School of Dental Medicine

5 tips to scare away cavities

Beyond the inevitable sugar high, what are the implications of consuming a glut of candy? Pediatric dentist Maria Velasco suggests coming up with a plan, then giving away the rest of the treats.

Michele W. Berger

Drivers of inflammation provide valuable targets for new gum disease therapies

A subset of T cells contributes to the inflammation and bone loss that characterizes periodontitis, a severe form of gum disease. According to new research by George Hajishengallis and scientists at the National Institutes of Health, drugs that specifically inhibit these cells may offer an effective therapy.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Targeting a viral vulnerability to treat disease

Robert Ricciardi company ViRAZE utilizes interdisciplinary approaches to drug discovery. Its first target is molluscum contagiosum, a disease that targets children and immune-compromised adults with no current FDA-approved therapy.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Regrowing dental tissue with stem cells from baby teeth

In a clinical trial led by Songtao Shi of the School of Dental Medicine, stem cells extracted from baby teeth were used to regrow the living tissue in teeth damaged by injury. The promising findings highlight the potential of dental stem cells, which could be used in a wide range of dental procedures, or treating certain systemic diseases.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Mentoring program introduces high school students to dentistry

The Summer Mentorship Program introduces first-generation and under-represented high school students in Philadelphia to higher education possibilities, including Penn Dental School's four-week immersion program that includes hands-on experience and mentorship with current dental students.

Penn Today Staff

Dental plaque is no match for catalytic nanoparticles

A recent study found that nanoparticles can break down dental plaque with nanoparticles that target biofilms, preventing tooth decay in humans and animal models without damaging surrounding oral tissue.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Ice cream conundrum

The refreshing delight of ice cream on a hot summer day has its dangers: tooth sensitivity and the familiar feeling of “brain freeze.” Scientists break down the causes of the discomfort we are so willing to endure.

Jacob Williamson-Rea

Dental researchers identify protein key to wound healing

Resesarch from Penn Dental reveal that the cells that line the skin and mucosa play a role in blood-vessel formation through a protein called Foxo1, and targeting it may modulate the process of healing wounds.

Katherine Unger Baillie



In the News


Philadelphia Inquirer

Meet the Masterman junior who just represented Brazil in the Youth Olympics

Masterman junior and Youth Olympics speedskater Lucas Koo, the son of Hyun (Michel) Koo of the School of Dental Medicine, hopes to attend the Wharton School after graduation.

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NBC Philadelphia

A family affair: Three sisters stick together as they attend Penn Dental Medicine at the same time

Joanna Haddad, Mira-Belle Haddad, and Anna-Maria Haddad are making history as one of the few groups of three or more siblings to be simultaneously enrolled in the School of Dental Medicine.

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HealthDay

Avoid opioids for short-term dental pain in kids, new guidelines say

The Center for Integrative Global Health at the School of Dental Medicine has endorsed guidelines discouraging opioid prescriptions for children with short-term dental pain.

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The Washington Post

Expert tips on keeping your teeth clean and healthy

Olivia Sheridan of the School of Dental Medicine says that electric brushes may be easier to use for people who lack manual dexterity or who care for someone who needs help brushing their teeth.

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Philadelphia Inquirer

The Paris-to-Philadelphia story of a rebel artist, a visionary dentist, and a treasure lost and found

Lynn Marsden-Atlass of the Arthur Ross Gallery discusses the rediscovery of a lost Gustave Courbet painting in the basement of the School of Dental Medicine. It is now the centerpiece of a new exhibition.

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