Lance Vernon, DMD

Senior Instructor
Pediatric Dentistry
School of Dental Medicine

Dr. Vernon has studied the connection between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease in HIV+ adults. His current research interest is in coaching prevention-focused oral hygiene behavior change to reduce the risk for dental caries and periodontal disease. He is now developing a directly observed measure of oral hygiene skills. He is a Masters-level swimmer, a writer and artist. Prior to entering dentistry, Dr. Vernon was a Coordinator for clinical drug studies in schizophrenia research at the Brecksville VAMC, taught bright learning disabled students at the Ratner School, and coached high school swimming.

Research Information

Research Interests

HIV

Periodontal Disease

Oral-systemic Link

Behavior Change

Health Coaching

Research Projects

Dr. Vernon performs clinical epidemiological research and investigates the link between oral and systemic health. Specifically, he examines the link between periodontal (gum) disease and cardiovascular disease in HIV-infected adults. In addition, Dr. Vernon is interested in prevention of oral disease (dental caries and periodontal disease) by coaching prevention-focused, tailored oral hygiene behavior changes.

Recent Funding

Sponsor: NIH
Establishing a Provider-Observed Tool to Asses Oral Hygiene Skills in HIV+ Adults
Role: Principal Investigator (PI)
Project Period: 08/01-2015 - 07/31/2017

Sponsor: NIH – NIDCR
Immune and Inflammatory Consequences of Intensive Periodontal Treatment in HIV-Infected Adults – R21
Role: Principal Investigator (PI)
Project Period: 07/15/2010 – 07/14/2013

Sponsor: NIH – NIDCR (K23 DE 015746-01; Clinically-Oriented Mentored Clinical Research)
Oral Link to Vascular Disease in an HIV-1 Cohort – K23
Role: Principal Investigator
Project Period: 08/01/2004 – 07/31/2009

Professional Memberships

American Dental Association (ADA)
American Dental Education Association (ADEA)
Association for Psychological Sciences (APS)
Center for AIDS Research (CFAR)
International Association for Dental Research (IDAR)

Publications

Vernon LT and Howard A. Advancing health promotion in dentistry: Articulating an integrative approach to coaching oral health behavior change in the dental setting. Curr Oral Health Rep. 2015 Sep;2(3):111-122. Epub 2015 Jul 25. PMID: 26457237.

Thavarajah R, Kumar M, Mohandoss AA, Vernon LT. Drilling Deeper into tooth brushing skills: Is proactive interference an under-recognized factor in oral hygiene behavior change? Curr Oral Health Rep. 2015 Sep;2(3):123-128. Epub 2015 Jul 23. PMID: 26457238.

LT Vernon, PLP Jayashantha, MM Chidzonga, MC Komesu, RG Nair, NW Johnson. Comorbidities associated with HIV and antiretroviral therapy (clinical Sciences): a workshop report. Oral Diseases (2016; accepted and in Press). Doi: 10.1111/odi.12412.

Kumar PDM, Aruncahalam MA, Thavarajah R, Walls T, Vernon LT. Using Smart-Phone Video “Selfies” to Monitor Change in Toothbrushing Behavior after a Brief Intervention: A Pilot Study. Indian Journal of Dental Research (2016); 27: (in Press).

Vernon LT, Demko CA, Babineau DC, Wang X, Toossi Z, Weinberg A, Rodriguez B. Effect of Nadir CD4+ T Cell Count on Clinical Measures of Periodontal Disease in HIV+ Adults before and during Immune Reconstitution on HAART. PLoS One.2013 Oct 11;8(10):e76986. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076986. eCollection 2013. PMID: 24146949.  

Vernon LT, Demko CA, Webel AR, Mizumoto RM. The feasibility, acceptance, and key features of a prevention-focused oral health education program for HIV+ adults. AIDS Care. 2014;26(6): 763-8. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2013.845291. Epub 2013 Oct 18. PMID: 24134855.

Patel N, Furin JJ, Willenberg DJ, Appollon Chirouze NJ, Vernon LT.  HIV-related Stigma in the Dental Setting: A Qualitative Study. Special Care in Dentistry. 2014 Jul 15. doi: 10.1111/scd.12078. [Epub ahead of print].

Vernon LT, Babineau DC, Demko CA, Lederman MM, Wang X, Toossi Z, Weinberg A, Rodriguez B. A Prospective Cohort Study of Periodontal Disease Measures and Cardiovascular Disease Markers in HIV-Infected Adults. AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses. 2011 Nov;27(11):1157-66. Epub 2011 May 9. PMID: 21443451.

Vernon LT, Demko CA, Whalen CC, Lederman MM, Toossi Z, Wu M, Han Y, Weinberg A. Characterizing Traditionally-defined Periodontal Disease in HIV+ Adults. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiol. 2009 October: 37(5): 427-437. Errata in: Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2010 Feb;38(1):96. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2010 Apr;38(2):190. PMID: 19624697.

Valdez H, Lederman MM, Woolley I, Walker CJ, Vernon LT, Hise A, Gripsover BM. Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 Protease Inhibitors in Clinical Practice: Predictors of Virologic Outcomes. Archives of Internal Medicine 1999:159(15):1771-1776. PMID: 10448781.

Education

Doctor of Dental Medicine
University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
2002
Master of Public Health
University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
2002

Residencies, Internships and Fellowships

General Practice
Cleveland VA Medical Center

Additional Information

Dr. Vernon has studied the connection between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease in HIV+ adults. His current research interest is in coaching prevention-focused oral hygiene behavior change to reduce the risk for dental caries and periodontal disease. He is now developing a directly observed measure of oral hygiene skills. He is a Masters-level swimmer, a writer and artist. Prior to entering dentistry, Dr. Vernon was a Coordinator for clinical drug studies in schizophrenia research at the Brecksville VAMC, taught bright learning disabled students at the Ratner School, and coached high school swimming.