About Us

Printable Version

The Center for Oral and Systemic Diseases (COSD) was established in April of 1998 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry in collaboration with the School of Medicine and Public Health. The COSD is a multi-disciplinary group of investigative scientists, clinicians and research specialists, which functions as a research unit with associated educational, patient-care and services activities. The purpose to establish the COSD was to create an organizational framework for collaboration and growth.

COSD research focuses on exploring the impact of oral disease on systemic health, an area of research originally called Periodontal Medicine. Periodontal Medicine was a term first used by S. Offenbacher (Annals of Periodontology, 1997) to describe a new field of periodontology that explores the impact of oral infection on systemic health. This differs from the traditional emphasis that has been on understanding how systemic diseases, such as diabetes, influence the expression and treatment of periodontal diseases. This new discipline has been pioneered by UNC investigators who have provided data demonstrating that periodontal infection can be linked to important systemic conditions including cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarctions, stoke, and preterm low birth weight children.

Last modified: 03/17/2003 at 12:14:13