2OO9 – 2O1O - Faculty of Dentistry - University of Otago

JONATHAN LEICHTER
BA (Connecticut) DMD (Tufts) CertPeriodontology (Harvard)
Oral Sciences
Senior Lecturer
The scope of Mr Leichter’s research demonstrates his
commitment to multiÐdisciplinary collaboration. He has
conducted research and has had publications in highranking
dental journals in the disciplines of periodontology,
microbiology, cariology, dental trauma, endodontics and
dental materials. Mr Leichter has received a number of
research grants, negotiated major equipment donations
and facilitated student research stipends. He has been
a supervisor for DClinDent and PhD student research
theses and undergraduate research projects. These
collaborations have resulted in peer-reviewed publications
and peer-reviewed conference proceedings. On invitation,
he has presented his research in New Zealand, Australia,
United States and Japan. In recognition of his research
expertise, Mr Leichter has been selected to be on the
Asia-Pacific Oral Health Research Panel, the editor of the
Oral Health Research Review, and to act as a reviewer for
several international peer review journals.
Research and Collaboration
Much of Mr Leichter’s research during this period has
been focused on laser applications in dentistry. He has
conducted research on quantifying autofluorescencecontrolled
Er:YAG laser removal of carious dentine, and
laser disinfection of infected root canals, and was involved
in several projects evaluating root-end cavity disinfection
with Er:YSSG lasers. A major focus of his research was
on laser applications in periodontology, comparing
fluorescence-guided Er:YAG laser debridement and
mechanical therapy for the nonsurgical treatment of
chronic periodontitis. This work validated lasers as the
only monotherapy for periodontitis that is comparable to
the gold standard of scaling and root planing.
Recent Publications
Ohlrich EJ, Cullinan MP, Leichter JW. Diabetes,
Periodontitis and the subgingival microbiota. Journal of Oral
Microbiology 2: 5818-5822 (2010).
Schwass DR, Swain MV, Purton DG, Leichter JW. A
system of calibrating micro-tomography for use in caries
research. Caries Research 43: 314-321 (2009).
Allsobrook OFL, Leichter JW, Holborow D, Swain M.
Descriptive Study of the Longevity of Dental Implant
Surgery Drills. Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related
Research.2009. doi: 10.1111/j.1708-8208.2009.00205.x.
ROBERT LOVE
MDS PhD (Otago) FRACDS
Oral Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences
Professor and Head of Department
Professor Love’s prime area of research is based on the
mechanisms involved in dentine colonisation and infection,
with an emphasis on molecular aspects of bacterial
interactions with substances. This work is the only one
to show that bacterial infection of dentine follows all
of the principles of colonisation, an important concept
to determine because understanding should lead on to
prevention. The quality of this work has been recognised
in the way of being invited to write review articles in this
field as well as forming the basis of a book chapter in
Endodontic microbiology. Current research is focussed
on relating the microbial infection aspect of dentine/
endodontic infection to disease progression/pathology,
with the histopathological and immunological profile of
refractory periapical lesions forming the basis of extension
into this field.
Determination of disease patterns is critical to public
health and another area of research involves determining
epidemiological aspects of endodontic disease in the
New Zealand population. Dental injury is a part of this
and we have published the only publication to describe
and quantify dental injuries in a New Zealand population.
Further work is continuing on the aspects of how
endodontic disease presents in a New Zealand population.
Research and Collaboration
Immunohistopathological aspects of bacterial-related
periapical lesions is being conducted as part of the
Immunopathology group of the SJWRI.
PhD student research into ceramic restorations is being
conducted as part of the Biomaterials group of the SJWRI.
PhD student research into microbial infection of
maxillofacial prosthesis is being conducted as part of the
Molecular oral microbiology group of the SJWRI.
Bacterial invasion of dentine is being conducted with
Professor H. Jenkinson, University of Bristol, UK.
Endodontic microbiology is being conducted as part of
the Molecular Microbiology group of the SJWRI.
Epidemiology of endodontic disease is being conducted as
part of the Epidemiology Group of the SJWRI.
39