How the tooth's cementum changes with age and gum disease
Structure and Biology of the Cementum as a Function of Age and Disease
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · NIH-11329545
This project looks at how the thin mineral layer that anchors teeth (cementum) changes as people age and when they have gum disease.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11329545 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will measure chemical, structural, and mechanical features of cementum—the tissue that helps anchor teeth—across different ages. They will compare cementum from healthy and periodontally affected teeth to see how disease alters those features. The team will use lab analyses, high-resolution imaging, and mechanical testing, plus an animal model of gum disease to study causes and progression. Findings aim to link aging-related changes in cementum to worse outcomes in periodontal disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Older adults with periodontal (gum) disease or people concerned about age-related loosening of tooth attachments are the most relevant group for this research.
Not a fit: People without gum disease or those seeking an immediate clinical treatment for existing tooth loss are unlikely to gain direct short-term benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to protect or restore the tooth anchor and help reduce tooth loss in older adults with gum disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have described aspects of cementum and periodontal disease, but combining age-related chemistry, mechanics, and in vivo disease modeling is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO — Chicago, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: REIS-HAVLAT, MARIANA CAVALCANTE — UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
- Study coordinator: REIS-HAVLAT, MARIANA CAVALCANTE
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.