The American Academy of Periodontology recently convened the Best Evidence Consensus Meeting on the Prevention of Peri-Implantitis in Chicago from May 15–18.

On Wednesday, May 14, 2026, the Department of Periodontics held its annual awards luncheon in W220 at the College of Dentistry. Awards were presented to D2 and D4 students in recognition of academic achievement, clinical excellence, leadership, and commitment to the specialty of periodontics.

Dr. Sukirth Ganesan, associate professor and graduate program director in the Department of Periodontics at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics, recently served as an examiner for the oral examination component of the American Board of Periodontology, held April 27–May 1 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Dr. Ankita Samal, a third-year resident in the Periodontics Program at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics, earned second place in the Clinical Case Competition at the Midwest Society of Periodontology Annual Meeting held in Chicago.

Sukirth Ganesan is leading a clinical study examining whether an arginine‑containing toothpaste can influence the subgingival microbiome in patients receiving supportive periodontal care. The six‑month trial will track microbial and clinical changes to determine whether this common dentifrice ingredient can support long‑term periodontal health without increasing disease risk.

Sukirth Ganesan received an NIH R01 award to study how improvements in metabolic health influence the oral microbiome. The interdisciplinary research team, led by Ganesan, includes investigators from the College of Dentistry and the Carver College of Medicine, spanning expertise in endocrinology, bariatric surgery, nutrition and dietetics, immunology, biochemistry, and computational biology. His team will track microbial and metabolic changes in the mouth over time to identify early biomarkers that support prevention and improve oral and overall health outcomes.

Dr. Jeremy Bobera (’22 DDS, ’25 MS) has been named a recipient of the 2025 Balint Orban Award at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Periodontology, held this year in Toronto.

Steven Levy and Shaoping Zhang are contributing to a new NIDCR-funded study developing statistical tools to explore links between dental caries and periodontal disease. The project uses national oral health data and will produce an open-source software package to help researchers improve analysis and support better patient outcomes.

Dr. Huojun Cao (Endodontics) and Dr. Eric Van Otterloo (Periodontics) have been awarded a $3 million NIH R01 grant to investigate how genetic programs guide the development of oral, dental, and skin tissues in the lower jaw.

A recent graduate from the Department of Periodontics, Dr. Jeremy Bobera, has been named one of eight finalists in the prestigious Balint Orban Memorial Competition.