Etiopathogenesis of periodontal disease – searching for disease markers

Periodontitis is one of the most common infections in man. It is initiated by oral microorganisms colonizing the tooth surface in the dentogingival region entailing inflammation in the supporting tissue of the tooth. If the inflammation is left untreated, destruction of the surrounding tissue and tooth loss may be the consequence.

Periodontal disease is a multifactorial disease, the development of which is dependent on the virulence of the microorganisms, the immune response of the host, genetic factors, and environmental factors such as smoking.

During the last decades, research on disease mechanisms and pathogenesis on a molecular level has been in focus. In spite of this, disease etiology and pathogenesis is still not clear.

By the projects in this group, we aim at gaining increased knowledge of how periodontal disease develops on a molecular level in order to improve periodontal disease diagnostics, treatment and prevention in the future. There is a special interest in identifying disease markers. The experiments are performed on biological material from patients with periodontal disease.

One of the projects which is ongoing includes patients with aggressive periodontal disease. This is a form of periodontal disease where there is a rapid destruction of the periodontal attachment apparatus, often in young patients.

People:
Professor Anne Isine Bolstad (Principal Investigator), Department of Clinical Dentistry - Periodontics,
Post doc Manal Mustafa, Department of Clinical Dentistry - Periodontics.
PhD fellow Hager Zein Alabdeen, Department of Clinical Dentistry - Periodontics

https://www.uib.no/personer/Anne.Bolstad
https://www.uib.no/personer/Manal.Mustafa

https://www.uib.no/personer/Hager.Elabdeen

There are also international collaborators in the project.