Dental Medicine | Penn Today

Humans used to have straighter teeth—what changed?

Myra Laird of the School of Dental Medicine says that human mandible shrinkage is partly adaptive and the result of millennia of evolution.

Experts reveal six tips to prevent tooth loss in aging adults

The Penn Dental Family Practice advises drinking water throughout the day to stay hydrated and decrease the likelihood of developing cavities.

Modupe Coker named Fellow of Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine

Coker, an associate professor in the Department of Basic and Translational Sciences at Penn Dental Medicine, is among 100 fellows from across the country selected for the 2025-2026 Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine® (ELAM) program. Hosted by Drexel University College of Medicine, ELAM is dedicated to preparing women for senior leadership roles in schools of medicine, dentistry, public health and pharmacy.

(Left to right) Olivia Urquhart, Michael Glick, and Alonso Carrasco-Labra.

American Dental Association and Penn Dental Medicine announce first Living Guideline Program in oral health

The groundbreaking program will provide evidence-informed guidelines in real time to support patient care and advance public health.

2 min. read

Penn Dental Medicine renews MOU with Jagiellonian University Medical College

The renewed MOU, signed by Penn Dental Medicine’s Morton Amsterdam Dean, Dr. Mark Wolff, and Penn Dental professor Uri Hangorsky, will further strengthen the partnership, facilitating joint research projects, faculty exchanges, and student programs.

New drug therapy with natural compound shows promise against periodontal diseases

A translational study from the lab of Penn Dental Medicine’s Esra Sahingur shows “senotherapy” drug combination is effective in managing gingivitis and periodontitis.

Dental student outside of university building

A nontraditional journey to dental school

Kendra Domotor may have “zigzagged” her way to dentistry, but her journey helped her find her center in dentistry, helping her blend her love of science, teaching, and service.

5 min. read

Gloved hand pouring freeze dried "transgenic" lettuce into a grinder.

Commonly prescribed medications for high blood pressure have unexpected side effects

Henry Daniell of Penn Dental and collaborators found that ACE inhibitors dramatically reduced the activity of ACE2, a critical cardioprotective enzyme.

3 min. read

Antiviral chewing gum might revolutionize how we tackle infectious diseases

Henry Daniell of the School of Dental Medicine and his team have incorporated an antiviral protein into gum and tested its effectiveness on multiple strains of flu and HSV.

Gum containing bean powder can reduce transmission of flu, herpes, UPenn Dental Medicine study finds

A study by Henry Daniell of the School of Dental Medicine and colleagues finds that chewing gum made from beans can reduce the viral load of some strains of herpes and influenza.

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