The updated reference integrating oral microbiology and immunology for dentistry

The study of oral microbiology and immunology has entered a new era, shaped by transformative advances in technology and a deeper understanding of the oral ecosystem. The Fourth Edition of Oral Microbiology and Immunology has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect these advances. Drawing on new technologies and approaches, this edition presents the oral cavity as a dynamic environment in which microbes and host tissues constantly influence one another. We now know not only which microorganisms are present, but also how they function together and how their collective behavior contributes to disease.

Key features include:

• Updated coverage of microbial communities and their roles in oral health and disease
• Expanded discussion of host–microbe interactions, including immune sensing and inflammatory memory
• Clear explanation of current concepts underlying caries, periodontitis, and other oral conditions
• New insights into connections between oral health and systemic conditions
• Coverage of innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, including nanotechnology and tissue engineering
• Clear illustrations, concise Key Points, and an integrated approach for student learning

As our understanding of the oral microbiome extends beyond the mouth to encompass systemic health, this text emphasizes the interconnectedness of microbial ecology, immune function, and human disease.

Designed for dental students, graduate students, researchers, clinicians, and educators, Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Fourth Edition provides a clear, current, and accessible guide to a rapidly advancing field.

Richard J. Lamont, PhD, is Professor and Chair of the Department of Oral Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the University of Louisville, USA, where he leads research and graduate education focusing on the molecular mechanisms underlying oral microbial pathogenesis and host responses to the oral microbiota.

George N. Hajishengallis, DDS, PhD, is Professor at the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA, where his research program investigates host-microbe interactions and immune mechanisms that drive inflammatory disease, with particular emphasis on periodontitis and the devel opment of host-modulation therapies.

Hyun (Michel) Koo, DDS, MS, PhD, is Professor at the School of Dental Medicine and Director of the Center for Innovation and Precision Dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA, where he advances research on biofilm biology, microbial pathogenesis, and precision approaches to oral disease prevention using engineering and computational sciences.

Georgios N. Belibasakis, DDS, PhD, is Professor of Clinical Oral Infection Biology, Head of Research, and Head of the Division of Oral Health and Periodontology at the Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, where his research program investigates host-microbe interactions in oral infectious dis eases, their implications in oral diagnostics, as well as their linkage to systemic diseases and conditions.