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Dental Medicine

A chewing gum that could reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission
Side by side panels that compare before treatment with after treatment with ACE2 gum show a marked decline in bubbles, indicating the virus.

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
diagray showing how a nanoparticle can respond to bacteria in the mouth and kill pathogens

Pairing iron oxide nanoparticles with hydrogen peroxide results in a precisely targeted treatment for killing harmful oral bacteria, breaking down dental plaque, and even diagnosing harmful oral biofilms, according to a new study. (Image: Courtesy of the study authors)

‘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

7 superfoods for your teeth
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.

A two-pronged approach to keep rheumatoid arthritis in check
Image showing body with shoulder, wrist, elbow, and hip joints in red indicating pain and inflammation

Painful inflammation characterizes rheumatoid arthritis, but a new study points to a possibly strategy to alleviate it: boosting levels of the protein DEL-1. 

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.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Smart dental implants
diagram of tooth with metal screw attaching it to gum with words smart dental implant

A “smart” dental implant could improve upon current devices by employing biofilm-resisting nanoparticles and a light powered by biomechanical forces to promote health of the surrounding gum tissue. (Image: Courtesy of Albert Kim)

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
illustration of human nervous system

Across-disciplinary Penn team is pioneering a new approach to peripheral nerve repair.

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

New engineering approaches to address unmet oral health needs
Three images of circles and squiggles representing microbes and fungi

Time-lapsed fluorescence imaging captures how fungi can be killed precisely. Such approaches can improve how tooth decay-causing biofilms might be targeted. (Image: CiPD)

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.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Penn finds a surprising benefit to wisdom tooth surgery: better taste
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.