Periodontal Research
The department has been actively involved in research. Research has included three primary areas. The first has been the evaluation of immunomodulation in the treatment of periodontitis. Multiple investigations including the use of low dose doxycycline helped in the FDA approval of PeriostatTM as an adjunct in the treatment of adult periodontitis. The second has involved the findings of our Mountain State Oral-Facial Microbiology Laboratory which was established in 1999 (see below).Combining resources of a dental research laboratory and a hospital clinical laboratory has resulted in a number of national and international presentations and publications. A recent example of this research has been the submission of a paper that describes a shift of periodontal pathogens of samples received to more non-traditional perioisolates, yeast, and pseudomonas over the last three years. This may reflect changes in
environmental selective pressures.

The last has involved collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and focused on oral health disparities found in Appalachia. The original 6.1 million dollar seven year grant has had a recent added supplement of 1.47 million and utilizes state-of-the-art statistical and molecular genetic approaches, evaluations of health behaviors, economic status, family structure, and family environment to determine if any of these factors impacts oral health. Once we identify these factors, our goal will be to design oral disease prevention programs, hopefully helping to improve the oral health in Appalachia. Initial findings were presented in 8 papers at the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Meeting, March 9-12, 2005 in Baltimore.

Mountain State Oral Microbiology Laboratory
The Mountain State Oral Microbiology Laboratory is a collaborative arrangement with the Department of Periodontics in the WVU School of Dentistry, the Department of Pathology
in the WVU School of Medicine and the WVU Hospitals Clinical Laboratory. The oral microbiology laboratory is tailored for detection, identification, and resistance testing of the most significant viable microorganisms using rapid microscopy and culture techniques. Practitioners throughout the State and region submit bacterial culture specimens from periodontal patients for analysis to assist in antibiotic treatment decisions regarding
periodontal therapy.

The Mountain State Oral Microbiology Laboratory is part of a full service College of American Pathology Accredited, CLIA Licensed, Clinical Microbiology/Virology Laboratory at WVU and has been a leading research laboratory in three national periodontal studies since 1994. Faculty in Periodontics involved with the clinical aspects of the lab are Dr. Robert Hornbrook, Dr. Richard Crout, and Dr. Louise Veselicky. Dr. John Thomas, a microbiologist in the WVU Dept. of Pathology, and an adjunct professor in the Department of Periodontics, analyzes the pathogenic oral isolates. The team members meet to discuss the submitted cases and information is then forwarded to the practitioner. Further information and how to obtain kits for microbial sampling can be found at www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/microguide.

Department of Periodontics Tobacco Cessation Program
The Department of Periodontics instituted the first organized Tobacco Cessation Program in the School of Dentistry in the fall of 2002 by using a pilot program to gain information about the prevalence of smokers seen by predoctoral students in Clinical Periodontics.

The Tobacco Cessation Program is under the guidance of Dr. Susan Morgan, a part-time general dentist
faculty member in the Department of Periodontics, with additional responsibilities in the Department of Endodontics. All faculty in the Department of Periodontics are a part of implementing the Tobacco Cessation Program in Clinical Periodontics.

All periodontal patients who use tobacco are offered the opportunity to take part in the Tobacco Cessation Program. Any of these patients that have an interest in tobacco cessation is enrolled in the program and counseled about cessation. Appropriate pharmacological agents are prescribed to assist with cessation and the intraoral camera is utilized to show patients the oral problems related to tobacco use. If determined necessary, any lesions of concern are subjected to biopsy and referred to Oral Pathology for microscopic analysis. The Oral Brush Biopsy technique may also be considered for use depending on the findings at the examination.

All patients that are enrolled in the Tobacco Cessation Program are referred to the West Virginia Y-NOT-QUIT Line (1-877-966-8784) for them to gain additional information regarding their tobacco habit.

Research information gained from the Tobacco Cessation Program in the Department of Periodontics has already lead to research publications and presentations and more will follow as the program continues.