Division of Periodontology

Effie Ioannidou, D.D.S., M.D.Sc.

Assistant Professor

Effie Ioannidou, D.D.S., M.D.Sc., studies the association between periodontal disease and chronic kidney disease. Her multidisciplinary research approach that involves periodontology, nephrology and behavioral science investigates the possible mechanism of inflammatory changes in chronic kidney disease population. Her current funded research project explores the contribution of periodontitis to the increased incidence of atherosclerotic complications and mortality rates in hemodialysis and pre-dialysis patients. Her research is also focusing on the impact of depressive symptoms in the inflammatory status of chronic kidney disease patients in hemodialysis.

Current and Future Research Plans
Her research work enters a novel multidisciplinary research field with the main objective being to explore the relationship between chronic periodontal infection, systemic inflammatory markers and cardiovascular mortality in chronic kidney disease population. This project explores the link between periodontal inflammation, systemic inflammation, clinical depressive symptoms and cardiovascular events in the chronic kidney disease population. Since several non-traditional risk factors may modify the inflammatory status of these patients, possibly affecting the cardiovascular mortality rates, we hypothesized that periodontitis could be one of these non-traditional risk factors. As a result, her research team is assessing prevalence data of periodontal infection in this hemodialysis and pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease population and related mechanisms of increased systemic inflammation levels. Moreover, they investigate the effect of depressive symptoms on their periodontal and systemic inflammatory status.

Data from this pilot project will be used to further explore the relationship between periodontal and systemic inflammation in this population by designing prospective controlled studies monitoring periodontal status, cardiovascular events and hemodialysis survival in chronic kidney disease populations. Moreover, future interventional studies will explore the effect of periodontal treatment and depression coping on the systemic inflammatory markers in this population and the impact of such interventions on cardiovascular mortality.

Degrees, Year Attained and University Attended

• M.D.Sc., 1999, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
• Certificate of Periodontology, 1999, University of Connecticut Health Center
• D.D.S., 1995, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Brief Chronology of Professional Career

• 2002 - Present: Assistant Professor, Division of Periodontology, University of Connecticut Health Center
• 2000 - 2002: Private Practice limited in Periodontology and Implantology, Thessaloniki, Greece
• 2000 - 2002: Clinical Instructor, Department of Periodontology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
• 1999 - 2000: Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Pacific, San Francisco, California

Main Responsibilities

Teaching, research, patient care with University Dentists.

Courses Taught

• ODI Periodontology (D200-330) (Course Director)
• Patient Instructor Course (Course Director)
• Biodontics (Dent #440) (Course Director)
• Periodontal Diseases and Their Treatment (D300-330)
• Periodontal Pathobiology
• Implant Therapy
• Oral Microbiology
• Pediatric Dentistry (D200-250)
• Tunxis Dental Hygiene Program

Major Research Interest

Clinical research focusing on periodontal and systemic inflammation.

Recent Publications

Ioannidou E. Periodontal disease In: Oral Health for the Family Physician. American Academy of Family Medicine Home Study Monograph. Eds: Douglass A., Douglass J., 2003.

Ioannidou E., Makris G.P. Twelve year follow-up of an autogenous mandibular canine transplant. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod, 2003;96(5):582-90.

Ioannidou E., Dean J.W. Osteotome sinus floor elevation and simultaneous non-submerged implant placement, 2000, 71(10):1613-9.

Doufexi A., Mina M., Ioannidou E. Gingival overgrowth in children. Epidemiology, pathogenesis and complications. J Periodontol 2005;76:3-10.

Ioannidou E. Therapeutic modulation of growth factors and cytokines in regenerative medicine. Curr Pharm Des. 2006;12(19):2397-2408

Ioannidou E., Doufexi A. Does loading affect implant survival? A meta-analysis of 1266 implants. J Periodontol 2006;77:1-9

Ioannidou E., Dongari-Bagtzoglou A. Elevated serum IL-6 in solid organ transplant recipients is positively associated with tissue destruction and IL-6 gene expression in the periodontium. J Periodontol 2006;77(11):1871-1878.

Ioannidou E., Dongari-Bagtzoglou A. Effect of periodontal treatment on C-reactive protein. A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Periodontol 2006;77(10):1635-1642.

Ioannidou E. Therapeutic modulation of growth factors and cytokines in regenerative medicine. Curr Pharm Des. 2006;12(19):2397-2408.

Dongari-Bagtzoglou A.I., Ioannidou E., Dwivedi P.*, Burleson J., Hull D. Oral Candida colonization in solid organ transplant recipients. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2006; 10(S1): S18-S19.

Ioannidou E, Doufexi A. Does loading affect implant survival? A meta-analysis of 1266 implants. J Periodontol 2006;77:1-9.