Marjorie K. Jeffcoat, DMD

Professor
Department of Periodontics

Education

• M.A., University of Pennsylvania (hon)
• Radiology Training Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston 199
• Research Postdoctoral Training (M.M.Sc eq) Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 1996
• Certificate in Periodontology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 1996 DMD, Harvard School of Dental Medicine
• S.B. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1992

Honors/Credentials

• Fauchard Gold Medal, The Pierre Fauchard Academy, 2008 PDA Recognition Award, Pennsylvania Dental Association, 2008
• Institute of Medicine 2005
• Presidentt American Institute for Dental Research 1995, President International Institute for Dental Research 1995, President AO 2005
• Chair Oral Biology and Medicine Study Section, Council, Committee on Women\s Health for the National Institutes of Health
• Past Editor in Chief American Dental Association

Research Interests

Dr. Jeffcoat served as the Morton Amsterdam Dean at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine from July 2003 through June 2008. A member of the National Institutes of Health-NIDCR Advisory Committee for Research on Women’s Health, she has also worked on the editorial boards of a variety of professional research journals for more than 20 years. Prior to joining the School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Jeffcoat served as Assistant Dean of Research and Professor and Chair of the Department of Periodontics at the University of Alabama School of Dentistry. While at Alabama, she was also a professor of biomedical engineering, held the James Rosen Endowed Chair of Dental Research and served as interim chair for the Department of Oral Biology. A graduate of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, she also taught periodontology there for 10 years. Dr. Jeffcoat is a member of the Institute of Medicine, the International College of Dentists, and a past president of the Academy of Osseointegration, the American Association for Dental Research and the International Association for Dental Research.

Dr. Jeffcoat has published more than 200 papers. Her interests include the relationship between periodontal disease and preterm birth, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have addressed the cost effectiveness of dental treatment. Additional studies involve bone grafts and dental implants.

Students participating in the School’s student research program can work on the following projects:

Plaque control for the control of hemoglobin A1C: This study involves the recruitment of patients and use of a novel protocol for plaque control. In the summer of 2011 a student will be able to assess the efficacy of the protocol for plaque control in diabetics (this has not been done). The student will also learn to perform in clinic hemoglobin A1C tests.

Efficacy and risks of risendronate treatment in periodontal disease: A student will learn to measure bone density from radiographs. Projects are available for students who will perform an interim analysis of the efficacy of risendronate on bone density. Another project will perform interim analysis of the risks.

Genetics, periodontal disease and preterm birth: We have a data base of 1000 snips and genes in pregnant women. Projects are available to determine an association between genetics and periodontal disease in pregnant women. As well the association between the success of periodontal treatment will be assessed.

Search PubMed for Articles »