美国国家牙科和颅面研究所（NIDCR）于1948年根据国家牙科研究法案的签署成立，是联邦政府对牙科，口腔和颅面健康和疾病的科学研究的牵头机构。也是美国卫生与公众服务部美国国立卫生研究院（NIH）的27个研究所和中心之一。NIDCR的使命是通过研究和研究培训，并通过促进从研究中获得的知识及时向公众转移来改善牙科，口腔和颅面健康。

NIDCR支持的科学家进行基础，转化和临床研究。研究领域包括口腔癌，口面部疼痛，蛀牙，牙周病，唾液腺功能障碍，颅面发育和疾病以及全身性疾病的口腔并发症。

NIDCR支持从高中生到独立科学家等处于不同职业生涯阶段的个人的研究培训和职业发展计划。

NIDCR与公众，医疗保健专业人员，研究人员和政策制定者分享研究结果。研究所工作人员还为消费者以及牙医，医生和其他医疗保健提供者提供健康信息。

The National Institute of Dentistry and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), established in 1948 by signing off on the National Dental Research Act, is the federal government's lead agency for scientific research on dental, oral and craniofacial health and disease. It is also one of 27 institutes and centers of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIDCR's mission is to improve dental, oral and craniofacial health through research and research training and by facilitating the timely transfer of knowledge gained from research to the public.

NIDCR supports scientists to conduct basic, translational, and clinical research. Areas of study include oral cancer, oral-facial pain, tooth decay, periodontal disease, salivary gland dysfunction, craniofacial development and diseases, and oral complications of systemic diseases.

NIDCR supports research training and career development programs for individuals at different stages of their careers, from high school students to independent scientists.

NIDCR shares research findings with the public, healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers. Institute staff also provide health information to consumers as well as dentists, physicians and other healthcare providers.