Oral and craniofacial development research group
Research group information
Unit and faculty
Contact information
Research group leader
- ProfessorPertti Pirttiniemi
Research group description
A major focus on studies is on NFBC-studies on tooth eruption, facial pain, lip morphology and aesthetics, occlusion and facial soft tissue characteristics.
Study project KVANTTI on individuals with sex chromosome abnormalities looking for the effect of X and Y chromosome genes on tooth morphology and size.
Development of the occlusion is one main target of research. Abnormal eruption pattern of the permanent canine and other developmental abnormalities of the dentition are key point of interest.
The series of studies is aimed to increase knowledge of 3D craniofacial normal and aberrant growth. A RCT “ Newborn head molding and later asymmetries in 3D head shape modelling” project assess head size, head shape and cervical movements with special interest in asymmetries and changes in those during childhood after preterm and term birth in Finnish population. The special emphasis in the clinical randomized intervention is on preventing craniofacial asymmetries and functional cervical impairment between infancy and school age.
Clinical randomized studies are conducted on orthodontic treatment timing and the effectiveness of the treatment.
The Genetic Background of Nonsyndromic Orofacial Clefts -study aims to identify genes predisposing to orofacial clefts. The subclinical phenotypic features in unaffected cleft family members are used to improve the power of genetic studies.
The other studies aim to find the effect of genetic and environmental factors on facial 3D development by using twin study in a Lithuanian genetic cohort population and in Finnish orthognathic patient population.
The long term outcome target is to circumvent adverse consequences of early dental development and cranial asymmetries during growth. The most highlighted aspect in this trial is the involvement in emphasizing the use of a new 3 D–digital surface imaging innovatively in early asymmetry diagnostics.
Better understanding about the association between genetic and phenotypic factors will lead to more accurate diagnostics, and, ultimately, to better understanding of dental and craniofacial development.
- Prof. Stephen Richmond, Cardiff University, UK
- Chin-To Fong, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
- Prof. Chung H. Kau, University of Alabama, Birmingham, USA
- Prof. Ilga Urtane, Riga Stradis University, Latvia
- Prof. Antanas Sidlauskas, Kaunas Medical University, Lithuania
- Prof. Alan Brook, University of Adelaide, Australia
- Associate Professor Huang Hechang, Stony Brook University, NY, USA