National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).

The NIDCR encourages studies that investigate mind-body interactions with regard to oral and craniofacial diseases/disorders and dental treatments. Examples include, but are not limited to, studies of the effects of beliefs, affective states, or stress on the immune system as related to the onset, progression, or treatment of oral diseases or conditions such as periodontal diseases, caries, head and neck cancers, temporomandibular joint and/or muscle disorders, herpetic and aphthous lesions, oral manifestations of HIV infection, or oral mucosal wound healing following oral surgery. Studies identifying linkages between changes in orofacial appearance or function and psychosocial outcomes are also of interest, as are studies of the psychosocial impacts of acquired or congenital craniofacial conditions (e.g., cleft lip/palate) or studies of the range of psychosocial impacts associated with head/neck cancers and ablative or other treatments. The NIDCR also encourages studies that integrate oral biomarkers into the evaluation of effects of stress management or offer therapeutic interventions. Changes in salivary composition and flow are examples of oral biomarkers shown to be relevant to stress and its physiological impact. The relative accessibility of the oral cavity provides unique opportunities for noninvasive studies of psychophysiological responses associated with positive or negative life events, acute or chronic stress-inducing conditions, and psychological characteristics or psychiatric conditions.