Dr. Keiko Watanabe
PeriodonticsNPI: 1255544383
Practice Details
About This Provider
Dr. Keiko Watanabe holds a DDS, MS, and PhD, placing her among the most academically credentialed periodontists in the United States. As an Emeritus Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry, she has dedicated her career to uncovering the biological links between gum disease and serious systemic conditions. Her research established that periodontitis induces insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, two hallmarks of prediabetes, and that the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis can migrate to the brain and trigger neurological changes consistent with Alzheimer's disease pathology. Dr. Watanabe's laboratory identified specific molecular mechanisms, including the roles of TLR4 in liver Kupffer cells, SerpinE1 in pancreatic beta cells, and gingipain in brain tissue, in driving these systemic effects. With over 15 peer-reviewed publications and Diplomate status from the American Board of Periodontology and Dental Implant Surgery, she brings both rigorous scientific depth and board-certified clinical credentials to every patient encounter. For patients navigating periodontitis alongside diabetes or metabolic concerns, her expertise bridges oral care and systemic medicine in ways few clinicians can match.
Specialties
- 1
Education & Training
- BS in Biological Science, University of Southern California (1976)
- PhD in Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois Chicago (2000)
- MS in Biological Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago (1987)
- DDS, University of Southern California (1983)
- Certificate in Periodontics, University of Illinois Chicago (1986)
Board Certifications
- Diplomate, American Board of Dental Implant Surgery Dentistry
- Diplomate, American Board of Periodontology
NPI registered: 05/07/2007
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Areas of Focus
Professional Memberships
- American Board of Periodontology
Beyond the Office
Professor Emerita, Department of Periodontics, University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry
Research contributions to oral science and systemic disease understanding
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