Bruce L. Pihlstrom DDS, MS

Dr. Pihlstrom is an independent oral health research consultant who advises on clinical trials, NIH grant preparation, practice-based research, and assists investigators with scientific writing. He has a special interest in assisting new investigators and junior faculty at dental schools who are interested in clinical research.

Dr. Pihlstrom received his DDS degree from the University of Minnesota and his MS in Periodontics from the University of Michigan. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and was actively engaged in the specialty practice of Periodontology for over 30 years. Dr. Pihlstrom is professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota, Associate Editor for Research of the Journal of the American Dental Association, and was an Associate Editor of the Journal of Clinical Periodontology for 8 years. While at the University of Minnesota, he served on the Periodontology faculty, held the Erwin Schaffer Chair in Periodontal Research, directed the graduate program in periodontology, and was the principal investigator on NIDCR funded Clinical Research Centers and R01 grants from the NIDCR.

Dr. Pihlstrom has served on a chartered NIH Study Section and various NIH Special Scientific Review Groups and Panels. He has been an active member of the Task Force on the Design and Analysis of Oral Health Clinical Research for many years, which is oral health research “think tank” that has served in an advisory capacity to the American Dental Association. Dr. Pihlstrom’s specific research interests have focused on clinical studies in the etiology, prevention, and treatment of oral diseases.