Dental Laboratory Facilities
Hard Tissue Laboratory
The hard tissue laboratory focuses on the preparation of histological sections for analysis in a variety of research programmes. Dental hard tissues are used as biomarkers for the history of exposure (exposomes) to elements such as lead, strontium, and zinc in children and our facilities are used in collaboration with the Institute of Health and Society in public health research.
Our technician has expertise in preparing histological sections for use in LA-ICP-MS (laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) for trace element and isotopic research. The facilities and equipment are also used to prepare dental tissues for dental materials research, for analysis of pathologies and in forensics.
The laboratory also supports research into dental development and evolution and is known internationally for its expert preparation of fossil material. Our facilities are used by both principal investigators and postgraduate students and attract a number of international visitors every year wishing to take advantage of our expertise in the preparation and analysis of hard tissue samples.
The Cell and Molecular Biosciences Laboratory
The cell and molecular biosciences lab is a focus for basic studies and translational research in oral and systemic disease. The lab is equipped extensively for microbiological research including unique facilities for anaerobic bacterial culture and studies of microbial biofilms. The cell culture suite supports in vitro investigations using primary human cells and model cell systems. Our fluorescence microscope suite along with our modern crysostat equipment underpins immunohistochemical investigations of normal and pathological tissue. The lab is equipped comprehensively for nucleic acid and protein analysis in support of in vitro experimentation and ex vivo analysis of mediators of human disease (eg cytokines). The labs are located in close proximity to the main Dental Hospital clinics and the Dental Clinical Research Facility which, coupled with our analytical capabilities and our substantial storage facilities, combine to enhance our translational research agenda.
In addition to providing a facility for COHR researchers, the labs have an important role in supporting undergraduate research projects, vacation scholarships, intercalating MRes projects and lab-based PhD research.
Dental Materials Laboratory
The dental materials laboratory provides a focus for the development and characterization of biomaterials. The lab is equipped with a range of instruments including a rheometer, a differential scanning calorimeter, an FTIR spectrometer, universal mechanical testers, ion selective electrodes and a microhardness tester. We have a dedicated polymer synthesis area and maintain a Human Tissue Act approved tooth bank.
The dental materials laboratory also hosts the Faculty of Medical Sciences atomic force microscope. Imaging modes include contact, AC and chemical force mapping. Specimens can be analysed either in air or under-liquid at temperatures up to 60°C. The instrument can be housed on an inverted optical microscope, which combined with a dedicated Petri dish holder allows optical images to be correlated with high-resolution AFM images from a variety of biological samples.
The dental materials laboratory plays a key part in the research of the COHR, supports the teaching and research of undergraduates and postgraduates (at MSc, MRes and PhD level) and is involved in a number of industrial collaborations.
Fluoride Lab
The fluoride lab is situated adjacent to the Dental Clinical Research Facility and is well equipped to provide F analysis of biological samples including bone, teeth, urine, saliva and plasma as well as non-biological samples including water, soils, foods, drinks and dental health products including toothpastes. The lab is known internationally for its expertise in F analysis, being a collaborative partner in a US NIH programme grant to develop gold standards in F analysis methods (Martinez-Meir et al 2011). In addition to the F analysis facilities available for externally funded project grants and MPhil and PhD research, the lab provides an excellent training facility for visiting researchers from abroad (Nigeria, Japan, Iran) as well as for dairy technicians and workers involved in the commercial production of fluoridated milks. The lab also provides a fluoride analysis service for commercially produced foods and drinks, administered through the Business Development Directorate.
