Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Medicine

The aim of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Medicine is to be a modern centre for education and research in oral and maxillofacial surgery and oral medicine and to contribute to the sustainable development of the field.

Main activities

• Delivering undergraduate education in oral and maxillofacial surgery and oral medicine as part of accredited study programmes at RSU
• Providing post-graduate education in oral and maxillofacial surgery and oral medicine through residency and continuing medical education programmes
• Implementing the doctoral study programme
• Organising research for students and medical residents
• Conducting scientific research in oral and maxillofacial surgery and oral medicine through participation in internationally funded projects, public research, and various grant-supported studies
• Collaborating with other RSU departments, as well as Latvian and international institutions, and non-governmental organisations
  • Collaborating with structural units specialising in oral medicine and oral and maxillofacial surgery
• Raising public awareness on disease prevention and treatment
  • Organising and participating in the 'Check Your Oral Health' campaign, which includes biannual oral and mucosal screenings for the Latvian population, both at the RSU Institute of Stomatology and through specialist outreach services in partnership with regional hospitals

Research Areas

• Biomaterials
• Implantology
• Congenital facial clefts and deformities
• Orthognathic surgery
• Oncostomatology:
  • Early pre-cancer diagnosis in the oral cavity
  • Diagnosis and treatment of melanoma
• Salivary gland pathology:
  • Study of biochemical parameters in saliva
• Obstructive sleep apnoea
• Application of natural products to treat and improve oral mucosal integrity
• Prevention of pain syndrome in the maxillofacial area

Current Doctoral Research

• Effect of autologous mesenchymal cells on the integration of biphasic calcium phosphate bioceramic material in the jaws of rabbits with experimental osteoporosis (Aleksandrs Grišuļonoks)
• Results of implantation of biphasic calcium phosphate bioceramic materials for maxillary alveolar bone reinforcement (Vadims Kļimecs)
• Evaluation of the efficacy of platelet-rich fibrin in contour defect modelling in orthognathic surgery (Lana Mičko)
• Role of HHV-7 and EBV in the pathogenesis of aphthous stomatitis and oral lichen ruber (Džagriti Kakare)
• Evaluation of 3D printed hydroxyapatite implants for the treatment of maxillary hypoplasia in patients with Angle III dysgnathia (Mārtiņš Lauskis)
• Success rates of autotransplantations of third molars with unformed roots for the replacement of tooth row defects (Miks Lejnieks)
• Morphological changes in facial cleft-affected supporting tissues and in the course of tissue regeneration (Dace Buile). The doctoral thesis was completed and defended in 2024.
• Early diagnosis of signs of malignancy in saliva and oral cancer tissues (Madara Dzudzilo). The doctoral thesis was completed and defended in 2024
• Efficacy of clonazepam and capsaicin in the treatment of burning mouth syndrome (Viktors Jankovskis)
• A new strategy for non-surgical treatment of periodontal furcation defects (Anete Vaškeviča). The doctoral thesis is being developed in collaboration with the University of Turku (Finland) and the University of Oslo (Norway)
• Treatment of isolated orbital floor fractures with 3D printed models and patient-specific implants (Ilze Prikule)
• The role of biochemical and microbiological properties of granulation tissue in periodontal regeneration (Dārta Elizabete Emuliņa). The doctoral thesis is being developed in collaboration with the University of Turku (Finland)

Study and Research Collaborations

Local

• Baltic Biomaterials Centre of Excellence
• RSU Institute of Anatomy and Anthropology
• RSU Department of Pathology
• Experimental Animal Laboratory
• RTU Biomaterials Innovations and Development Centre
• RSU Institute of Stomatology
• Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital
• Oncology Centre of Latvia
• Children’s Clinical University Hospital

International

• Vilnius University (Lithuania)
• Kaunas University (Lithuania)
• University of Tartu (Estonia)
• University of Oslo (Norway)
• University of Turku (Finland)
• Malmö University (Sweden)
• University of Rostock (Germany)
• University of Gothenburg (Germany)
• University of Clermont (France)
• Paris Cité University (France)
• Cardiff University (Great Britain)
• Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (Great Britain)
• University of Sheffield (Great Britain)
• European University of Madrid (Spain)
• University of Barcelona (Spain)
• Semmelweis University (Hungary)
• Brescia University (Italy)

Lecturers from the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Medicine participate in the implementation of the BBCE project.

The Baltic Biomaterials Centre of Excellence (BBCE) is a project funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme for research and innovation with the aim of implementing a full biomaterials development cycle, from material development in the laboratory to clinical application.

This scientific capacity building project brings together internationally renowned research institutions and industry representatives:

• Rīga Technical University (RTU),
• Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS),
• Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU),
• RSU Institute of Stomatology,
• AO Research Institute Davos, Switzerland,
• Institute of Biomaterials of the Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany

The project's main research focus is producing individual implants for bone tissue regeneration, their acquisition, and evaluation.

Study directions that are implemented at the RSU Institute of Stomatology: new 3D technologies – individual planning, 3D printing.

• Tooth autotransplantation using 3D printed replicas (Miks Lejnieks)
• Antimicrobial properties of PRF, evaluation of PRF efficacy in orthognathic surgery (Lana Mičko)
• 3D planning of orbital floor or multiple facial fracture surgery (Ieva Bāgante)
• 3D printed ceramic implants for reconstructive surgery of the cheekbones (Mārtiņš Lauskis)

Teaching staff of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Medicine are involved in ongoing projects

• COST Action CA21140 ‘Interception of oral cancer development (INTERCEPTOR), COST, Prof. I. Čēma, Dr. M. Dzudzilo, 2022–2026
• New strategy for non-surgical treatment of periodontal furcation defects; application for PhD at the University of Turku (Cotutelle Contract), I. Akota, U. Gursoy, C. J. Wohlfahrt, Anete Vaškevica, 2 Oct 2023 – 30 Sep 2027
• RSU internal and RSU with LASE external consolidation, 5.2.1.1.i.0/2/24/I/CFLA/005 M. Lejnieks, Supervisor I. Akota. From 2024 – ongoing
• Baltic Cleft Network, I.Akota, I.Bāgante, Cleft Centres of University of Rostock, Vilnius University, University of Tartu, RSU SI, 1 Sep 2020 - ongoing
• State research project in the field of biomedicine, medical technologies and pharmacy, National Research Project, SRP, I. Bāgante, O. Radziņš, 1 Dec 2022–30 Nov 2024