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School of Dental Medicine
Promoting cross-campus collaborations in health research
The One Health Communications Group is a collaboration that brings together several schools and centers to develop groundbreaking health research in a cross-disciplinary and innovative environment.
Bacteria boost antifungal drug resistance in severe childhood tooth decay
Some young children experience severe tooth decay that resist normal therapies. New research led by Dongyeop Kim and Hyun (Michel) Koo of the School of Dental Medicine shows how plaque’s protective matrix can shield fungal cells from the drugs intended to kill them.
Three years on: A look at the Penn Wharton China Center
The impact of the Beijing-based center and research fund has been far-reaching on campus and in China.
Princess Chulabhorn of Thailand visits Penn, with scientific partnerships in mind
The princess met with President Amy Gutmann and leaders of Penn’s health schools on Thursday, April 5, to discuss future collaboration aimed at advancing health and science.
Mark Wolff named dean of Penn Dental Medicine
Mark Wolff will become the next Morton Amsterdam Dean of Dental Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, effective July 1.
Unraveling how stem cells from gum tissue accelerate wound healing
Gum tissue stem cells heal twice as fast as skin, and researchers are determining their potential in accelerated wound healing research.
By altering bone marrow, ‘training’ can prepare innate immune system for future challenges
George Hajishengallis of the School of Dental Medicine and an international team of colleagues have found that “training” the immune system causes changes in the precursors of immune cells in the bone marrow. These changes could facilitate a more robust response to future infections or even enable the immune system to regenerate faster after chemotherapy.
New Dental Material Resists Plaque and Kills Microbes, Penn Dental Team Finds
Dentists rely on composite materials to perform restorative procedures, such as filling cavities. Yet these materials, like tooth enamel, can be vulnerable to the growth of plaque, the sticky biofilm that leads to tooth decay.
Improving oral cancer diagnosis on many fronts
A comprehensive dental visit includes more than a cleaning and X-rays; well-trained dentists know they must also take a thorough look inside the oral cavity to spot any potentially unusual lesions that could signal oral cancer.
Opioid Epidemic
Opioid drug misuse and addiction are epidemic in the United States. Every day, 90 people lose their lives to opioid overdose and the economic burden of the crisis has climbed to an estimated $80 billion a year. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are spearheading multi-faceted solutions to address the problem.
In the News
Philadelphia Inquirer
Dentists Urged to Limit Opioid Prescriptions to Prevent Addiction
The School of Dental Medicine’s Elliot Hersh commented on Pennsylvania’s legal requirement that doctors screen patient histories for signs of opioid abuse. Hersh stated that for many dental patients over the counter pain relief can be just as effective.
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Newsworks (WHYY-FM)
Leftover Painkillers Driving Opioid Crisis, Penn Researcher Says
Peggy Compton of the School of Nursing and Elliot V. Hersh of the School of Dental Medicine are quoted about participating in a panel discussion about the opioid crisis, along with Kyle Kampman of the Perelman School of Medicine, Mary Robinson of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Jeffrey Saven of the School of Arts & Sciences.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
What Diabetic Mice Can Teach Us About Keeping Teeth Healthy
Dana Graves of the School of Dental Medicine is featured for researching the consequences of poorly managed diabetes on tooth and gum health.
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The Washington Post
She’s a Rare Breed: A Dentist Who Makes Housecalls to the Elderly
A profile of the School of Dental Medicine’s Alisa Kauffman, a geriatric dentist who makes house calls.
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Indian Express
How Diabetes Fosters Gum Disease
Dana Graves of the School of Dental Medicine is quoted on the connection between diabetes and gum disease.
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