CV
She completed her Dentistry degree at the University of Marmara in 1993. Her Doctor of Philosophy, in Oral Diagnosis and Radiology, was awarded in 1999. She attained the position of Associate Professor Degree in Oral Diagnosis and Radiology in 2007. Currently, she is working in the Department of Maxilofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul Okan University as a professor. In 2004, she had the opportunity to be an academic visitor in Research Center for Clinical and Diagnostic Oral Sciences, University of London Queen Mary’s School of Medicine and Dentistry. Her primary research interests include aetiology and management of Behçet’s disease, Sjögren Syndrome, patient-reported outcome measures in dermatological and rheumatological diseases, dental informatics, statistics, information security and privacy in healthcare, as well as distance learning in health sciences. Throughout her career, she has authored numerous original research papers, review articles, and textbook chapters related to her research interest. In addition, she is also a Board member of the European Association of Oral Medicine (EAOM) as the Region 5 Representative.
The Relationship Between Oral Health and General Health
Oral environment is a dynamic ecosystem that cover saliva, mucosal surfaces, components of local and systemic immune system, species of bacteria, viruses and fungi. Chronic diseases, nutrition and lifestyle choices, immune-suppressive medications, broad-spectrum antibiotics, polypharmacy that alters salivary flow rate have impacts on the oral ecosystem. Regular oral hygiene habits lead to decrease in bacterial load and positively affect the treatment plans of patients with chronic diseases such as Rheumatoid arthritis and Behçet’s disease. Moreover, both general health status and quality of life could be affected by the presence of oral infection foci, pain and impaired oral functions. Close associations are also available between oral health and daily life. Oral ulcer activity in patient with Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis and decrease in salivary flow rate in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome could cause productivity loss and daily activity impairment. Since oral health is an essential component of the general health status, patient empowerment strategies focusing oral health should be considered.