Celebrating Connection and Impact: The Network at Japan’s 7th Dental PBRN Academic Conference

• General News, Network Updates

On September 21, 2025, the 7th Dental PBRN Japan Academic Conference convened researchers and clinicians from around the world to celebrate 15 years of Dental PBRN Japan. The conference focused on bridging the evidence-practice gap in dentistry through practice-based research and featured presentations from leaders in Japan, the United States, and Brazil.

U.S. National Dental PBRN Presentations

Our Network was honored to be represented by Dr. Gregg Gilbert and Dr. Valeria Gordan. Dr. Gilbert, National Network Director and Distinguished Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, highlighted the Network’s national reach and research productivity, showing how practitioner-driven studies are shaping real-world care. His presentation emphasized the importance of generating practice-based evidence to support evidence-based care. Watch Dr. Gilbert’s presentation.

Dr. Valeria Gordan, National Director of Practitioner Recruitment, Engagement and Training, Director of the South Atlantic Region, and Professor at the University of Florida College of Dentistry, followed with a live presentation as well. She discussed the role of regional leadership in facilitating research participation and translating findings into clinical improvements; her session spotlighted minimally invasive dentistry and the benefits of international ties.

International Perspectives

We listened and learned as Professor Naoki Kakudate shared the story of Dental PBRN Japan’s progress, and Professor Elaine Pereira da Silva Tagliaferro described the 42clinics initiative in Brazil, which is expanding practice-based research across Latin America. Two studies took center stage: one examining how the evidence-practice gap plays out in different countries, and another uncovering ways to bridge that gap, all reinforcing the global push toward better dental care.

A Decade of Partnership and Moving Forward

Our partnership with Dental PBRN Japan isn’t new. It began over a decade ago and has included joint studies, lively presentations, and workshops aimed at improving practice-based research on both sides of the Pacific. These early exchanges powered formal collaborations, with the Network participating in conferences in 2012, 2013, 2021, and now 2025.

It all began in 2012, when Dr. Gregg Gilbert, our National Director, joined the 2nd JDPBRN Annual Meeting in Tokyo—delivering “The new United States National Dental Practice-Based Research Network” via Skype. Not only was his presentation warmly received, it sparked ideas that led to future collaborative studies.

The momentum continued in 2013, with Dr. Gilbert presenting “Update on activities of the National Dental PBRN” at the 3rd JDPBRN Annual Meeting. His talk helped shape an international workshop focused on developing new study questionnaires, bringing U.S. and Japanese researchers closer together.

What started as virtual exchanges quickly grew into joint studies and shared conference presentations. The Network’s ongoing participation in the 6th (2021) and 7th (2025) JDPBRN Academic Conferences confirms how international partnerships spark real-world change.

This collaborative spirit goes beyond meetings. Our website features a series of publications co-authored by Professors Naoki Kakudate and Elaine Pereira da Silva Tagliaferro—alongside Network leaders Dr. Gregg Gilbert, Dr. Valeria Gordan, and other international PBRN collaborators, including:

• Factors Linked to the Evidence-Practice Gap Among Japanese and Brazilian Dentists
• International Comparison of Evidence-Practice Gap in Minimal Intervention Dentistry
• Causes of the Evidence-Practice Gap and Impact of Minimal Intervention Dentistry Education
• Web-based Intervention to Close Evidence-Practice Gaps in Minimal Intervention Dentistry
• Dentist Practice Patterns and Confidence in Treating TMD Pain in a Research Network

Visit our peer-reviewed publications page for the full list and details. These studies are proof that when global networks collaborate, we drive real progress in dental research and care.

Looking Ahead

For over ten years, our Network and Dental PBRN Japan have forged a partnership built on curiosity, innovation, and a shared drive to advance dental care through practice-based research. The National Dental PBRN is proud to have contributed to this international dialogue and remains committed to supporting research that is practical, collaborative, and impactful. The conference reinforced the importance of global partnerships in advancing the science and practice of dentistry.