Highlights

Penn Dental School researcher receives grant for new dental implant technology

High-tech implant would fight gum infection to reduce implant failure rate

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A Cross-Kingdom Alliance in Microcosm: The Microbial Mechanisms Behind Severe Early Childhood Caries

Adding S. mutans and C. albicans together seemed to drive the development of an unbalanced, cariogenic oral microbial community, further supporting the impact of cross-kingdom interaction in severe early childhood caries.

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.

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.

New Dental Material Resists Plaque and Kills Microbes

Dentists rely on composite materials to perform restorative procedures, such as filling cavities. Yet these materials, like tooth enamel, can be vulnerable to the growth of plaque, the sticky biofilm that leads to tooth decay.

Blocking Yeast-Bacteria Interaction May Prevent Severe Biofilms That Cause Childhood Tooth Decay

Though most tooth decay can be blamed on bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans, the fungus Candida albicans may be a joint culprit in an alarmingly common form of severe tooth decay affecting toddlers known as early childhood caries.

Penn Researcher Contributes Engineering Expertise to Solving Dental Maladies

Dentistry is often described as part art, part science. Geelsu Hwang, a research associate in the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, wants to add engineering to the mix.