School of Dental Medicine

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.

Katherine Unger Baillie

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.

Katherine Unger Baillie

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.

New Coursera Offering From Penn Explores Ties Between Medicine and Dentistry

By Erica AndersenDentists and physicians practice health care from different perspectives, however, the oral and general health of their patients are of primary importance to both types of providers. A new online course taught by University of Pennsylvania faculty seeks to highlight the inextricable connections between the two professions.

Katherine Unger Baillie



In the News


The Guardian

Does your jaw click? Do you grind your teeth? It could be this little-known condition

Thomas P. Sollecito of the School of Dental Medicine says that roughly 10-15% of adults have some form of temporomandibular disorder, though the vast majority don’t require treatment.

FULL STORY →



Associated Press

Menopause can bring on dental problems, but you can protect your mouth

Thomas Sollecito of the School of Dental Medicine says hormonal changes can reduce bone density and saliva production, harming gums and teeth.

FULL STORY →



Time

Six health myths about oils

Dean Mark Wolff of the School of Dental Medicine says that oil pulling won’t cause harm but has never reversed periodontitis or gingivitis.

FULL STORY →



The New York Times

Swish, spit, repeat: Is oil pulling good for your teeth?

Mark S. Wolff of the School of Dental Medicine says that oil pulling should never be a substitute for brushing or flossing one’s teeth.

FULL STORY →



The Wall Street Journal

The five best water flossers (for people who hate flossing)

Dean Mark Wolff of the School of Dental Medicine explains which features are most helpful for a good water flosser.

FULL STORY →