Oral health innovations, controversies center of dental symposium

BUFFALO, N.Y. – World-renowned dental researchers will discuss pressing issues and advancements in dentistry at the upcoming symposium, “Innovations and Controversies in Oral Health: Connecting the Dots from Research to Practice.”

Hosted by the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine in cooperation with the Eighth District Dental Society, the symposium will cover topics that range from how genetics influence dental caries and periodontal disease to the potential for stem cells to regenerate oral tissues.

The event will be held May 19-20 at the Marriott Harborcenter at 95 Main Street in Buffalo. Discussions will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, May 20. Guests are invited to attend a welcome reception at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 19.

For more details or to register, visit buffaloce.org or call 716-829-2320.

“Our intention is to bring together accomplished investigators working in important areas of dental research with the goal of identifying those areas of basic science that can impact clinical practice,” says Frank Scannapieco, DMD, PhD, symposium chair and professor and chair of the UB Department of Oral Biology.

The event is the latest in a series of oral biology symposia sponsored by the School of Dental Medicine, which aim to bring together dental researchers and clinicians to discuss essential topics in oral health care.

Speakers and topics include:

• “Role of Host in Periodontal Disease Pathogenesis,” Alpdogan Kantarci, DDS, PhD, associate member of the staff at Forsyth Institute and adjunct associate professor at Boston University.
• “Oral Microbial Communities and Their Role in Local and Systemic Diseases,” Richard Lamont, PhD, Delta Dental Endowed Professor and chair of the Department of Oral Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the University of Louisville.
• “Recent Evidence for a Genetic Basis of Periodontitis,” Thomas C. Hart, DDS, PhD, professor of periodontics at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry.
• “In Pursuit of the Factors that Define Individual Susceptibility to Caries,” Alexandre R. Vieira, DDS, PhD, associate professor and director of clinical research at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine.
• “Evidence that Periodontal Disease Causes Chronic Systemic Disease,” Panos Papapanou, DDS, PhD, professor and chair of the Section of Oral and Diagnostic Sciences at the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine.
• “Does Periodontal Disease Really Cause Systemic Disease?” Frank Scannapieco, DMD, PhD, professor and chair of the UB Department of Oral Biology.
• “It’s a Mouthful: New Strategies for Using Stem Cells in Tissue Regeneration and Repair,” Rose-Anne Romano, PhD, assistant professor of oral biology in the UB School of Dental Medicine.
• “Recent Innovations in Photobiomodulation Treatment of Dental Diseases,” Praveen Arany, DDS, PhD, assistant professor of oral biology in the UB School of Dental Medicine.

The symposium is sponsored in part by educational grants from Colgate Palmolive and Ivoclar Vivadent.