In the latest episode of the Next ReGeneration podcast, hosts Anina and Elena welcome Filippo Graziani, Professor of Periodontology at the University of Pisa, Italy. Together, they take you on a journey into the connection between oral and overall health, exploring how a healthy mouth can influence the entire body. 

Graziani discusses research showing that periodontal therapy can significantly support glycaemic control in diabetic patients. He also highlights findings of oral bacteria in atheromatous plaques, illustrating the potential connection between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease. 

Periodontitis can furthermore trigger systemic inflammation, thereby aggravating diabetes and increasing heart disease risk. In fact, 57 systemic diseases have already been associated with periodontitis, says Graziani. 

As such, periodontal therapy not only improves patients’ quality of life — it may even support cognitive functions. 

How far can periodontal treatment go in shaping general health outcomes? 

In the latest episode of the Next ReGeneration podcast, hosts Anina and Elena welcome Farah Asa'ad, an expert in epigenetics from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Together they take you on a journey into epigenetics—the science of how lifestyle and external factors influence gene activity. From her award-winning research to the role of epigenetics in periodontitis and peri-implantitis, Asa'ad unpacks complex mechanisms in a way that’s easy to understand.

 She explains how bacteria can alter the epigenetic profile of key immune genes, potentially leading to chronic inflammation and tissue destruction. Additionally, she discusses how epigenetic therapies, such as targeted drugs, could one day help restore oral health at a molecular level.

Could this be the future of personalised dentistry?

For the latest episode of the Next ReGeneration podcast hosts Anina and Elena welcome Nadja Nänni, a specialist in reconstructive dentistry from the University of Zurich in Switzerland. Together they explore the intricate relationship between periodontology and prosthodontics.

Nänni shares her perspective on removable versus fixed prostheses for periodontitis patients, and her hopes for future advancements in diagnosis and treatment. From optimising implant positioning and treatment planning to weighing up the pros and cons of screw-retained versus cement-retained restorations, this discussion is packed with valuable clinical insights.

In the latest episode of the Next ReGeneration podcast, hosts Anina and Elena welcome Ian Needleman, Professor of Periodontology and Healthcare Research at UCL Eastman Dental Institute in London, UK. A passionate runner himself, Needleman has devoted substantial research to exploring the oral health of athletes and its impact on their performance and overall well-being.

Needleman shares fascinating insights from his assessments of athletes' oral health during the London 2012 Olympic Games. His studies consistently reveal that elite athletes frequently suffer from poor oral health, a phenomenon observed across both developing and developed nations. Although the exact mechanisms linking oral health to sports performance are not yet fully understood, inflammation seems to be a key factor. Needleman's research underscores that enhancing oral health can significantly boost athletic performance.

For the latest episode of the Next ReGeneration podcast in 2024 hosts Anina and Elena are joined by Leonardo Trombelli. He shares his unique perspective on how periodontal treatments and implant surgery have evolved throughout the years to become less invasive for patients.

Trombelli looks back on the serendipity moment when he came up with the idea of the single flap approach, that can be used to properly access many periodontal defects. He elaborates on taking advantage of the periosteum in peri-implant regenerative procedures and shares insights on how he came up with the Sub-periosteal peri-implant augmented layer (SPAL) technique to finally highlight his most recent idea of the pedicle periosteal flap.

The connective tissue of Trombelli’s career as a researcher and clinicians is his lifelong mission on making surgical procedures less complex and more accessible to clinicians of various skill levels, while at the same time reducing the invasiveness of the interventions for the patients.

In the latest episode of the Next Regeneration podcast, hosts Anina and Elena talk to Magda Feres, a renowned periodontist and chair of the Department of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Feres shares how her early passion for periodontology shaped the foundation of her extraordinary career. She opens up about the challenges she faced and how she overcame them to become a global leader in the field.

The conversation highlights her groundbreaking research in periodontal microbiology and regenerative therapy, which have transformed clinical practices, as well as the key milestones that have defined her journey. Throughout the interview, Feres also discusses her dedication to mentoring young researchers and her commitment to empowering women to advance in academia. Her innovative research, impactful teaching, and unwavering support for the next generation of scientists continue to inspire and shape the future of periodontology. Don’t miss this insightful and uplifting conversation!

In the latest episode of the Next Regeneration podcast, hosts Anina and Elena talk to Nikos Donos, who shares his more than 20 years of experience using biologics for tissue regeneration and discusses the potential and limitations of different biologic agents. Much of his research has contributed to a better understanding of how different biological factors can enhance specific pathways in the healing cascade, and therefore the importance of using them in a biologically oriented way to maximise their efficacy.

In this interview, Donos reflects on how patient selection will become increasingly important. In this respect, biologics that specifically enhance the resolution of inflammation may likely be beneficial in patients with diseases with inflammatory pathogenesis, such as diabetes. Tune in now to discover expert insights on leveraging biologics for optimal tissue regeneration.

In the latest episode of the Next Regeneration podcast, hosts Anina and Elena talk to Lorenzo Tavelli about his inspiring journey as a periodontist and clinical researcher. Tavelli began his career in Milan, Italy, and then pursued his academic path at the University of Michigan, eventually moving on to the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Along the way, he has published a remarkable number of influential papers on periodontal regeneration and implant dentistry.

In this interview, Tavelli talks about how he became interested in periodontology and the important role his mentors played in shaping his career. He also discusses his belief that the future of dentistry will be more personalised, incorporating new biomaterials, advanced tissue engineering techniques and artificial intelligence.

In the latest episode of the Next Regeneration podcast, hosts Anina and Elena talk to Nagihan Bostanci, the Head of Internationalization in Dentistry and Professor of Inflammation Research in Periodontology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Together they discuss her research on salivary biomarkers. 

Bostanci suggests that salivary markers could revolutionise patient care by profiling risk, monitoring over time, and providing prognostic insights. 

While a single marker may not be sufficient for point-of-care diagnostic tests, she reveals how biomarker analysis could complement existing clinical and radiographic tools. Bostanci also discusses the future of microfluidic devices and the potential of wearable tech for patient monitoring.

In the latest episode of the Next Regeneration podcast, hosts Anina and Elena talk to Nikos Mattheos about his remarkable journey as a periodontist, researcher, and academic teacher. Starting his career in Athens, Greece, Mattheos made significant contributions at the University of Malmö, Bern, and Hong Kong, where he published groundbreaking research in implantology.

He explains how his early interest in digital technologies led to his research projects. An advocate of prosthetically driven implant placement, Mattheos shares his insights on the vital link between periodontology and prosthodontics. He also offers tips for successful implant crown design and offers a glimpse of future trends in implantology.