Biosketch- Kenneth Markowitz, DDS

I obtained my dental degree from Columbia University in 1985. While in dental school I became interested in tooth sensitivity, dental pain and oral physiology. From 1991-2003 I did research in industry, first at the Block Drug Company Inc., then at GlaxoSmithKline. In industry, my coworkers and I investigated the ability of various materials such as polymers and colloids to reduce dentin permeability and other areas of dental therapeutics.
In 2003 I joined the Oral Biology Department at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. At UMDNJ I serve as a clinical investigator on a number of NIDCR and Industry-funded projects including a longitudinal study of bacterial risk factors and inflammatory markers of localized aggressive periodontal disease as well as clinical trials of oral antimicrobial agents. I am also conducting a longitudinal study of occlusal caries in adolescents and laboratory evaluations of caries detector devices. I collaborate with investigators at other universities who are examining receptors in pulpal neurons responsible for pain transduction.
At NJDS I teach course materials relating to: oral biology, cariology and dental pain. I also practice general dentistry at the NJDS faculty practice and am working towards my masters degree in oral biology.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Markowitz K (2008). Dentifrices and tooth sensitivity: cause or cure? HPC Today 2(3):69-72.

Fine DH, Markowitz K, Furgang D, Fairlie K, Ferrandiz J, Nasri C, et al. (2009). Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-1alpha: A Salivary Biomarker of Bone Loss in a Longitudinal Cohort Study of Children at Risk for Aggressive Periodontal Disease? J Periodontol 80:106-113.

Sreenivasan PK, Furgang D, Markowitz K, McKiernan M, Tischio-Bereski D, Devizio W, et al. (2009). Clinical anti-microbial efficacy of a new zinc citrate dentifrice. Clin Oral Investig. (e publish ahead of print).

Hermanstyne TO, Markowitz K, Fan KL, Gold MS (2008). Mechanotransducers in Rat Pulpal Afferents. J. Dent. Res 87:834-8.

Markowitz K, Pashley DH (2008). Discovering new treatments for sensitive teeth: the long path from biology to therapy. J Oral Rehabil 35:300-15.

Fine DH, Markowitz K, Furgang D, Fairlie K, Ferrandiz J, Nasri C, McKiernan M, Gunsolley J (2007). Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and its relationship to initiation of Localized Aggressive Periodontitis: A longitudinal cohort study of initially healthy adolescents. J Clin Microbiol 45:3859-69.

Fine DH, Markowitz K, Furgang D, Goldsmith D, Ricci-Nittel D, Charles CH, Peng P, Lynch MC (2007). Effect of rinsing with an essential oil-containing mouthrinse on subgingival periodontopathogens. J Periodontol 78:1935-42

Fine DH, Markowitz K, Furgang D, Goldsmith D, Charles CH, Lisante TA, Lynch MC (2007). Effect of an essential oil-containing antimicrobial mouthrinse on specific plaque bacteria in vivo. J Clin Periodontol 34:652-7.

Markowitz K, Pashley DH (2007). Personal reflections on a sensitive subject. J Dent Res 86:292-5.

Fine DH, Furgang D, Markowitz K, Sreenivasan PK, Klimpel K, De Vizio W (2006). The antimicrobial effect of a triclosan/copolymer dentifrice on oral microorganisms in vivo. J Am Dent Assoc 137:1406-13.

 U.S. PATENTS:

5.589,159- 1996.  Dispersible particulate system for desensitizing teeth (LAPONITE).

5,597,552- 1997. Dentinal desensitizing composition (CARBOPOL salt).

5,653,964- 1997. Dentinal desensitizing composition (CARBOPOL salt).

5,718,885- 1998. Relief of dentinal hypersensitivity by submicron particles.

6,099,315- 2000. Applicator tip for desensitizing agents and method.

6,416,745- 2002. Dental composition for treating hypersensitive teeth.

6,592,853- 2003. Dentin Desensitizer Containing Stannous Fluoride.

US Application- US 2002/0037258 A1- 2002. Dental composition for the mineral

                            occlusion of dentinal tubules in sensitive teeth.