Yonghua Guo, DMD
Assistant Faculty Director, CSLC – Sylva
Clinical Associate Professor
guoy25@ecu.edu
828-586-1200
CSLC – Sylva
Education
- DMD – University of Pennsylvania, Penn Dental Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
- Postdoctoral Associate – University of Louisville School of Dentistry, Louisville, KY
- Periodontology Residency & PhD – Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- BDS – West China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
Clinical Interests
Dr. Guo’s clinical interests span all aspects of comprehensive dental care. She has extensive experience in restorative dentistry, including direct and indirect restorations, comprehensive treatment planning, and the management of complex restorative cases. Her background in prosthodontics encompasses fixed and removable prostheses, full-mouth rehabilitation, and the restoration of function and esthetics for patients with advanced tooth loss.
With formal training in periodontology, Dr. Guo provides both periodontal surgical and non-surgical therapy, including soft-tissue management, flap procedures, and periodontal maintenance programs aimed at improving long-term oral health. She also has a strong interest in implant dentistry, performing both implant placement and prosthetic restoration with a focus on evidence-based surgical technique and restorative integration.
In addition, Dr. Guo practices endodontics, including molar root canal therapy and management of pulpal disease, and oral surgery, such as surgical extractions, minor surgical procedures, and management of dental emergencies. Her diverse clinical background allows her to deliver patient-centered, comprehensive care that integrates multiple disciplines to achieve predictable and high-quality outcomes.
Society Membership
- American Dental Association (ADA)
- Academy of General Dentistry (AGD)
- American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID)
Biographical Information
Dr. Yonghua Guo joined the ECU School of Dental Medicine in November 2025 as Assistant Director of the Community Service Learning Center in Sylva. Before joining ECU, Dr. Guo practiced for ten years at Keystone Dental Care in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, providing comprehensive dental care with experience in restorative dentistry, prosthodontics, periodontal therapy, implant placement and restoration, endodontics, and oral surgery.
Dr. Guo came to the United States in 2009, beginning her career as a research associate at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry. She later earned her DMD from the University of Pennsylvania in 2014. Dr. Guo’s relationship with ECU began in 2014, when she visited the Ahoskie CSLC and was inspired by the school’s innovative model of community-based dental education. Her passion for teaching and service eventually led her back to academics and to ECU’s CSLC network.
Outside of dentistry, Dr. Guo enjoys traveling, hiking, and exploring new food cultures—especially spicy cuisine. She has visited nearly 90% of North America’s national parks, and her English Cream Golden Retriever often accompanies her on outdoor adventures. Her son, Jiayi, is currently a freshman at New York University.
Publications
- Dichotomy of gingipains action as virulence factors: from cleaving substrates with the precision of a surgeon’s knife to a meat chopper-like brutal degradation of proteins. Guo Y, Nguyen KA, Potempa J.Periodontol 2000. 2010 Oct;54(1):15-44.
- Purification and characterisation of recombinant His-tagged RgpB gingipain from Porphymonas gingivalis.Veillard F, Potempa B, Guo Y, Ksiazek M, Sztukowska MN, Houston JA, Koneru L, Nguyen KA, Potempa J.Biol Chem. 2015 Apr;396(4):377-84.
- Heightened immune response to autocitrullinated Porphyromonas gingivalis peptidylarginine deiminase: a potential mechanism for breaching immunologic tolerance in rheumatoid arthritis.Quirke AM, Lugli EB, Wegner N, Hamilton BC, Charles P, Chowdhury M, Ytterberg AJ, Zubarev RA, Potempa J, Culshaw S, Guo Y, Fisher BA, Thiele G, Mikuls TR, Venables PJ.Ann Rheum Dis. 2014 Jan;73(1):263-9.
- Structural and functional probing of PorZ, an essential bacterial surface component of the type-IX secretion system of human oral-microbiomic Porphyromonas gingivalis.Lasica AM, Goulas T, Mizgalska D, Zhou X, de Diego I, Ksiazek M, Madej M, Guo Y, Guevara T, Nowak M, Potempa B, Goel A, Sztukowska M, Prabhakar AT, Bzowska M, Widziolek M, Thøgersen IB, Enghild JJ, Simonian M, Kulczyk AW, Nguyen KA, Potempa J, Gomis-Rüth FX.Sci Rep. 2016 Nov 24;6:37708.