified when they funded the operational aspects of the program."

"Not only does the grant allow us to continue this work," he said, "but it puts the UConn dental school in the forefront of the effort to introduce biotechnology to clinical dentistry. It's very exciting."