Understanding Facial Pain and Jaw Bone Changes
Trigeminal nociceptors: Neural intersection of chronic pain and alveolar bone remodeling
This research explores how specific nerves in your face contribute to long-lasting pain and also influence the health and changes in your jawbone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11121058 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our faces and mouths are full of nerves that sense pain, called nociceptors, which send signals to the brain when there's harm. These same nerves also play a vital role in keeping our tissues healthy and functioning normally. When these pain-sensing nerves become dysfunctional due to injury or infection, they can lead to persistent chronic pain and abnormal changes in tissues, such as the jawbone. This project focuses on understanding how these trigeminal nerves contribute to both chronic facial pain and the way our jawbones remodel. We aim to discover if silencing these pain nerves can reduce pain and reverse brain changes, and also how they influence jawbone health during conditions like gum infections or orthodontic forces.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who experience chronic facial pain or have conditions affecting their jawbone, especially those involving nerve function, might find this research relevant.
Not a fit: Patients whose pain or bone issues are not connected to the trigeminal nerve system or its specific regulatory processes may not directly benefit from this particular research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments for chronic facial pain and better ways to manage or prevent jawbone problems.
How similar studies have performed: While previous work has explored aspects of craniofacial pain and bone biology, this project uniquely combines the study of nerve function in both chronic pain and jawbone remodeling.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- University of Maryland Baltimore — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chung, Man-Kyo — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Chung, Man-Kyo
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.