The November issue of the Journal of the California Dental Association covers systemic diseases.

Dentistry and Medicine, a New Crossing Point
An introduction to the issue.
Fariba S. Younai, DDS

Destructive Periodontal Diseases, Systemic Inflammation and Atherosclerotic Complications: The Emerging Role of the Dental Profession
This paper provides an overview for the contribution of destructive periodontal diseases to systemic inflammation.
Ronald G. Craig DMD, PhD

Anti-microbial Peptides for Plaque Control and Beyond
The authors describe various applications of some anti-microbial peptides, with special emphasis placed on the role of anti-microbial peptides in protecting the oral cavity.
Katherine Gilmore, BS; Ping Chen, PhD; and Kai P. Leung, PhD

Improving Oral Cancer Survival: The Role of Dental Providers
Several noninvasive oral cancer detection techniques that emerged in the past decade are discussed in this paper, with a brief overview of the most common oral cancer chemopreventive agents.
Diana V. Messadi, DDS, MMSc, DMSc; Petra Wilder-Smith, DDS, PhD; and Lawrence Wolinsky, DDS, PhD

Craniofacial Tissue Regeneration: Where Are We?
This review highlights major postnatal dental stem cells, their biological properties, and differentiation capabilities relevant to clinical applications in craniofacial tissue regeneration.
Archana Bhatt, BDS, and Anh D. Le, DDS, PhD

Treating the Older Adult Dental Patient: What Are the Issues of Concern?
Using a geriatric treatment model suggests that understanding the psychosocial, behavioral, and medical presentation of the older patient may prove to be the key to the ultimate success of the dental/oral treatment.
Roseann Mulligan, DDS, MS, and Michele Alexis Vanderlinde MS, PhD

Oral Health and HIV Infection: A Chronic Disease Model
For the HIV pandemic, the link between oral and systemic health is especially important because of the relationship between oral findings and HIV status. Oral health care must be considered as a key component of the integrated HIV models of care.
Fariba S. Younai, DDS, and Craig Vincent-Jones

The Associate Editor/
The Price of Soft Drinks
By Brian K. Shue, DDS

Letters to the Editor/

Impressions/

Dr. Bob/
Leap of Faith
By Robert E. Horseman, DDS