Research Groups
Information about research groups within the Faculty of Dentistry at Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, including their research areas, group leaders, research projects, scientific publications, and contact details for collaboration.
FACULTY OF DENTISTRY · PHAM NGOC THACH UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE
Research Directions by Thematic Area
The Faculty’s research directions are presented across five thematic areas, spanning prevention, development and basic sciences through treatment, rehabilitation and dental education.
This page introduces the five cluster leads, their institutional email addresses, 48 research directions and project proposals listed in the Faculty’s registration record, and selected publications. Research directions and expected outputs are presented separately from published studies.
Cluster Leads and Research Contacts
Cluster leads and research contacts · Faculty of Dentistry
01. Preventive and Developmental Dentistry
Dental Public Health · Orthodontics · Pediatric Dentistry
CLUSTER LEAD
Dr. Nguyễn Như Trung
Academic and clinical qualifications: Doctoral degree; clinical qualification (Vietnamese designation: TS.BS.)
Position: Preventive and Developmental Dentistry Cluster Lead.
Institutional affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Vietnam.
Institutional email: trungnn@pnt.edu.vn
Dental Public Health
- Music-based toothbrushing education for preschool children. Investigating the use of music, rhythm and group activities to teach toothbrushing skills, establish daily oral hygiene habits and improve caries-preventive behaviors.
Listed research team: Hoàng Trọng Hùng; Tôn Thất Đam Triều
Expected outputs: Research article; music video teaching toothbrushing to preschool children
- Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for childhood caries management. Evaluating its effectiveness in arresting dentinal caries, preventing new caries and managing early lesions through minimally invasive approaches, with an emphasis on implementation in schools, communities and high-risk groups.
Listed research team: Hoàng Trọng Hùng; Tôn Thất Đam Triều
Expected outputs: Research article
- Oral health and systemic health. Investigating relationships with noncommunicable diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, multimorbidity and aging; exploring integrated care, risk screening, interprofessional referral and the use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence.
Listed research team: Hoàng Trọng Hùng; Tôn Thất Đam Triều; Trần Kim Trinh
Expected outputs: Research article
- Artificial intelligence in dental public health and preventive dentistry. Applying AI to epidemiological surveys, risk screening, early detection of oral diseases, personalized health education and the management of school-based dental programs, preventive dentistry and community oral health care.
Expected outputs: Research article
- Oral health in older adults. Investigating declining oral function and integrated care models within a healthy-aging framework, incorporating noncommunicable disease management and digital technologies.
Expected outputs: Research article
Orthodontics
- 3D technologies and AI for smile analysis. Applying 3D technologies and artificial intelligence to the analysis of smile morphology and esthetics.
Listed research team: Nguyễn Như Trung; Trần Thị Hoàng Yến; Trần Thị Thùy Trang
Expected outputs: Research article
- Craniofacial and dental morphology and dentoalveolar compensation. Investigating three-dimensional morphology and dentoalveolar compensation with the support of artificial intelligence.
Listed research team: Nguyễn Như Trung; Vũ Minh Hoàng; Trần Thị Hoàng Yến
Expected outputs: Research article
- Biology of tooth movement and material biocompatibility. Analyzing the salivary microbiological and biochemical characteristics of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with clear aligners versus fixed appliances.
Listed research team: Nguyễn Như Trung and collaborators
Expected outputs: Research article
Pediatric Dentistry
- Behavior management in pediatric dentistry. Evaluating behavior management techniques and factors affecting children’s cooperation with oral hygiene, elimination of detrimental oral habits and orthodontic appliance wear. Investigating pretreatment education using videos, images or mobile applications to assess anxiety and cooperation during dental treatment.
- Myofunctional therapy during growth. Evaluating improvements in lip and tongue function, swallowing patterns and the establishment of appropriate tongue posture following myofunctional therapy (MFT).
02. Pathology and Surgery
Oral Pathology and Maxillofacial Surgery · Oral Surgery
CLUSTER LEAD
Dr. Phuc Hoai Le (Lê Hoài Phúc)
Academic and clinical qualifications: Master’s degree; postgraduate residency qualification (Vietnamese designation: ThS.BSNT.)
Position: Pathology and Surgery Cluster Lead.
Name used in international publications: Phuc Hoai Le
Institutional affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Vietnam.
Institutional email: phuclh@pnt.edu.vn
Clinical disciplines within the cluster: Oral Pathology and Maxillofacial Surgery; Oral Surgery.
Research interests: Mandibular reconstruction, maxillofacial trauma, virtual surgical planning and 3D surgical guides; applications of artificial intelligence in diagnosis and surgical planning.
Academic profile: Google Scholar — Phuc Hoai Le
View selected publications
Oral Pathology and Maxillofacial Surgery
The department’s research directions include virtual surgical planning and 3D printing for mandibular reconstruction and maxillofacial trauma, as well as applications of artificial intelligence in maxillofacial surgery. The seven proposals below are presented by their specific objectives; the research team for each proposal comprises the individuals named in the corresponding registration entry.
- Evaluation of AI-proposed orthognathic surgical plans. A retrospective, blinded comparison of AI-proposed Le Fort I surgical plans, with or without bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO), against surgeons’ plans, with assessment by an expert panel.
Listed research team: Lê Hoài Phúc; Võ Bá Minh Trí; Vũ Văn Đình
Expected outputs: Research article
- 3D surgical guides for mandibular fracture reduction. Comparing mandibular fracture reduction using 3D surgical guides with conventional methods, with a focus on skeletal accuracy.
Listed research team: Lê Hoài Phúc; Võ Bá Minh Trí; Vũ Văn Đình
Expected outputs: Research article
- Segmentation of mandibular fracture lines and fragments. Developing a deep learning model for automated segmentation of fracture lines and fragments on CT/CBCT to support surgical planning.
Listed research team: Lê Hoài Phúc; Võ Bá Minh Trí; Vũ Văn Đình
Expected outputs: Research article
- Detection and classification of jaw lesions. Applying deep learning to panoramic radiographs and comparing the findings with histopathological diagnoses.
Listed research team: Lê Hoài Phúc; Võ Bá Minh Trí; Nguyễn Duy Khôi; Vũ Văn Đình
Expected outputs: Research article
- Detection and classification of mandibular fracture locations. Developing and evaluating a deep learning model using CT/CBCT data.
Listed research team: Lê Hoài Phúc; Võ Bá Minh Trí; Nguyễn Duy Khôi; Vũ Văn Đình
Expected outputs: Research article
- Prediction of surgical indications for zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures. Developing a prediction model based on clinical and CT features.
Listed research team: Lê Hoài Phúc; Võ Bá Minh Trí; Nguyễn Duy Khôi; Vũ Văn Đình
Expected outputs: Research article
- Quantitative assessment of reduction accuracy in zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures. Assessing reduction accuracy after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) using 3D CT and mirror-image analysis.
Expected outputs: Research article
Oral Surgery
- AI-based prediction of surgical difficulty in third-molar extraction. Developing an artificial intelligence model to predict surgical difficulty from panoramic radiographs.
Listed research team: Faculty members of the Department of Oral Surgery
Expected outputs: Research article
- Preservation of hard and soft tissues. Evaluating the effectiveness of partial extraction therapy (PET).
Listed research team: Faculty members of the Department of Oral Surgery
Expected outputs: Research article
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) after tooth extraction. Evaluating the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma following tooth extraction in patients with systemic disease.
Listed research team: Faculty members of the Department of Oral Surgery
Expected outputs: Research article
Selected Publications — Phuc Hoai Le
Selected publications · Phuc Hoai Le
The following publications are presented separately from the research directions and project proposals. Author names are reproduced as listed in each publication.
2026 · PUBLICATION 01
P. H. Le; H. T. Hoang; P. H. Lam; T. V. Nguyen; C. T. Le.
International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 2026;55(6):639–648.
A randomized controlled trial examining condylar positioning accuracy and surgical efficiency in mandibular reconstruction using pre-bent plates combined with positioning guides.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijom.2026.01.019 · PubMed
2026 · PUBLICATION 02
Phuc Hoai Le; Hung Trong Hoang; Phuong Hoai Lam; Tuan Van Nguyen; Chanh Trung Le.
Clinical Oral Investigations. 2026;30(4):119.
A randomized controlled trial of changes in temporomandibular joint-space volume after mandibular reconstruction, comparing patient-specific plate-positioning guides with the conventional method.
DOI: 10.1007/s00784-026-06812-z · PubMed
2026 · PUBLICATION 03
Phuc Hoai Le; Hung Trong Hoang; Phuong Hoai Lam; Tuan Van Nguyen; Chanh Trung Le.
Journal of Dental Sciences. 2026;21(2):915–922.
An in vitro study evaluating cutting-plane and condylar positioning accuracy in mandibular reconstruction using 3D-printed guides.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jds.2025.08.023 · Journal website
First published online on 27 August 2025; volume, issue and page details refer to the 2026 journal issue.
2025 · PUBLICATION 04
Phuc H. Le; Hyounmin Kim; Moo H. Son; In-Ho Cha; Hyung J. Kim; Woong Nam; Dongwook Kim.
Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. 2025;36(4):1109–1113.
A comparative study of patient-specific and pre-bent plates for preserving condylar position during mandibular reconstruction with a free fibula flap.
DOI: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000010911 · PubMed
First published online on 25 November 2024; the journal issue was published in 2025.
2021 · PUBLICATION 05
Le Hoai Phuc; Cao Huu Tien; Doan-Van Ngoc; Nguyen-Van Tuan; Le Trung Chanh; Lam Hoai Phuong; Nguyen Minh Duc.
Medical Archives. 2021;75(5):366–370.
A prospective study of skeletal stability and the duration of mandibulomaxillary fixation after treatment of Le Fort I or II fractures using internal fixation.
DOI: 10.5455/medarh.2021.75.366-370 · PubMed
Research contributions documented in a publication
In the Clinical Oral Investigations article published in 2026 cited above, P. H. Le is credited with contributions to study conception and design, data collection and interpretation, manuscript drafting and revision. Author contribution statement.
Related clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06174532, as cited in the Clinical Oral Investigations article published in 2026.
View Phuc Hoai Le’s Google Scholar profile
03. Restorative Dentistry
Prosthodontics · Periodontology and Implant Dentistry
CLUSTER LEAD
Dr. Trần Thị Ngọc Trang
Academic and clinical qualifications: Doctoral degree; clinical qualification (Vietnamese designation: TS.BS.)
Position: Restorative Dentistry Cluster Lead.
Institutional affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Vietnam.
Institutional email: trangttn@pnt.edu.vn
Prosthodontics
- AI-assisted removable partial denture framework design. An in vitro study evaluating the accuracy and clinical feasibility of an artificial intelligence algorithm for identifying retentive undercuts and designing removable partial denture frameworks.
Listed research team: Faculty members of the Department of Prosthodontics
Expected outputs: Research article
- Accuracy of full-arch impressions and scan data. Comparing full-arch intraoral scanning (IOS) with photogrammetry and conventional impressions; investigating scan accuracy for full-arch prosthodontic rehabilitation in cases with flabby mucosa.
Listed research team: Faculty members of the Department of Prosthodontics
Expected outputs: Research article
- Biomechanical simulation of mini-implant connections. Using finite element analysis (FEA) to investigate the mechanical interaction between 1–2 mm of mucosal displacement and mini-implant stiffness.
Listed research team: Faculty members of the Department of Prosthodontics
Expected outputs: Research article
Periodontology and Implant Dentistry
The department’s research directions are organized into six specialized themes.
1. Molecular Biology and Personalized Treatment
- Microbiome in periodontitis and peri-implantitis. Characterizing the microbiome in Vietnamese patients.
Listed research team: Faculty members of the Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry and collaborators
Expected outputs: Research article; microbiome dataset
- Biomarkers and early diagnosis. Investigating bacterial DNA, inflammatory biomarkers and gene expression associated with periodontitis and peri-implantitis.
Listed research team: Faculty members of the Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry and collaborators
Expected outputs: Research article; dataset
- Periodontal disease and systemic health. Investigating associations with Alzheimer’s disease or cognitive impairment, diabetes and related factors such as smoking.
Listed research team: Faculty members of the Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry and collaborators
Expected outputs: Research article
- Personalized treatment planning. Developing individualized risk assessment and prognostic models for patients with periodontal disease.
Listed research team: Faculty members of the Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry and collaborators
Expected outputs: Research article; risk assessment tool
2. Teaching Tools and Clinical Records
- Practical training models for periodontology and implant dentistry. Designing and producing training models and evaluating the educational effectiveness of locally developed models.
Listed research team: Faculty members of the Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry and collaborators
Expected outputs: Research article; standardized instrument set; prototype
- Clinical records and examination and prognostic tools. Developing standardized periodontal records, examination forms and prognostic tools for the Faculty of Dentistry.
Listed research team: Faculty members of the Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry and collaborators
Expected outputs: Clinical record templates / examination and prognostic forms; research article
3. Technology and Artificial Intelligence
- AI in radiographic assessment and prognosis. Developing models to support the diagnosis and prognosis of periodontitis and peri-implantitis.
Listed research team: Faculty members of the Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry and collaborators
Expected outputs: Research article; AI model
- Noninvasive assessment of the gingival phenotype. Applying IOS and CBCT to assess periodontal parameters and compare intraoral scan data with dental casts.
Listed research team: Faculty members of the Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry and collaborators
Expected outputs: Research article; standardized measurement protocol
- Simulation of loading on implants and mobile teeth. Investigating and analyzing load distribution using simulation software.
Listed research team: Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry in collaboration with Đại học Bách Khoa (engineering) and other collaborators
Expected outputs: Research article; load-analysis dataset
- AI, digital scan data and smile esthetics. Assessing periodontal tissues, the smile line and gingival–dental relationships using intraoral and facial scan data.
Listed research team: Faculty members of the Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry and collaborators
Expected outputs: Research article; protocol / model
4. Advanced Treatment
- Periodontal tissue regeneration. Evaluating the effectiveness of regenerative materials and techniques.
Listed research team: Faculty members of the Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry and collaborators
Expected outputs: Research article
- Nonsurgical periodontal treatment. Evaluating the effectiveness of adjunctive methods.
Listed research team: Faculty members of the Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry and collaborators
Expected outputs: Research article
- Treatment of peri-implantitis. Evaluating the effectiveness of treatment techniques.
Listed research team: Faculty members of the Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry and collaborators
Expected outputs: Research article
5. Community Periodontology
6. Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Integration of periodontology with prosthodontics, occlusion and orthodontics. Investigating interdisciplinary approaches to treatment.
Listed research team: Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry in collaboration with relevant departments and other collaborators
Expected outputs: Research article
- Periodontology and orthodontics. Investigating periodontal morphology and characteristics in health sciences students; assessing dental students’ perceptions and thresholds of smile esthetics when periodontal and facial characteristics are considered together.
Listed research team: Đặng Hoàng Mai; Trần Thị Hoàng Yến
Expected outputs: Research article; undergraduate thesis
04. Basic Dental Sciences
Morphology · Materials · Saliva · Microbiology · Artificial Intelligence
CLUSTER LEAD
Dr. Bùi Minh Châu
Academic and clinical qualifications: Master’s degree; clinical qualification (Vietnamese designation: ThS.BS.)
Position: Basic Dental Sciences Cluster Lead.
Institutional affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Vietnam.
Institutional email: chaubm@pnt.edu.vn
Basic Dental Sciences
- Condylar and articular disc characteristics in relation to occlusion. Investigating condylar and articular disc characteristics across different occlusal patterns.
Listed research team: Bùi Minh Châu; Bùi Thanh Thanh
Expected outputs: Research article
- New dental materials. Investigating new materials for dental applications.
Listed research team: Bùi Minh Châu; Đào Thị Thu Sương; Lê Nguyễn Ngọc Chăm; Bùi Thanh Thanh
Expected outputs: Research article
- Saliva and oral diseases. Investigating associations between saliva and oral diseases.
Listed research team: Bùi Minh Châu; Đào Thị Thu Sương; Lê Nguyễn Ngọc Chăm; Bùi Thanh Thanh
Expected outputs: Research article
- AI-based tooth segmentation. Applying artificial intelligence to tooth segmentation.
Listed research team: Bùi Minh Châu; Đào Thị Thu Sương; Lê Nguyễn Ngọc Chăm; Bùi Thanh Thanh
Expected outputs: Research article
- Oral microbiology. Investigating oral microorganisms and associated diseases.
Listed research team: Bùi Minh Châu; Đào Thị Thu Sương; Lê Nguyễn Ngọc Chăm; Bùi Thanh Thanh
Expected outputs: Research article
05. Dental Education
Competency-Based Education · Clinical Assessment · Learning Technologies
CLUSTER LEAD
Associate Professor Hoàng Trọng Hùng
Academic and clinical qualifications: Doctoral degree; clinical qualification (Vietnamese designation: PGS.TS.BS.)
Position: Dental Education Cluster Lead.
Institutional affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Vietnam.
Institutional email: hunght@pnt.edu.vn
Competency-Based Dental Education
Educational Research in the Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry
- Knowledge, attitudes and practices in oral hygiene and periodontal care. Surveying dental and other health sciences students before and after a dentistry course; assessing health professionals’ knowledge of periodontal hygiene and its relationship with systemic disease.
Listed research team: Faculty members of the Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry and collaborators
Expected outputs: Research article
- Preclinical teaching and OSCE-based assessment. Comparing preclinical periodontology and implant dentistry education using a station-based objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) model with conventional methods, based on learning outcomes and competency attainment.
Listed research team: Faculty members of the Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry and collaborators
Expected outputs: Research article
- AI in dental education. Developing chatbots and virtual teaching assistants to support dental students’ learning.
Listed research team: Faculty members of the Department of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry and collaborators
Expected outputs: Chatbot demonstration; research article; question bank
Scope of Information
Research directions and project proposals, participating researchers and expected outputs are drawn from the Faculty of Dentistry’s “Registration of Research Directions by Thematic Area” record. Cluster leads are identified separately from the researchers listed for individual proposals. Expected outputs do not represent completed results. Publications are accompanied by journal details and DOI links for reference.