School of Dental Medicine

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.

Hajishengallis, an expert in the immune mechanisms behind the gum disease periodontitis

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.

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.

Penn Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Driven by Desire to ‘Make Someone Whole Again’

In his office at the University of Pennsylvania, oral and maxillofacial surgeon Rabie Shanti sits at his computer, clicking through photos of patients he’s operated on.He pulls up an image of a mouth open wide, tongue extended.

Bone Marrow Protein May Be Target for Improving Stem Cell Transplants

Bone marrow contains hematopoetic stem cells, the precursors to every blood cell type. These cells spring into action following bone marrow transplants, bone marrow injury and during systemic infection, creating new blood cells, including immune cells, in a process known as hematopoiesis.

Diabetes Causes Shift in Oral Microbiome That Fosters Periodontitis, Penn Study Finds

A new study led by University of Pennsylvania researchers has found that the oral microbiome is affected by diabetes, causing a shift to increase its pathogenicity.

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