Understanding how bacteria affect dental implant health
Commensal modulation of Peri-implant Microbiome Dysbiosis via Veillonella parvula
This project looks at how certain bacteria around dental implants contribute to inflammation and bone loss, aiming to find new ways to keep implants healthy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145767 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Dental implants can sometimes develop a serious infection called peri-implantitis, which causes bone loss and can impact your quality of life. Current treatments often don't work well because the bacteria involved are complex and resistant. This project explores how tiny titanium particles, released from implants, create stress that changes the types of bacteria living around the implant. We are especially interested in a specific bacterium, Veillonella parvula, and how it survives these stressful conditions and helps other harmful bacteria thrive. By understanding these bacterial defenses, we hope to discover better ways to prevent and treat peri-implantitis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who have dental implants or are considering them, especially those concerned about or experiencing peri-implantitis, might find this research relevant.
Not a fit: Patients without dental implants or those whose oral health issues are unrelated to implant-associated infections would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new and more effective treatments for peri-implantitis, helping patients keep their dental implants healthy for longer.
How similar studies have performed: While the link between titanium particles and inflammation is known, this specific approach of targeting Veillonella parvula's genetic mechanisms to modulate the peri-implant microbiome is a novel area of investigation.
Where this research is happening
Newark, UNITED STATES
- Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences — Newark, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kotsakis, Georgios — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Kotsakis, Georgios
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.