معرفی
Satu Lahti is a Professor at the Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Finland, where she holds a PhD and is a Dental Specialist in Public Health. She leads undergraduate and postgraduate training in Community Dentistry and specialist training in public health care. She has previously served as Vice-Head of Education at dental institutes in both the University of Turku and the University of Oulu.
Research Interests: Her primary research areas include dental fear and anxiety, oral health-related quality of life, oral health behaviors in children and adolescents, and schools as oral health promoting actors. Her work integrates psychological, physiological, and social factors, often using large national longitudinal datasets such as the FinnBrain Cohort Study, Health 2000/2011, and the Northern Birth Cohort 1966.
Research Trends: Her recent publications reveal a consistent focus on longitudinal analysis of dental anxiety and its impact on quality of life, particularly in parents and children. She explores psychosocial determinants such as sensory sensitivity and pain catastrophizing, and examines family and environmental influences on early oral health behaviors. International collaborations extend her work to global contexts like Trinidad and Tobago.
Scientific Awards and Recognition:
- Special Qualification of a Dental Educator
Advising and Grants: She supervises doctoral students and leads research utilizing major cohort studies, implying active grant funding and collaboration. While specific students and grants are not listed, her leadership in training and research suggests a significant role in mentoring and academic development.
Labs and Teams: She is embedded in research teams utilizing the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study and the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, working with national and international collaborators to investigate psychosocial and behavioral aspects of oral health across the lifespan.
