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Katherine Unger Baillie
Senior Science News Officer
kbaillie@upenn.edu
Dental Medicine
Penn Dental Medicine serves Afghani refugees with pop-up clinic
Penn Dental Medicine serves Afghani refugees with pop-up clinic
Responding to an immediate need for dental care in the community, Penn Dental Medicine students and faculty created a pop-up clinic for more than 60 Afghani refugees awaiting permanent placement in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
A chewing gum that could reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission
A chewing gum that could reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission
In experiments using saliva samples from COVID-19 patients, the gum, which contains the ACE2 protein, neutralized the virus, according to research led by School of Dental Medicine scientists.
‘Nanozyme’ therapy prevents harmful dental plaque buildup
‘Nanozyme’ therapy prevents harmful dental plaque buildup
An iron-oxide nanoparticle that is FDA-approved to treat anemia acts as an enzyme to activate hydrogen peroxide to suppress the growth of tooth-decay-causing biofilms in the human mouth, according to a study led by the School of Dental Medicine.
A two-pronged approach to keep rheumatoid arthritis in check
A two-pronged approach to keep rheumatoid arthritis in check
A new study led by George Hajishengallis of the School of Dental Medicine shows that the protein DEL-1 could reduce the painful inflammation of RA in an animal model.
Smart dental implants
Smart dental implants
Geelsu Hwang of the School of Dental Medicine and colleagues are developing a smart dental implant that resists bacterial growth and generates its own electricity through chewing and brushing to power a tissue-rejuvenating light.
Nerve repair, with help from stem cells
Nerve repair, with help from stem cells
School of Dental Medicine and Perelman School of Medicine researchers teamed up to create a novel approach to surgically repairing injured peripheral nerves that relies on the versatility of gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells.
New engineering approaches to address unmet oral health needs
New engineering approaches to address unmet oral health needs
With a new NIH training grant, awards, and new faculty and publications, the recently launched Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry is leveraging technological advancements to improve oral health.
Pulling wisdom teeth can improve long-term taste function
Pulling wisdom teeth can improve long-term taste function
A Penn Medicine study shows, for the first time, positive long-term effects of third molar extraction on taste.
A link between childhood stress and early molars
A link between childhood stress and early molars
Penn researchers discovered that children from lower-income backgrounds and those who go through greater adverse childhood experiences get their first permanent molars sooner.
Penn Dental Medicine to receive $20M estate gift honoring alumnus
Penn Dental Medicine to receive $20M estate gift honoring alumnus
One hundred and four years after Penn Dental Medicine alumnus Dr. Arthur E. Corby, Class of 1917, earned his dental degree, his daughter, alumna Carol Corby-Waller, has gifted the Dental School with an anticipated $20 million honoring her father.
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Shape.com
What your tongue says about your health
Dental School of Medicine dean Mark Wolff explained what the tongue can reveal about a person’s health, such as vitamin deficiencies. “So many nutrient-bound conditions just pop right out on the tongue,” he said.
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Health.com
Ashley Graham reveals her ‘cracked tooth’ on Instagram—Here’s what to know
Dean Mark Wolff of the School of Dental Medicine spoke about the increased popularity of dental veneers. "Sometimes, the shape of the teeth and the cosmetics of teeth are so bad that there's just no way to do anything about it without literally covering the tooth," he said. "A porcelain veneer can cover the tooth without actually doing a lot of damage to the tooth."
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AARP.org
7 superfoods for your teeth
Dean Mark Wolff of the School of Dental Medicine said low-sugar, high-fiber diets can help protect teeth and gums. “You’re not just feeding yourself—you’re feeding all the good and bad bacteria that live in your mouth,” he said.
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LA Times
Adding dental coverage to Medicare makes a lot of sense—except to dentists
Allison Hoffman of the Carey Law School is quoted on how the current dental insurance system is unsustainable.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
Penn finds a surprising benefit to wisdom tooth surgery: better taste
Research by Richard Doty of the Perelman School of Medicine and Dane Kim, a student in the School of Dental Medicine, found that people who have had wisdom teeth removed had a slightly stronger sense of taste over time. Earlier studies have focused on the temporary loss of taste associated with the procedure.
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Health.com
A dental student on TikTok says she knows if someone is pregnant by looking in their mouth—is this possible?
Mark Wolff, dean of the School of Dental Medicine, said it’s “an overstatement” to say doctors can tell if someone is pregnant by examining their gums, as purported in a viral TikTok video. However, he said, even those “that take really good care of their mouth” can develop sudden gingivitis during pregnancy.
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