Obesity among children and teens has reached alarming levels nationwide—and Kentucky is among the states most affected. But while many people associate obesity with diabetes or heart disease, researchers at the University of Kentucky are turning their attention to another part of the body that might be affected: the mouth.
A new study, MODERN-Dental, is taking a closer look at how modern obesity treatments could also benefit oral health, potentially improving gum health and reducing inflammation in adolescents with extreme obesity. The project could lay the groundwork for a new model of integrated medical and dental care for children.
MODERN-Dental is an ancillary study of the ongoing MODERN Trial (Mitigation of Cardiovascular Disease Risks in Children with Extreme Obesity), led by Dr. Jon Bauer in the Department of Pediatrics. The parent study is following youth who are being treated with semaglutide—a medication best known by brand names such as Ozempic and Wegovy—to better understand its impact on heart and metabolic health.
Building on that foundation, the MODERN-Dental team, led by Dr. Oelisoa Andriankaja, Assistant Professor at the UK College of Dentistry, will explore how semaglutide-related weight loss affects gum inflammation, the oral microbiome, and other markers of oral and systemic health.
To support this innovative work, Dr. Andriankaja recently received a Breakthrough Ideas Grant (BIG) ($125K/yr for 3 years) funded by the Barnstable Brown Diabetes and Obesity Center and The Bill Gatton Foundation. The 3-year pilot grant ($125K/yr) was created "to provide support for rapid translation of dramatic breakthroughs from the laboratory to patients from Kentucky and beyond." The BIG program provides "support for rapid translation of dramatic breakthroughs from the laboratory to patients from Kentucky and beyond"—making it an ideal fit for MODERN-Dental’s goals. The study also receives support from the EXCEL program and the Department of Pediatrics through mentorship and resources.
“We know obesity affects the entire body, not just metabolism,” said Dr. Andriankaja. “What we don’t yet understand is how improving metabolic health might also improve oral health—especially in young people. That’s what makes this study so exciting.”
Obesity triggers a state of chronic low-grade inflammation, where the immune system stays mildly activated all the time. This can damage blood vessels and increase the risk for diabetes and heart disease—but it may also make the gums more prone to infection and inflammation.
In adults, gum disease (periodontitis) and metabolic disorders have been shown to influence each other in a two-way relationship: poor metabolic health can worsen oral inflammation, while oral inflammation can feed back into systemic disease. Until now, this link has rarely been studied in children or teens.
“Kids with obesity may already be showing the earliest signs of this interaction between metabolic and oral inflammation,” explained Dr. Andriankaja. “If we can identify those patterns early, we can intervene earlier and prevent more serious disease down the road.”
The MODERN-Dental study will follow 50 adolescents, ages 12–18, who are already participating in the main MODERN trial. Over 12 months, researchers will monitor their oral and metabolic health through a series of noninvasive assessments:
Half of the participants will also receive professional dental cleanings as part of an exploratory test to see whether combining regular oral care with semaglutide therapy amplifies health improvements.
All exams and cleanings will take place at the UK College of Dentistry Wellness Center, in collaboration with pediatric dentist Dr. Debora Scheffel, licensed dental hygienist Dawn Dawson, and a multidisciplinary team of medical researchers.
“Our hope is that this study not only improves understanding of oral-systemic health,” said Dr. Scheffel, “but also helps normalize regular dental care as part of obesity treatment—especially for families who might not otherwise have easy access.”
Kentucky’s children face some of the highest rates of both obesity and tooth decay in the nation. According to state and national surveys, more than one in five Kentucky adolescents are classified as obese, and dental decay remains a leading chronic condition among children in the Commonwealth.
“This work is especially relevant for Kentucky,” said Dr. Bauer, co-lead investigator of the MODERN Trial. “We’re seeing kids who are already at risk for metabolic disease, and many of them also have oral health challenges. Integrating these areas of care could make a real difference in their long-term health.”
The study will also explore how biological markers in saliva or gum tissue could serve as early warning signs for systemic disease—a step toward noninvasive tools for monitoring treatment response and disease risk.
MODERN-Dental is designed as a pilot study, supported by internal funding from the EXCEL program and the Department of Pediatrics. The goal is to collect foundational data that could support a larger, federally funded study through the National Institutes of Health.
Findings could influence how pediatric obesity is managed nationwide—especially in underserved communities—by emphasizing prevention and coordination between medical and dental professionals.
“Ultimately, we want to redefine what comprehensive care looks like for children with obesity,” said Dr. Andriankaja. “The mouth is part of the body, and oral health is an important piece of overall health. By bringing these disciplines together, we can give kids a better start.”
The MODERN-Dental project is a collaboration among experts in dentistry, pediatrics, pharmacology, nutrition, and epidemiology at the University of Kentucky. Key investigators include:
Together, this multidisciplinary team is advancing UK’s mission to improve the health of Kentucky’s children—one smile at a time.