Welcome to the Institute of Health Services Research in Dentistry at the University of Münster

Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Sebastian-Edgar Baumeister, our institute operates at the intersection of modern epidemiology, dentistry, and public health. We combine advanced causal inference techniques, genetic analysis, and large-scale population data to generate robust evidence on the determinants of health and disease. 

Our mission is to advance the understanding of how behavioral, biological, social, and systemic factors shape patient outcomes. We are committed to producing research that informs clinical decision-making, guides health policy, and ultimately contributes to healthier lives. 

We harness pharmacoepidemiology to explore both safety (pharmacovigilance) and innovation (drug repurposing), investigating whether systemic medications can be adapted to treat oral diseases. To ensure our findings are reliable, we integrate genetic epidemiology. By applying methods such as Mendelian Randomization, we distinguish true causal effects from mere correlations, allowing us to predict the safety and efficacy of therapeutic targets before clinical trials begin. 

Our research spans the full spectrum of health determinants. We analyze the oral microbiome and biomarkers to detect early signs of dysbiosis and systemic risk. Simultaneously, our behavioral epidemiology unit quantifies how lifestyle choices interact with genetic susceptibility to drive disease. 

Finally, we focus on the reality of care through clinical outcomes research. Moving beyond controlled (trial) environments, we assess the real-world effectiveness of dental interventions, with a particular emphasis on tooth preservation and long-term treatment outcomes. Ultimately, we aim to generate clinically relevant evidence that supports decision-making around maintaining oral and systemic health.