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The Role of Porphyromonas Gingivalis in the Oral Systemic Connection

Periodontal and Biofilm Diseases of the Mouth

Presented by: Edward J. Zuckerberg, D.D.S., F.A.G.D

Original Publication Date: April 3, 2024

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Course Description:

Most Oral Health Professionals have heard of the pathogen P. Gingivalis, but very few understand that it is the keystone pathogen of periodontal disease and the mechanism by which this organism facilitates the development and severity of systemic diseases such as dementia, cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases, digestive cancers, arthritis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and many others.  

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify P. gingivalis as the keystone pathogen of periodontal disease and articulate its role in the development and severity of systemic diseases such as dementia, cardiovascular diseases, digestive cancers, arthritis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and others.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of how P. gingivalis facilitates the development and exacerbation of systemic diseases, including its impact on systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and immune system modulation.
  • Evaluate current and future therapeutic approaches to reduce the local and systemic effects of P. gingivalis infection, considering their potential efficacy in managing periodontal disease and mitigating the risk of associated systemic conditions.

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Edward J. Zuckerberg, D.D.S., F.A.G.D., graduated from NYU College of Dentistry in 1978. He owned dental practices in Brooklyn and Dobbs Ferry, NY, from 1979 to 2013. Dr. Zuckerberg has been an early adopter of technology, integrating PCs into his office in 1986 and establishing a fully networked, broadband-enabled home-based office by 1996. His pioneering use of digital radiography, CAD/CAM, and paperless office systems attracted the attention of industry leaders, leading to opportunities to lecture, write articles, and beta-test new technologies. 

His interest in technology extended to his family, notably supporting his son Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, in his computer endeavors. Dr. Zuckerberg and his wife Karen, a retired psychiatrist, have three daughters: Randi, formerly of Facebook and now CEO of Zuckerberg Media; Donna, a Princeton Classics Ph.D. graduate and editor of the online publication Eidolon; and Arielle, a partner in a San Francisco financial firm. They also have nine grandchildren. 

Dr. Zuckerberg lectures globally on the Oral Systemic Connection, serves as a Venture Partner at Revere Partners (the First Independent Venture Fund for Oral Health), and is the Chief Dental Advisor for Viome and Keystone Bio. He continues to treat patients part-time in Cupertino, CA and has co-authored textbooks, contributed to dental journals, and frequently appears as a guest on webinars and podcasts.