Dr. Zuckerberg Guiding Innovation in Oral and Systemic Health
Affiliations
Meet Dr. Edward J. Zuckerberg
“With proven links to systemic diseases including Dementia, Heart Disease, Diabetes and many others, Dentistry is THE starting point of primary care delivery for those who are serious about improving longevity and quality of life.”—Dr. Zuckerberg
Dr. Zuckerberg has been a leader in the integration of technology and dentistry for over 45 years. His private practice was one of the first in the world to adopt technology such as intraoral cameras and digital x-rays, he is an authority in using social media to market dental practices, and he is a driving force in biotechnology innovations that show promise in the prevention of neurodegenerative and vascular diseases.
Today, while still practicing part-time in Cupertino, CA, Dr. Zuckerberg acts as a Venture Partner for Revere Partners, the first independent venture capital fund that invests solely in early-stage oral health care companies. In addition, he is:
- Chief Dental Officer for Viome
- Chief Education Officer for Oral Biolife and Cloud Dentistry
- A key advisor for an additional dozen or so companies
He travels around the globe to lecture to his colleagues on the Oral-Systemic Connection and the companies and therapies that will change the delivery of care now and in the future.
Portfolio Companies
In addition to his clinical and research work, Dr. Zuckerberg advises select dental and healthcare companies advancing innovation across the field:
Latest Research Developments on the Oral-Systemic Connection
Enhancing the
Patient-Dentist Bond
"I love teaching dentists to use social media to really show patients what's not obvious to them when they visit the office, and to educate prospective patients who want to learn more about the office. We have a chance to portray ourselves as people, to show some of the great stuff that we do for the community... The more the patients know about the dentist, and the staff members, and the people who are treating them, the more likely you are to increase the bond and decrease the likelihood of a patient loss."
Dr. Zuckerberg
Give Your Startup the Start
It Deserves
Innovators can hold tremendous power, but the value of your ideas must be communicated in a way that makes your market take notice and want more. Dr. Edward Zuckerberg can give your startup the guidance it needs to turn a brilliant idea into a lucrative force for change in dentistry. Throughout his career, Dr. Zuckerberg has learned first-hand how this can be accomplished because:
He Is a Dentist.
Dr. Zuckerberg understands your market because he is a part of it. He went into private practice more than 40 years ago, and even after becoming an authority in dental marketing and technology, he maintains a part-time practice in which he continues to provide dental care.
He Is an Innovator.
Dr. Zuckerberg is versed in identifying needs and creating new solutions when existing solutions fall short. Early in his career, he collaborated with his wife Karen, a psychiatrist, to create ways of helping phobic patients comfortably receive the care they need.
He Is Involved.
He is a venture partner in Revere Partners, the first independent venture fund for oral health. He is also Chief Dental Officer for Viome, addressing diseases by studying microbial imbalances and inflammation in the gut and oral cavity.
Forging the Future Dentistry as Primary Care
Dr. Zuckerberg is passionate about helping dentists and innovators in dentistry broadcast an important message: Dentists are primary care providers who can prevent many serious health conditions before they start.
This truth is substantiated and understood by the dental community, yet not widely understood by the general public—or by many medical professionals outside of dentistry.
"There is very little oral health education in the training of a Physician,” Dr. Zuckerberg says. “Many systemic diseases can be prevented or minimized by creating optimal oral health. The treatment approach for all patients should be this: before starting therapy using traditional medical approaches, the patient should be screened and treated by an Oral Health specialist. For instance, studies have shown that diabetic patients that undergo periodontal therapy for existing periodontal disease can often be managed with diet alone alleviating the need for insulin therapy.”
Taking Aim at Gum Disease Developing A Powerful New Approach to Prevention
The bacteria P.Gingivalis is the Keystone Pathogen of gum disease. This organism is present in elevated quantities in over 50% of the population over age 30 and over 83% of the population over age 60. While the organism does most of its’ direct damage to the gum tissues supporting our teeth, it also spawns huge quantities of a toxic protein called Gingipains which are not only responsible for inflammation in the gums, but by direct delivery into the bloodstream they have been demonstrated to cross the barrier between the bloodstream and the brain (called the Blood-Brain Barrier or BBB) and once in the brain, they support development of dementia by interfering with proper connections between the neurons in the brain.
Indeed, in autopsies of the brains of Alzheimer’s Disease patients, the gingipains of P.Gingivalis are found in almost 100% of all cases. Additionally the gingipains have been shown to interfere with insulin sensitivity, a key factor in diabetes, by preventing our bodies from converting sugar to energy that our cells need to function normally.
Gingipains have also been shown to be responsible for the formation of atherosclerotic plaque in our arteries, leading to hypertension, heart attacks and strokes. In fact, as the chart shows, at least 57 major systemic diseases have been directly linked to infections from oral bacteria.
Dr. Zuckerberg works with many companies that are targeting reduction and elimination of the keystone periodontal pathogens in the mouth. Some of these new therapies are available now and others are in development. You can find out about them by exploring the portfolio companies Dr. Zuckerberg is associated with.
We Can Elevate the Dentist's Standing
“Dentists can be the deliverers of care that essentially has the greatest effect on the general health of mankind, better than any medical practitioner.”
—Dr. Zuckerberg
