Grant: Operating Grant - PA: IMHA - New Investigator - Oral Health Bridge Funding

The tooth is anchored to the bone via the periodontal ligament. This is important as it allows livelong chewing without problems. The overlaying gum tissue seals the tooth completely off. If this seal is broken, bacteria can infect the gum tissue, which leads to gum disease (gingivitis) or periodondal disease (periodontitis). Periodontitis can lead to the loss of affected teeth but also increase the risk for heart problems or arthritis. Despite the importance of maintaining a healthy tooth-gum complex, the biology that ensures it remains poorly understood. Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs) are important signaling molecules. They can induce bone, and hence are used in the clinic to enhance bone healing. BMPs also regulate the development, maintenance, and repair of many other tissues, including teeth. We recently found that BMPs were also present in adult gum tissue. We will therefore investigate whether these molecules are required for maintaining a healthy gum or healthy teeth. We will also investigate whether these molecules are involved in the development of gum disease. Last, we will test whether small differences in the amount of BMPs can influence whether a gum disease turns into periodontitis.