A plea for a dental research institute is presented, emphasizing the need for a dedicated institution to advance dental science and align with federal science policy. In 1999, the Canadian government announced a shift towards creating research institutes and networks of excellence, inspired by the U.S. model. The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) includes the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), which receives significant funding for research in dental and craniofacial health. The NIDCR's mission is to improve oral health through research, training, and technology transfer, focusing on areas like microbial ecology, saliva, neoplastic diseases, biomaterials, and genome research. The author argues that dentistry should not be viewed merely as a clinical practice but as a complex system connected to other bodily systems. The NIDCR's strategic plan aims to develop researchers who contribute to government, academic, and private sectors. In Canada, the National Research Council (NRC) has evolved, with its functions divided among three councils. Canada's research spending is lower than the U.S., but the 1999 budget signaled a shift towards promoting research. The author urges Canada to establish its own dental research institute, independent of the U.S. and medical community, to ensure its own scientific progress and future. Dr. Benoit Gareau, a dentist, supports this call to action, emphasizing the importance of research for the future of dentistry.A plea for a dental research institute is presented, emphasizing the need for a dedicated institution to advance dental science and align with federal science policy. In 1999, the Canadian government announced a shift towards creating research institutes and networks of excellence, inspired by the U.S. model. The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) includes the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), which receives significant funding for research in dental and craniofacial health. The NIDCR's mission is to improve oral health through research, training, and technology transfer, focusing on areas like microbial ecology, saliva, neoplastic diseases, biomaterials, and genome research. The author argues that dentistry should not be viewed merely as a clinical practice but as a complex system connected to other bodily systems. The NIDCR's strategic plan aims to develop researchers who contribute to government, academic, and private sectors. In Canada, the National Research Council (NRC) has evolved, with its functions divided among three councils. Canada's research spending is lower than the U.S., but the 1999 budget signaled a shift towards promoting research. The author urges Canada to establish its own dental research institute, independent of the U.S. and medical community, to ensure its own scientific progress and future. Dr. Benoit Gareau, a dentist, supports this call to action, emphasizing the importance of research for the future of dentistry.