About

Eric Schiffman, DDS, MS, is a Professor and the Director of Clinical Research in the School of Dentistry at the University of Minnesota. He has received over $19 million in research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and has authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications, 12 book chapters, and holds 3 patents with another pending. His past research as an NIH study principal investigator includes developing and publishing validated Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) for the most common TMD, applicable in both clinical and research settings. He has also conducted research on TMD management, assessing the long-term effectiveness of medical management versus comprehensive rehabilitation with and without TMJ surgery in patients with symptomatic TMJ closed lock and limited mouth opening. Additionally, his work includes studying the longitudinal impact of intra-articular TMJ disorders on jaw pain, function, and disability. Schiffman has contributed to the NIH-funded National Dental Practice-Based Research Network by evaluating how dentists manage TMD patients in their practices. His recent projects include developing and clinically testing a new version of the Restful Jaw device, designed to support the jaw during dental procedures such as third molar removal.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Dentistry
• Internal medicine
• Surgery
• Pathology
• Nursing
• Family medicine
• Environmental health
• Biology
• Gastroenterology

Selected publications

• Periodontal Endoscope as an Educational Tool to Improve Hygiene Students’ Tactile Detection and Instrumentation Skills

  Journal of Dental Education · 2025-09-24

  article

  OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the periodontal endoscope (PE) as a teaching resource to improve dental hygiene (DH) students' detection and removal skills. METHODS: This multi-center clinical study included participating DH students from the University of Michigan (UM), University of Minnesota (UMN), and Central Community College (CCC). A total of 111 DH students, 41 juniors, and 70 seniors. All participating students and 20 faculty were randomized into control or intervention groups, in which there were 54 and 57 students, respectively. Eight study team examiners calibrated and used the PE. The intervention group faculty received endoscopic visualization of calculus to deliver endoscope guided (EG) feedback, while the control group received the clinical standard procedure from their designated faculty. RESULTS: Agreement between the calculus index of students and examiners and of faculty and examiners was estimated using weighted kappa statistics. The intervention group demonstrated a statistically significant difference (0.014) for calculus removal compared to the control group. For the post calculus detection and removal, the intervention group had a higher kappa for all surfaces compared to the control group: mesial surfaces, (intervention 0.158, control 0.002), distal surfaces (intervention 0.108, control 0.034), buccal surfaces (intervention 0.169, control 0.139), and lingual surfaces (intervention 0.134, control 0.070). The intervention group detected and removed more calculus than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This study represented the first known three-DH program clinical trial to implement innovative technology to enhance student performance. Students who received EG feedback demonstrated enhanced tactile detection and calculus removal. .

  PublisherDOI

• Best oral self-care practices for peri-implant conditions and diseases: a systematic review

  Frontiers in Oral Health · 2025-12-18

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Introduction The increasing prevalence of dental implants has brought greater attention to the prevention and management of peri-implant diseases, which can compromise long-term implant success. This systematic review evaluated the current evidence on oral self-care practices for maintaining peri-implant health in healthy, non-smoking adults. Methods This systematic review was reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 statement and registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD420251028140). PICO methods and guidelines for the Center for Evidence-Based Medicine were used to develop the focus question, “ What are the best practices for oral self-care for the prevention and management of peri-implant conditions and diseases?” Risk of bias was determined by applying the ROBIS Tool to assess risk of bias in systematic reviews and the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials (RoB2). Results Across 12 studies, interventions were categorized into five domains: toothbrushes, interdental aids, toothpaste, mouth rinses/topicals, and multi-modal self-care strategies. Powered toothbrushes, particularly oscillating-rotating models, demonstrated superior plaque and inflammation reduction compared to manual options. Triclosan-containing toothpastes consistently outperformed fluoride-only formulations in decreasing plaque, bleeding on probing, and pathogenic bacteria. Interdental aids such as interproximal brushes and oral irrigators were more effective than floss in reducing inflammatory markers. Stannous fluoride-based rinses showed potential anti-inflammatory benefits, while prolonged chlorhexidine use may elevate inflammatory cytokines. Discussion A multimodal approach combining mechanical and chemical adjuncts was most effective for peri-implant disease prevention. These findings emphasize the importance of individualized, evidence-based home care protocols in preserving implant longevity and reducing peri-implant disease burden. Systematic Review Registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251028140 , PROSPERO CRD420251028140.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Longitudinal Impact of Brief Motivational Interviewing on Periodontal Clinical Outcomes and Patient Perceptions: A 3-year follow-up study.

  PubMed · 2025-06-01

  article1st authorCorresponding

  A brief MI intervention achieved longitudinal reductions in clinical indicators of periodontitis and enhanced patient's perception of self-efficacy for oral hygiene behaviors at a 3-year follow-up.

  Publisher

• A Guide to Applying Motivational Interviewing in Nutritional Counseling in Dental Hygiene Education.

  PubMed · 2025-06-01

  articleSenior author

  Oral and systemic chronic health conditions are widespread in the United States, and nutrition plays a crucial role in their prevention and management. Dental hygienists, as prevention specialists, are uniquely positioned to incorporate nutritional counseling into patient care due to their education and expertise in risk assessment. Despite its importance, integrating effective nutritional counseling in clinical practice is often challenging, with barriers such as time constraints, patient compliance, and clinician confidence. This report presents a blueprint for incorporating motivational interviewing (MI) through a Nutritional Risk Assessment and Counseling Tool (NRACT) into dental hygiene education at Eastern Washington University (EWU). The five-semester dental hygiene curriculum at EWU integrates nutrition concepts early in the course of study, using MI strategies to enhance student confidence in patient counseling. Students receive foundational training in MI techniques, including open-ended questions, reflective listening, and evoking patient motivation. The NRACT supports both assessment and structured nutritional counseling, allowing students to guide patient interactions effectively. Through clinical practice, workshops, and peer feedback, students refine their MI skills and develop confidence addressing nutrition-related concerns. Initial outcomes from EWU suggest incorporating the NRACT, which includes MI, increases students' comfort in discussing topics like nutrition while enhancing patient-centered care. This short report provides the framework to foster the development of skilled oral health care professionals equipped to promote nutritional health. Additionally, this report offers a transferable model for integrating nutritional counseling into dental hygiene education across diverse educational settings.

  Publisher

• A Narrative Review of the Utilization of Motivational Interviewing for Nutritional Counseling in Dentistry.

  PubMed · 2025-06-01

  reviewSenior author

  Motivational interviewing and brief MI can be utilized for nutritional counseling in oral health care settings by dental hygienists to enhance their confidence, promote patient behavior change, and contribute to improved dietary habits for improved oral and systemic health. The Nutritional Risk Assessment and Counseling Tool (NRACT) can be used as a risk assessment and guide to facilitate brief MI in a dental setting for nutritional counseling.

  Publisher

• Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients Receiving Dental Treatment from Dental Therapists

  Research Square · 2025-12-11

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Motivational Interviewing in Dental Hygiene Education: Past Lessons, Present Practices, and Future Directions.

  PubMed · 2025-06-01

  article1st authorCorresponding
  Publisher

• DIY Orthodontic Relapse Correction Gone Wrong: A case study.

  PubMed · 2025-02-01

  articleSenior author

  The purpose of this case report is to present the clinical impacts and outcomes of a patient who applied a non-professionally ('do it yourself' (DIY)) orthodontic treatment to correct a midline diastema post orthodontic relapse. The patient presented for preventative dental hygiene care with a chief complaint of pain and swelling surrounding teeth #8 and #9. The patient reported that a midline diastema appeared after she lost the orthodontic retainer and used rubber bands every night for approximately four years to close the diastema. The DIY orthodontic treatment of the maxillary central incisors caused rapid and severe bone loss, loss of function and pain for the patient. This case highlights the negative impact on periodontal health with DIY orthodontic treatment, ultimately resulting in extraction and implants to restore function and esthetics. It is important that dental and allied oral health professionals are aware of DIY orthodontic trends on social media in order to educate and counsel patients on the consequences to their oral health.

  Publisher

• Mentor Like Minnesota: Outcomes of an undergraduate research mentorship program.

  PubMed · 2025-04-01

  articleSenior author

  Commission on Dental Accreditation Standards require that dental hygiene students are competent in evaluation of scientific literature. A current problem is the lack of faculty mentorship to develop allied oral health student researchers. The goal the University of Minnesota (UMN) undergraduate research program was to utilize an existing writing curriculum thread and mentor students interested in research through the development of research question(s), study design, conducting research, and the manuscript development process to achieve a publication.The UMN dental hygiene program assessed the writing within the program, created standardized rubrics for research and reflective writing, and calibrated dental hygiene faculty on their use. Additionally, a writing orientation workshop was established to increase student success in writing. Students were also encouraged to apply for a dental hygiene writing award as this was used to select students for the research mentorship program. Writing outcomes were assessed and improvement was demonstrated in several key writing standards defined by the program. A total of nine (n=9) students have participated in the faculty research mentorship program from 2019 to 2023 and eight students completed the program assessment questionnaire (n=8, 87.5%). All participants reported strong agreement that they felt supported in all aspects of the research process and expressed confidence that they could complete research in the future. Six students had publications and one student was under review. The development of a writing enriched curriculum and a writing orientation workshop has improved student writing outcomes and student engagement in research and publication at UMN. Faculty mentorship resulted in students' experience with manuscript development and the peer-review process to obtain a publication. More faculty mentorship in undergraduate allied oral health education is needed to engage students in the research process.

  Publisher

• Oral and General Health Implications of Alcoholism: A review of the literature.

  PubMed · 2025-02-01 · 1 citations

  reviewSenior author

  Excessive alcohol consumption increases morbidity and mortality risk due to the association of chronic health conditions, inflammation and secondary cancers.

  Publisher

Frequent coauthors

• Morth Rcsed

  John Wiley & Sons (United States)

  20 shared

• Michael D. Evans

  Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute

  17 shared

• Keith Mays

  University of Minnesota

  13 shared

• Vidya Ramaswamy

  University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

  10 shared

• Michael D. Wolcott

  8 shared

• Nader Nadershahi

  University of the Pacific

  8 shared

• Yvette Reibel

  University of Minnesota

  8 shared

• Romesh Nalliah

  University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

  8 shared

Education

• Other, Dental Hygiene

  University of Minnesota

• M.S.

  University of Minnesota

Awards & honors

• American Dental Education Association (ADEA) President Cente…
• University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, Didactic Facult…
• University of Minnesota Dental Hygiene Classes of 2020 and 2…
• University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, Didactic Facult…
• ADEA Junior Faculty Award Nomination from the University of…