Dr. Harald Löe, a past director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, died Aug. 9 at his home in Norway. He was 82.
Born in Steinkjer, Norway, Dr. Löe received his dental degree in 1952 from the University of Oslo, Norway, before receiving a series of impressive academic appointments, including professorships at the Royal Dental College, University of Aarhus, Denmark, and at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He also was a Fulbright Scholar in Oral Pathology in 1957.
Dr. Löe’s 1965 study, "Experimental Gingivitis in Man," is considered by many to have been pivotal in providing evidence of the primary role of dental plaque in the causation of gingivitis. The study, Dr. Löe said, was inspired by his own mentor, Dr. Jens Waerhaug, his former professor at the University of Oslo.
"Those were exciting times," said Dr. Löe in 1994, "and I think that what I did was to take the mystery out of periodontal disease. I’ve been very fortunate to be a part of all this. I think it has shaped my life, really, and my way of thinking also."
In 1974 he was appointed dean and professor in the department of periodontology at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, Farmington. There he stayed until 1983, when he became the fifth director of what then was called the National Institute of Dental Research. His goals there, he told the ADA News in 1994, were to broaden dental research to areas beyond caries and periodontal disease and to encourage dental students to pursue research.
"I strongly believe that the future general practitioner is going to be dealing not only with caries and periodontal disease, but also with oral cancer, temporomandibular disorders, smell and taste disorders and a variety of other problems," Dr. Löe said. "The day is not going to be filled with restorations. Edentulousness is going to disappear!"
While at NIDCR, Dr. Löe established the Dentist Scientist Award Program and was credited with increasing the institute’s spectrum of dental research to include molecular biology investigations of oral infections caused by systemic diseases such as AIDS, bone and joint diseases, salivary gland dysfunctions, oral cancer and genetic disorders. He also transformed the National Caries Program by including in it periodontal and other diseases and rechristening it as the Epidemiology and Oral Disease Prevention Program.
In June of this year, the NIDCR celebrated its 60th anniversary. Lois Cohen, PhD—who worked with Dr. Löe as the director of planning, evaluation and communications as well as assistant director for international health—paid tribute to him during a party held by the Friends of NIDCR. (To see the tribute, visit "www.fnidcr.org/special/NIDCR60th.html".) During the festivities, Dr. Cohen read a note from Dr. Löe encapsulating his thoughts on his time spent as director.
"I have now reached the stage in life when long memory is predominant; and as I contemplate my six decades of involvement in dental research, education and practice, I think of my time in the Institute as especially interesting, important and meaningful," Dr. Löe wrote. "I continue to be proud of the Institute’s past and current scientific endeavors and its impact on oral health improvements around the world."
"I was saddened to learn of Dr. Löe’s passing," said Dr. Lawrence Tabak, NIDCR director since 2000. "Under Dr. Löe’s leadership, the institute doubled its budget and expanded its research agenda to encompass oral and craniofacial tissues. Dr. Löe will be remembered for his enabling vision of dental science and his many contributions to improving oral health in the United States and throughout the world."
In 1989, Dr. Löe received the Surgeon General’s Exemplary Service Award in recognition of his leadership in public service in the United States. Then-Surgeon General C. Everett Koop presented the medal and plaque to Dr. Löe and later said, "Dr. Löe bridged the gap between medicine and dentistry, and that’s what I appreciated about him."
The ADA, too, honored Dr. Löe: in 1994, the Association presented him with its Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Dental Research.
"The ADA had a great relationship with Dr. Löe, who was a pioneer in periodontal research," said ADA President Mark J. Feldman. "His leadership at the NIDCR left a great legacy in dental research. His influence will not be forgotten."
Said Dr. Michael Glick, editor of The Journal of the American Dental Association, "There was no one in the world of dental science more renowned or more respected than Harald Löe. His many contributions helped shape the present and future of dentistry. I was fortunate to count Dr. Löe as a friend. He will be sorely missed."
Dr. Löe is survived by his wife of 60 years, Inga, and two children, Haakon and Marianne. His funeral took place Aug. 14 in Oslo.
