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GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound are transforming treatment for obesity and diabetes, with some now being used to treat obstructive sleep apnea. But could these increasingly popular medications also affect your teeth and gums?
A researcher at Augusta University's Dental College of Georgia is investigating that question, highlighting a potential connection between GLP-1 medications, sleep apnea treatment and oral health.
John C. Comisi, DDS, DMD, interim chair and professor in the Department of General Dentistry, recently published a review in Clinical Oral Investigations examining how obstructive sleep apnea and GLP-1 medications may influence the oral microbiome — the complex community of bacteria that helps maintain healthy teeth and gums. A New Question About GLP-1 Medications Obstructive sleep apnea can affect oral health through repeated oxygen disruptions, inflammation, mouth breathing and dry mouth. Treating the condition could improve some of these problems, but GLP-1 medications may introduce additional considerations.
“OSA affects much more than sleep,” Comisi said. “The changes that occur throughout the body can also change the environment in the mouth. As we increasingly use medications to treat OSA, we need to understand what those treatments may mean for oral health.” Comisi's review suggests that successful treatment of sleep apnea could improve the oral environment by reducing mouth breathing, acid reflux and other contributing factors.
However, reports involving semaglutide have also raised questions about dry mouth and changes in saliva, which plays an important role in protecting against tooth decay and gum disease.
“There are potentially competing effects happening at the same time,” Comisi said. “Treating sleep apnea could improve several conditions that contribute to an unhealthy oral environment, while the medication itself could potentially affect salivary function. We simply do not have the prospective human studies yet to know what the overall effect will be.” The review, featured in an Oct. 6 Augusta University Jagwire article, calls for additional research tracking patients using GLP-1 medications, including changes in saliva, oral bacteria, cavities and gum disease.
It also highlights the importance of communication between dentists and other health care providers, particularly when patients taking GLP-1 medications require dental procedures involving sedation or general anesthesia.
With GLP-1 medications becoming increasingly common, understanding their broader effects on oral health is an emerging area of research with important implications for patients and dental professionals.
John C. Comisi, DDS, DMD, is interim chair and professor in the Department of General Dentistry at Augusta University's Dental College of Georgia. His expertise provides a valuable perspective on the intersection of dental health, medication use and emerging approaches to patient care.
If you're interested in speaking with Dr. John Comisi about GLP-1 medications, sleep apnea, dry mouth, oral health and the implications of these treatments for dental care, contact AU's External Communications Team mediarelations@augusta.edu to arrange an interview today.
(From left) Jessica Faulkner, PhD, Champa Woodham, MD, Mona Elgazzaz, PhD, and Safia Ogbi (research manager in Faulkner’s lab)
A significant discovery by researchers at Augusta University's Medical College of Georgia is shedding new light on preeclampsia, a potentially life-threatening pregnancy complication affecting an estimated 2% to 8% of pregnancies worldwide.
Published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, the research reveals that a protein commonly used to assess preeclampsia risk may also contribute directly to the disease by triggering excess production of the hormone leptin.
The discovery establishes a previously unknown connection between two biological markers long associated with preeclampsia and could help researchers identify new approaches to treatment.
Jessica L. Faulkner, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Physiology at the Medical College of Georgia and the study's lead author, explained the importance of the findings.
“Preeclampsia patients have elevated levels of both sFlt-1 and leptin, but the relationship between those two factors has remained unclear. Our findings show that sFlt-1 directly increases leptin production and suggest that leptin may be an important link between placental dysfunction and the cardiovascular complications of the disease.” Using human placental tissue, cultured cells and animal models, the research team demonstrated that elevated levels of sFlt-1 increase leptin production, contributing to the blood vessel dysfunction characteristic of preeclampsia. When researchers blocked leptin signaling in pregnant mice, much of that dysfunction was reversed.
The research was made possible through collaboration between Faulkner's laboratory and the Medical College of Georgia's Maternal-Fetal Medicine program, led by Champa Woodham, MD.
Woodham emphasized the importance of connecting laboratory discoveries with clinical care.
“Preeclampsia remains one of the most challenging conditions we manage in maternal-fetal medicine because patients can progress from appearing clinically stable to becoming critically ill very quickly. What makes this research particularly exciting is that it takes sFlt-1, a biomarker we are already using clinically to help assess a patient’s risk and gives us a deeper understanding of how it may actually contribute to the disease process.” Mona Elgazzaz, MD, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in Faulkner's laboratory and the study's first author, highlighted the potential treatment implications.
“Uncovering the crosstalk between sFlt-1 and leptin is crucial because it introduces new potential targets for treating preeclampsia by modulating the proteins that regulate leptin production.” The findings are especially significant because current treatment options remain limited, with delivery of the placenta remaining the only definitive cure.
Although additional research is needed before these discoveries can translate into clinical treatments, the findings offer a promising new direction for understanding and potentially treating a condition that continues to threaten maternal and infant health worldwide.
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association. For journalists covering maternal health, pregnancy complications, cardiovascular disease and emerging medical research, Augusta University's research team offers important expertise on the science behind preeclampsia and the potential implications of this discovery.
To learn more or arrange an interview with the researchers, contact AU's External Communications Team mediarelations@augusta.edu to arrange an interview today.
What can ancient Greece teach modern America about leadership, economic success and the future of business?
That question is at the center of a recent commentary by Rick Franza, PhD, professor at Augusta University's James M. Hull College of Business, published in Augusta Business Daily earlier this month.
In his article, "Marco Rubio's Look Back to Move Us Forward: What He Nailed and What He Missed," Franza examines a speech delivered by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Athens, Greece, and considers its implications for American businesses, leadership and international relations.
Franza explores Rubio's emphasis on ambition, competition, innovation and risk-taking, connecting these themes to the characteristics that have historically contributed to economic development and business success.
He also identifies two important considerations he believes deserved greater attention: the role of morality and ethics in leadership and the importance of international trade to economic prosperity.
"I am not saying we should be driven by greed and vanity, but rather be willing to continue to strive rather than waiting for others to catch up." Franza's commentary offers a perspective on how lessons from history can inform contemporary discussions about business leadership, economic policy and America's relationships with its international partners.
As political and economic debates continue, Franza can help journalists explore the intersection of government policy, business competitiveness, ethical leadership and international commerce.
If you're interested in speaking with Dr. Rick Franza about business leadership, economic policy, international trade and the relationship between politics and business, simply click on his profile to arrange an interview today.
