Periodontal Disease: From Pathophysiology to Novel Therapeutic Approaches—2nd Edition

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular and Translational Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2027 | Viewed by 1398

Editor

UB Microbiome Center, Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, 345 Biomedical Research Building, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
Interests: machine learning; bioinformatics; computational biology; periodontal disease
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Periodontal disease is a multifaceted infectious condition influenced by an intricate interplay of various etiologic and contributory factors. Multiple experimental studies have supported the finding that periodontal disease is initiated by a synergistic and dysbiotic microbial community, which modulates the host response in ways that impair immune surveillance rather than by specific ‘periopathogens’. Inflammation and dysbiosis in the subgingival microbiome positively reinforce each other in the development of periodontal disease. Recent advancements in high-throughput sequencing and multiomics have significantly enhanced our understanding of the complex interactions between the oral microbiome and the host’s immune response. Additionally, several artificial intelligence (AI) models have been developed for periodontal applications. By leveraging advanced techniques and analytical tools, such as machine learning algorithms, we can uncover novel insights into the mechanisms driving periodontal disease progression and explore new opportunities for developing personalized therapeutic interventions. This Special Issue seeks contributions that delve into the multifaceted pathophysiology of periodontal disease, exploring its molecular, microbial, and immunological underpinnings. Furthermore, this Special Issue will highlight innovative therapeutic strategies, ranging from novel pharmacological interventions and regenerative techniques to cutting-edge technologies like machine learning and personalized medicine approaches. By bringing together research from these diverse areas, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of periodontal disease and pave the way for the development of more effective diagnostic, preventive, and treatment modalities.

Dr. Lu Li
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomedicines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • periodontal disease
  • oral microbiome
  • dysbiosis
  • artificial intelligence (AI)
  • personalized therapeutic interventions

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Other

16 pages, 323 KB  
Systematic Review
Hyaluronic Acid as an Adjunct in Bone Regeneration—A Systematic Review
by Lola Hennebelle, Cátia Reis, Marta Relvas, Filomena Salazar, Rosana Costa, Cristina Cabral and Ana Sofia Vinhas
Biomedicines 2026, 14(7), 1514; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines14071514 - 5 Jul 2026
Viewed by 445
Abstract
Background: Bone tissue is a dynamic structure capable of continuous remodeling; however, its regenerative capacity is limited in critical-size defects, often requiring the use of bone grafting procedures. Available grafting materials present inherent limitations, highlighting the need for strategies that can enhance regenerative [...] Read more.
Background: Bone tissue is a dynamic structure capable of continuous remodeling; however, its regenerative capacity is limited in critical-size defects, often requiring the use of bone grafting procedures. Available grafting materials present inherent limitations, highlighting the need for strategies that can enhance regenerative outcomes. Hyaluronic acid (HA) has been proposed as a promising adjunctive agent because of its biological properties, including anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic effects. Objective: To systematically evaluate the available clinical evidence regarding the effects of HA as an adjunct in bone regeneration procedures, including alveolar ridge preservation, ridge augmentation, and maxillary sinus elevation. Materials and Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Wiley Online Library databases for studies published within the last 10 years. Clinical studies involving adult patients were included if they evaluated the local application of HA, regardless of formulation, and reported quantitative clinical, radiographic, histological, or histomorphometric outcomes related to bone regeneration. Results: Of the 728 records initially identified, 10 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis. Discussion: Overall, the available evidence suggests that HA may positively influence bone regeneration outcomes. The most consistent benefits were observed in alveolar ridge preservation and ridge augmentation procedures, including increased new bone formation, improved bone density, enhanced bone maturation, and reduced dimensional bone loss. In contrast, findings regarding maxillary sinus augmentation were less consistent. Conclusions: HA appears to be a promising adjunct in bone regeneration procedures. However, the current evidence remains limited and is primarily based on clinical outcomes, providing insufficient mechanistic data to fully elucidate its biological effects. Further well-designed randomized controlled trials with standardized protocols are required before definitive clinical recommendations can be established. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 1009 KB  
Systematic Review
Periodontitis, Endothelial Dysfunction, and Systemic Inflammation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Flow-Mediated Dilation
by Cristina Ples, Cristina Savencu, Ana-Maria Pah, Gheorghe Stoichescu-Hogea, Diana-Maria Mateescu and Roxana Oancea
Biomedicines 2026, 14(5), 1106; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines14051106 - 14 May 2026
Viewed by 526
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition associated with systemic vascular dysfunction and elevated cardiovascular risk. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to quantitatively evaluate the association between periodontitis and endothelial dysfunction and to assess the effects of periodontal therapy on [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition associated with systemic vascular dysfunction and elevated cardiovascular risk. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to quantitatively evaluate the association between periodontitis and endothelial dysfunction and to assess the effects of periodontal therapy on endothelial function and inflammatory biomarkers. Methods: Conducted per PRISMA 2020 and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261309247). Electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library) were searched for observational and interventional studies assessing endothelial function in patients with periodontitis. Risk of bias was evaluated using RoB 2, ROBINS-I, and the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale; certainty of evidence was assessed with GRADE. Pooled effects on flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and inflammatory markers were estimated using random-effects meta-analysis (DerSimonian–Laird). Results: Fourteen studies were included in qualitative synthesis; six contributed quantitative FMD data. Observational studies consistently demonstrated impaired endothelial function and elevated inflammatory markers in patients with periodontitis versus controls. Meta-analysis showed that periodontal therapy significantly improved endothelial function (pooled FMD: +3.3 percentage points; 95% CI 1.7–4.9; I2 = 77%; p < 0.001), though results should be interpreted cautiously given substantial heterogeneity and the limited number of studies (n = 6). Periodontal treatment reduced CRP levels (mean difference −0.38 mg/L; I2 = 41%); IL-6 showed a favorable direction but with very low certainty of evidence. Publication bias could not be reliably assessed given the small number of included studies. Conclusions: Periodontitis is associated with impaired endothelial function and systemic inflammation. Periodontal therapy leads to measurable improvements in both, supporting its role as a potentially modifiable contributor to cardiovascular risk. Larger randomized trials with long-term cardiovascular endpoints are warranted. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop