Core Research Area
The University of Iowa College of Dentistry is a worldwide leader in studies of microbiology and the microbiome and their effects on caries progression, periodontal disease and on oral cancer.
The interactions between the host and its commensal oral microflora are complex yet profoundly affect the balance between health and disease. College of Dentistry researchers are investigating this balance from a variety of perspectives -- microbial activity, inflammation, immunity, cell biology -- in an effort to understand how to maintain a healthy mouth or to restore health if disease occurs.