Dental Medicine | Penn Today

Machine with human jaw and teeth model used to simulate chewing.

An antiviral chewing gum to reduce influenza and herpes simplex virus transmission

Researchers at Penn Dental Medicine and collaborators have used a clinical-grade antiviral chewing gum to substantially reduce viral loads of two herpes simplex viruses and two influenza A strains in experimental models.

2 min. read

Prevention

Your dentist may be able to identify a new sign of Alzheimer’s

Dean Mark Wolff of the School of Dental Medicine says it’s hard to say for sure that mouth bacteria can cause dementia or issues with brain health.

Innate immune training aggravates inflammatory bone loss

Researchers from the School of Dental Medicine and international collaborators from Germany have investigated the effects of training the innate immune system in experimental models of chronic inflammatory disease, periodontitis and arthritis.

Person receiving treatment in a dental clinic.

Getting to the root of root canals

Penn researchers use iron oxide nanozymes to treat infections during root canals with fewer adverse effects than clinical gold standard while also promoting tissue healing.

A person checking their gum health and teeth in a mirror.

Inflammation proteins in saliva mark progression of gum disease

A new study from Penn Dental Medicine demonstrates the potential usefulness of saliva tests for tracking periodontitis.

Self

Four reasons your mouth might taste bloody or metallic

Thomas Sollecito of the School of Dental Medicine says that a metallic taste in the mouth can be caused by tiny bits of blood constantly being released by swollen gums and cleared by saliva.

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.

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.

The Wall Street Journal

Why robots are getting less work at U.S. factories

Researchers at Penn are developing microrobots that can clean teeth and high-tech dental implants to fight off bacteria through red light therapy.

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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