Richard Lamont, Ph.D.

Research Interests: The oral cavity is a complex ecosystem that is home to a diverse assemblage of bacteria with a spectrum of pathogenic potentials.  On tooth surfaces, these organisms assemble into a complex multispecies biofilm community, commonly known as dental plaque.

Community formation is a dynamic process involving the attachment of bacteria to oral surfaces, cohesion and communication among constituent organisms, and adaptation to the biofilm environment.  The composition and metabolic status of the resulting community determine whether the biofilm exists in commensal harmony with the host, or becomes a precursor to caries and periodontal disease, two of the most common bacterial diseases of humans.

He is also working as Principal Investigator of Functional Microbiomics, Inflammation and Pathogenicity, Kentucky

Richard J. Lamont, Ph.D. — School of Dentistry (louisville.edu)