Faculty of Health Sciences
School of Dentistry
Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Biology
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
The Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Biology has identified oral cancer as one of its main focus areas of research. Personnel are currently involved in collaborative research projects with leading national and international institutions, inter alia the Department of Tumour Biology, University of Ulm, Germany. The projects concentrate on the role virusses, especially the human papillomavirus (HPV), play in oral cancer. Contrary to several studies in other countries, preliminary data suggested that HPV do not play a role in the development of oral cancer in our community. Follow-up studies are under way to confirm the initial findings.
Contact person: Prof WFP van Heerden.
Research into bite mark analysis and the different features found in the teeth of individuals living in the province of Gauteng has resulted in the successful completion of a PhD study. It was found that dental features could be accurately measured, and their occurrence within a specific population statistically weighted. The discrimination potential between selected dental features as well as their interrelationship was also statistically analyzed. The ability to accurately and statistically analyze dental features will contribute significantly to future bite mark evidence in South African courts.
Contact person: Prof WFP van Heerden.
Another exciting developing research field is the comparative study of head and neck pathology in animals conducted in collaboration with researchers from the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences. This has already resulted in the description of new entities in veterinary literature.
Contact person: Prof WFP van Heerden.
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