Understanding how sublingual buprenorphine affects oral health in adults with opioid use disorder
Official title: Understanding the Association between Sublingual Buprenorphine and Oral Health Outcomes
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-11394629 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores whether taking sublingual buprenorphine for opioid use disorder can change the mouth’s health, and what that means for people who rely on this treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $611,983 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE033318-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394629 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with opioid use disorder who are treated with sublingual buprenorphine.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not on SL buprenorphine or without OUD are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
If you have opioid use disorder, this project looks at how a common medication, sublingual buprenorphine, might influence oral health over time. Researchers will collect and analyze oral health data and microbiome information to see if changes in saliva, pH, or bacteria are linked to mouth disease in adults on this medication. The study uses advanced data methods to understand progression and risk, aiming to guide future care and recommendations. The goal is to identify mechanisms and potential interventions to prevent oral complications for patients using SL buprenorphine.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could lead to better oral health guidance and interventions for people taking SL buprenorphine.
How similar studies have gone: Previous reports suggested links between SL buprenorphine and oral disease, but with limited causal evidence; this study plans to clarify progression and mechanism.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rojas Ramirez, Marcia Vanessa — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Rojas Ramirez, Marcia Vanessa
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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.