UConn Health

April 11, 2023 | Jennifer Walker - UConn Health

UConn Dental Student Takes First Place at National Student Research Competition

Jay Dalal, third year UConn School of Dental Medicine student was awarded first place at the Student Competition for Advancing Dental Research and its Application (SCADA) competition in Portland, Oregon for his experimental study of the most effective active ingredient for dental hypersensitivity.

Jay Dalal accepts the first place award at the Student Competition for Advancing Dental Research and its Application (SCADA) competition in Portland, Oregon for his experimental study of the most effective active ingredient for dental hypersensitivity.

Over the recent spring break, Jay Dalal, third year UConn School of Dental Medicine student was awarded first place at the Student Competition for Advancing Dental Research and its Application (SCADA) competition in Portland, Oregon for his experimental study of the most effective active ingredient for dental hypersensitivity. The winners were recognized during the Opening Ceremonies of the 2023 Meeting of the American Association of Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR).

SCADA is a global student research program, aimed at engaging the next generation of dental professionals in the discovery and advancement of dental research, and the improvement of oral health worldwide. The competition was founded in 1959 with the aim to help students discover research, advance themselves, and find inspiring ways to improve dental care – and continues in this spirit today. It is co-sponsored by AADOCR and Dentsply Sirona.

Jay Dalal, UConn School of Dental Medicine Student

Every US Dental School was invited to select a student to participate in the competition in Portland. Dalal was selected and supported to participate by the Associate Dean’s Award for his presentation at the Medical and Dental Student Research Day research competition.

The research presented aimed to find the optimal active ingredient to treat dental hypersensitivity by testing the active ingredients in Hydroxyethyl methacrylate, Arginine/calcium carbonate combination, and stannous fluoride.

“I am very proud of the hard work Jay put into this project and the results speak to that. It was wonderful to be a part of it and contribute to this project,” says Dr. Sree Raghavendra, pre-doctoral practice leader and assistant clinical professor University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine.

Dalal sectioned bovine tooth samples, polished with a variety of grit sandpaper,   acid etched to remove the smear layer, and then applied the desensitizers being studied.

His findings showed that the arginine/calcium combination was the most optimal way to treat dental hypersensitivity. His further steps are to formulate a final product in which the main purpose is to combat tooth sensitivity and applied on only that tooth rather than a toothpaste bundle.

“It has been a pleasure to have Jay in my lab as an undergrad and a dental student. He has always been a strong researcher and I’m so glad that others are recognizing his success,” says Dr. Alix Deymier, assistant professor, UConn Health Dept. of Biomedical Engineering.

“Jay’s project under the mentorship of Dr. Deymier is truly a reflection of one of the amazing opportunities the UConn School of Dental Medicine provides its students to make their educational journey a well-rounded experience. I am very proud of Jay’s accomplishment. As the director of student research, it makes me very proud says.” Dr. Aditya Tadinada, director of Student Research and Associate Dean for Graduate Research, Education and Training, UConn School of Dental Medicine.

“Congratulations to Jay and his mentors! Jay’s first place win is a testament to the high quality of this science as well as his very effective presentation of the work,” says Dr. Rajesh Lalla, associate dean for research, UConn School of Dental Medicine. “I was proud to be in the audience when his first-place win was announced!”