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Comp. Ctr. for Inflammatory Disorders

UNC-CH School of Dentistry

Newsmakers:
Floss for the Heart
by Jill Aitoro

Flossing may help prevent heart attacks.

No, that’s not a typo. Gum disease and pesky cavities are no longer the principal motivations to maintain good oral hygiene.

Thanks to research that will take place at the new Comprehensive Center for Inflammatory Disorders at the School of Dentistry, people can anticipate dentists preaching oral health to protect against heart disease, stroke, and even premature births.

Recent studies were conducted using a population that was at high risk for heart attacks. After analyzing the population’s general health, Carolina researchers found that people with severe gum disease were more likely to develop heart disease than those without gum problems. Other studies showed that pregnant women with severe gum disease were seven times more likely to deliver premature babies.

Under the direction of Patrick Flood, associate professor of periodontology and associate dean for research, a team of UNC-CH researchers will use $22 million in federal and corporate funding to open the center for further research regarding links between oral inflammation and other inflammatory conditions. The $10 million federal grant is the largest ever given by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and the largest ever received by the dental school.

Inflammation is the normally protective—but sometimes destructive—immune system response that occurs when the body perceives a real threat, Flood says. The objective of the center is to understand the underlying mechanisms of all types of inflammatory diseases. “Instead of investigating a particular disease, you investigate how that disease impacts all other inflammatory diseases,” Flood says.

By bringing together various groups with mutual interests and forging ahead in research, relationships among professionals within the field can develop, anti-inflammatory therapies can improve, and word can get out, Flood says. Thirty-three investigators, primarily from dentistry, medicine, and public health, will pool their skills while collaborating on 16 projects.

In addition to research, the center will train others within the field, inform professionals of significant advancements, and educate the public. While the center is still getting off the ground, public awareness is a primary goal. “Oral health may be as important in preventing heart attack and premature births as smoking and alcohol,” Flood says.

Article by Jill Aitoro
Illustration by Neil Caudle, used with permission.
© Copyright 2000 Endeavors magazine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. All rights reserved.

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