Periodontal diseases and systemic health

We focus on the relations between periodontal and non-oral health. Periodontal diseases are microbial diseases controlled by the immune system. They induce a low-grade systemic inflammation or if already existing, aggravate it. We explore factors, which predispose to periodontal diseases or protect against them (medications, genetic factors, metabolic syndrome, obesity impaired glucose tolerance etc.). Another focus is to study whether infectious periodontal diseases contribute to the development of systemic diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus or Alzheimer’s disease.

Research group information

Unit and faculty

Research Unit of Population Health
Faculty of Medicine

Contact information

Research group leader

  • Professor
    Pekka Ylöstalo

Research group description

Commonly accepted risks for periodontal diseases explain only partially the individual susceptibility to periodontal diseases. We focus on novel risk factors, which predispose individual to periodontal diseases or protect against them (medications, genetic factors, metabolic syndrome, obesity impaired glucose tolerance etc.). The project will generate knowledge on the role of non-oral health, systemic conditions and medications in the development or progression of periodontal diseases. As periodontal diseases are infectious diseases with inflammatory component, another focus is study the role of periodontal diseases in the development of systemic diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus or Alzheimer’s disease. This line of research generates knowledge for the treatment and prevention of certain non-oral inflammatory diseases.

Our team

Where are we headed

To generate knowledge on the novel risk factors of periodontal diseases and the effect of periodontal diseases on non-oral health

Our main collaborators

  • Professor emeritus Matti Knuuttila, University of Oulu
  • Professor Johannes Kettunen, University of Oulu
  • Professor Antti Jula, National Institute of Public Health and Welfare
  • Professor Sirpa Hartikainen, University of Eastern Finland
  • DDS, PhD Kaija Komulainen, University of Eastern Finland
  • Professor Liisa Suominen, University of Eastern Finland
  • DDS, PhD Saxlin Tuomas, University of Eastern Finland

How to find us

pekka.ylostalo[at]oulu.fi