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Dental Medicine

Nanorobotic system presents new options for targeting fungal infections
Before and after fluorescence imaging of fungal accumilations being removed by microrobots.

Candida albicans is a species of yeast that is a normal part of the human microbiota but can also cause severe infections that pose a significant global health risk due to their resistance to existing treatments, so much so that the World Health Organization has highlighted this as a priority issue. The picture above shows a before (left) and after (right) fluorescence image of fungal biofilms being precisely targeted by nanozyme microrobots without bonding to or disturbing the tissue sample.

(Image: Min Jun Oh and Seokyoung Yoon)

Nanorobotic system presents new options for targeting fungal infections

Researchers from Penn Dental and Penn Engineering have developed a nanorobot system that precisely and rapidly targets fungal infections in the mouth.
Running and walking for oral cancer awareness
Three people participate in an organized run and walk, wearing matching t-shirts

Besides being a fun event for the community, funds from the 5K are going to research and awareness-raising activities related to oral cancer.

(Image: Michael Troka)

Running and walking for oral cancer awareness

In a student-led effort, the School of Dental Medicine hosted the Oral Cancer Walk & 5K. The event has been an annual tradition since 2009, offering both a community celebration and a venue for discussing oral cancer prevention and detection.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Docs on rocks: Why do so many doctors study sculpture at PAFA?

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.

Advancing research and education to push forward oral health excellence
Esra Sahingur in the halls of the dental school

Sinem Esra Sahingur has both research and administrative duties as associate dean of graduate studies and student research at Penn Dental Medicine.

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Advancing research and education to push forward oral health excellence

Since joining the School of Dental Medicine faculty in 2019, Sinem Esra Sahingur has launched two new master’s programs, expanded student research, and continued to pursue her own research program on immune regulation.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Penn Dental Medicine becomes first Cochrane Oral Health Collaborating Center
Alonso Carrasco-Labra

Alonso Carrasco-Labra of Penn Dental Medicine is director of the Cochrane Oral Health Collaborating Center.

(Image: Penn Dental Medicine)

Penn Dental Medicine becomes first Cochrane Oral Health Collaborating Center

The Cochrane Oral Health Collaborating Center at Penn Dental Medicine is the first oral-health-oriented Cochrane collaborative group in the world.

From Penn Dental Medicine

A growing focus on equitable oral care for people with disabilities
dental student in gown, gloves, and mask works on a patient in a dental chair

Student training is a large component of an increasing focus on care for people with disabilities at the School of Dental Medicine. (Image: Courtesy of Dentsply Sirona)

A growing focus on equitable oral care for people with disabilities

Through global outreach, enhanced student training, continuing education for practitioners, and the busy Care Center for Persons with Disabilities, the School of Dental Medicine is working to break down barriers to care.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Microbes that cause cavities can form superorganisms able to ‘crawl’ and spread on teeth
Three microscopic images labeled with green and blue show a group of microbes changing shape and moving

In the microbial assemblages, fungal cells (blue) made up the periphery with bacteria (green) in the middle. Fungal hyphae, or elongated filaments, enabled the cluster of microbes to propel itself along the surface of a tooth. (Image: Penn Dental Medicine)

Microbes that cause cavities can form superorganisms able to ‘crawl’ and spread on teeth

These multicellular, cross-kingdom assemblages were more resistant to antimicrobials and removal and caused more extensive tooth decay than their single-species equivalents, according to research led by School of Dental Medicine scientists.

Katherine Unger Baillie