Periodontology
Education in periodontics for undergraduate students includes the basic knowledge about the anatomy and physiology of the periodontium and the competence of preventing, diagnosing, and treating periodontal diseases at the general dentist level. During the 3-year specialist education, the specialist trainees will get the competence of treating advanced periodontal and peri-implant diseases and, in addition, working in multidisciplinary treatment teams for patients needing advanced stomatognathic rehabilitation.
University of Turku, Institute of Dentistry, Lemminkäisenkatu 2, FI-20520 Turku
Office Assistant Sari Heikkilä
Professor and Chair, DDS, PhD Ulvi Gürsoy
Docent (Adjunct Professor), University Lecturer, DDS, PhD Mervi Gürsoy
University Teacher, DDS Katriina Lähdetie
University Teacher (part-time), DDS Sanni Grönroos
University Teacher (part-time), DDS Anna Krook
Professor (emerita) Eija Könönen
Docent (Adjunct Professor), DDS, PhD Marja Pöllänen
Docent (Adjunct Professor), DDS, PhD, MSc Hellevi Ruokonen
Docent (Adjunct Professor), PhD Pirkko Pussinen
The study objects are periodontal infection and infection-induced inflammation, oral biofilm-host interaction, impact of periodontal disease on systemic conditions, and salivary diagnostics in periodontology.
A major part of our research is directed to the use of saliva in large-scale studies to detect the inflammatory process, including alveolar bone destruction, and associated factors of innate immunity with the help of salivary biomarkers and/or bacterial combinations.
Another research line is basic laboratory work, where our interest is the interaction of oral anaerobes with host cells in the periodontium.