Periodontitis and diabetes mellitus are two interconnected chronic conditions affecting a significant and increasing percentage of the world population.  Un-resolved inflammation is central to their pathogenesis and therapeutic control of one condition has a positive impact on the other.  Professional phagocytes (e.g. neutrophils and macrophages) play critical roles in inflammation and its resolution.

This project investigates the roles of resolving macrophages and their therapeutic activation by the Ω-3-derived SPM resolvin E1 (RvE1) in maintenance of periodontal and metabolic homeostasis during chronic dietary caloric overload (high-fat diet).

There is a lack of reliable tools to monitor small changes in periodontal tissue structure that can predict disease onset and progression around teeth and dental implants in susceptible individuals.    

The goal of this study is to test the validity and reliability of a combined RMS (Raman microspectroscopy) and mOCT (micro-optical coherence tomography) instrument in assessing marginal periodontium in health and periodontitis, in collaboration with Physical Sciences, Inc.   The RMS/mOCT probe will allow for accurate monitoring of disease activity and response to therapy, and personalized management of periodontal and peri-implant conditions.