NIOM opens dental clinic for research and studies of adverse reactions

NIOM has established a clinic room to strengthen the institute's research on dental biomaterials and to make it easier for patients with suspected adverse reactions to be examined in both Oslo and Bergen.

The new clinic room in Oslo has been developed for research projects and patients referred with possible reactions to dental biomaterials. The clinic will be used to study how different biomaterials function in the oral cavity — not only in the laboratory.

"This is a functional clinic for research purposes and for studies related to possible adverse reactions," says researcher and project manager for the new clinic room, Mina Aker Sagen.

More patients and a need for increased availability

Earlier this year, NIOM and the Adverse Reaction Unit in Bergen merged. An important part of NIOM/Adverse Reaction Unit’s social mission is to examine patients who may have reactions to dental biomaterials. With the new clinic room, such patients can now be examined in both Oslo and Bergen.

"For adverse reaction patients, this is primarily about accessibility. It is important that patients can be examined reasonably close to home," says NIOM’s CEO, Professor Per Vult von Steyern.

This development means that patients who would otherwise have to travel to Bergen can be examined at NIOM in Oslo if this is more convenient. The Adverse Reaction Unit will continue to hold professional responsibility for the assessments.

"The opportunity to examine referred patients with suspected adverse reactions from dental biomaterials in Oslo will make it easier for some patients from the Eastern Norway region to come for examination," says Trine Lise Lundekvam Berge, acting head of the Adverse Reaction Unit.

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Combination of laboratory studies and clinical examinations

The clinic gives NIOM an important new opportunity: to combine advanced laboratory studies with examinations of patients in vivo.

"When it comes to research, it's about being able to see patients who have different types of biomaterials. This enables us to follow up not only in the laboratory, but also in vivo," says Per Vult von Steyern.

"Our goal is to gain more knowledge about biomaterials in practice, so that both research and patient safety are strengthened," concludes Mina Aker Sagen.