3/28
Katherine Unger Baillie
Senior Science News Officer
kbaillie@upenn.edu
Dental Medicine
Advancing research and education to push forward oral health excellence
Advancing research and education to push forward oral health excellence
Since joining the School of Dental Medicine faculty in 2019, Sinem Esra Sahingur has launched two new master’s programs, expanded student research, and continued to pursue her own research program on immune regulation.
Penn Dental Medicine becomes first Cochrane Oral Health Collaborating Center
Penn Dental Medicine becomes first Cochrane Oral Health Collaborating Center
The Cochrane Oral Health Collaborating Center at Penn Dental Medicine is the first oral-health-oriented Cochrane collaborative group in the world.
A growing focus on equitable oral care for people with disabilities
A growing focus on equitable oral care for people with disabilities
Through global outreach, enhanced student training, continuing education for practitioners, and the busy Care Center for Persons with Disabilities, the School of Dental Medicine is working to break down barriers to care.
Microbes that cause cavities can form superorganisms able to ‘crawl’ and spread on teeth
Microbes that cause cavities can form superorganisms able to ‘crawl’ and spread on teeth
These multicellular, cross-kingdom assemblages were more resistant to antimicrobials and removal and caused more extensive tooth decay than their single-species equivalents, according to research led by School of Dental Medicine scientists.
Chewing to curb COVID
Chewing to curb COVID
Penn Medicine will conduct a new clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a chewing gum designed by School of Dental Medicine researchers to trap SARS-CoV-2 in the saliva.
Deploying microrobotics for dental treatments and diagnostics
Deploying microrobotics for dental treatments and diagnostics
Penn Dental Medicine and its Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry show that microrobots can access the difficult to reach surfaces of the root canal with controlled precision.
Intervening to stop bone loss
Intervening to stop bone loss
A study led by Shuying (Sheri) Yang of the School of Dental Medicine identified a new role for a protein that keeps osteoclasts—the cells that break down bone—in check, and may guide the development of new therapies to counter bone loss.
Shapeshifting microrobots can brush and floss teeth
Shapeshifting microrobots can brush and floss teeth
In a proof-of-concept study, researchers from the School of Dental Medicine and School of Engineering and Applied Science shows that a hands-free system could effectively automate the treatment and removal of tooth-decay-causing bacteria and dental plaque.
Symposium highlights range and reach of Penn Global research
Symposium highlights range and reach of Penn Global research
The Penn Global Research and Engagement Grant is supporting 21 faculty-led projects that span research, capacity-building, and development efforts across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, India, China, and beyond.
How one inflammatory disorder exacerbates another
How one inflammatory disorder exacerbates another
Researchers from the School of Dental Medicine and colleagues from Dresden, Germany demonstrate that an association between conditions such as severe gum disease and arthritis is traceable to the bone marrow.
Media Contact
In the News
Philadelphia Inquirer
Docs on rocks: Why do so many doctors study sculpture at PAFA?
Alumni Julio Galvez of the School of Dental Medicine and Alan Miller of the Perelman School of Medicine, and retired professors John Ditunno and Stephen A. Liebhaber of the Perelman School of Medicine are quoted on their participation in a Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts' sculpture class and why many medical professionals have practiced stone carving here.
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Scientific American
Bacteria and fungi can ‘walk’ across the surface of our teeth
A study by Hyun (Michel) Koo of the School of Dental Medicine and colleagues shows that conglomerations of fungi and bacteria can work together to “walk” and “leap” across the surface of teeth, quickly spreading decay.
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The New York Times
Expert tips for curbing bad breath
Mark Wolff of the School of Dental Medicine explains how to self-test for bad breath and how bacteria and gum disease can contribute to its presence.
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SciTechDaily
New treatment target could counter bone loss
A study from Shuying (Sheri) Yang of the School of Dental Medicine and colleagues identified a protein that regulates osteoclasts, the cells that break down bone, which may pave the way for new treatments that prevent bone loss.
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iTech Post
University of Pennsylvania researchers develop microrobots that can brush, floss your teeth
Hun Michel Koo of the School of Dental Medicine, Edward Steager of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and colleagues have created automated shapeshifting microrobots with the ability to brush, floss, and rinse teeth.
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Interesting Engineering
A swarm of tiny robots could soon brush and floss your teeth for you
A multidisciplinary Penn team including Michael Koo of the School of Dental Medicine and Edward Steager of the School of Engineering and Applied Science has created an automated way to brush and floss through robotics, a potentially useful development for those unable to clean their teeth themselves.
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