Dental Medicine

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.

Katherine Unger Baillie

‘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.

Katherine Unger Baillie

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.

Katherine Unger Baillie

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.

Katherine Unger Baillie

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.

Michele W. Berger

A gentler strategy for avoiding childhood dental decay

By targeting the bonds between bacteria and yeast that can form a sticky dental plaque, a new therapeutic strategy could help wash away the build-up while sparing oral tissues, according to a new study by a team from the School of Dental Medicine.

Katherine Unger Baillie



In the News


Philadelphia Inquirer

Meet the Masterman junior who just represented Brazil in the Youth Olympics

Masterman junior and Youth Olympics speedskater Lucas Koo, the son of Hyun (Michel) Koo of the School of Dental Medicine, hopes to attend the Wharton School after graduation.

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NBC Philadelphia

A family affair: Three sisters stick together as they attend Penn Dental Medicine at the same time

Joanna Haddad, Mira-Belle Haddad, and Anna-Maria Haddad are making history as one of the few groups of three or more siblings to be simultaneously enrolled in the School of Dental Medicine.

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HealthDay

Avoid opioids for short-term dental pain in kids, new guidelines say

The Center for Integrative Global Health at the School of Dental Medicine has endorsed guidelines discouraging opioid prescriptions for children with short-term dental pain.

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The Washington Post

Expert tips on keeping your teeth clean and healthy

Olivia Sheridan of the School of Dental Medicine says that electric brushes may be easier to use for people who lack manual dexterity or who care for someone who needs help brushing their teeth.

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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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