Gerstner Lab

OVERVIEW

The Gerstner Lab's research has a clinical and a basic science focus. The clinical component involves clinical studies of sleep bruxism.

The basic science component has two foci:

1. Comparative masticatory studies. Mammalian chewing is wonderfully diverse in kinematic form both within and between species; however, the chewing rhythm is surprisingly invariant in mammals. The lab strives to understand how and why mammalian brains produce the diversity of kinematic forms in conjunction with relatively invariant rhythms. Presently, we are involved in a multi-year NSF-funded project on cross-species comparative kinematic studies. XROMM and functional data analysis (FDA) are used to address these issues.
2. Tooth wear, fecundity and longevity. Tooth wear in mammals is a natural consequence of use; however, excessive tooth wear is associated with reduced fecundity and longevity in some species. Some species have evolved continuously growing teeth (hypsolodonty) to reduce the impact of tooth wear on fitness; however, most species have not. Indeed, most mammals possess only two sets of teeth (“baby” and “adult” teeth), whereas other toothed vertebrates often get several, even hundreds of sets. This is all the more peculiar, given that mammals eat substantially more than non-homeothermic vertebrates. The lab is interested in field studies to identify the significance of tooth wear on fitness.

BASIC ORAL BEHAVIOR RESEARCH

Quantifying, analyzing and understanding the diversity of mammalian chewing kinematic forms in conjunction with relatively invariant chewing rhythms. Presently, we are addressing these issues through comparative studies using functional data analysis. Studies also focus on morphometric analyses of mammalian dentoskeletal specimens, scaling studies of chewing rhythmicity, kinematic analysis of chewing. Some of our clinical research is geared towards creating technologies that will be useful for addressing both clinical and field biology lines of query.