School of Dental Medicine

Inspired as a Child, a Penn Dental Medicine Student Hopes to Return the Favor

Whenever Miguel Padilla-Hernández, a fourth-year student in the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, visits his family back in California, conversations are peppered with questions such as, “’Oh, this tooth hurts, why does this tooth hurt?” or “Why is this tooth changing colors?”

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.

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Philadelphia Inquirer

What to know about fluoride in drinking water, and whether RFK Jr. could really have it removed

In the early 1900s, Penn alumnus Frederick Sumner McKay collected evidence that fluoride in water helped prevent tooth decay. Dean Mark Wolff of the School of Dental Medicine says that fluoridated water is a great safety net provision for adults who don’t see the dentist regularly or can’t afford to routinely buy toothpaste.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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