University of Toronto researchers are testing whether probiotics infused into common foods such as milk or yogurt could help prevent childhood cavities — one of the world’s most widespread chronic diseases. Led by dentistry professor Céline Lévesque, the team is using synbiotics — a combination of probiotics and prebiotics — to determine if beneficial bacteria … Read more
A University at Buffalo postdoctoral researcher will use artificial intelligence (AI) to uncover how gum disease develops and progresses. Lu Li, a postdoctoral associate in the School of Dental Medicine’s Department of Oral Biology, has received a $993,098 Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). The five-year grant will … Read more
A new cohort study of 122,000 adults reports that specific oral bacteria — and the fungal genus Candida — were linked with a higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer years later. Published Sept. 18 in JAMA Oncology by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and collaborators, the nested case–control analysis identified 445 people who … Read more
A team of University of Washington scientists has discovered that spotted ratfish are the first known animal to grow teeth outside of the jaw. The research, published Sept. 4 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), overturns earlier assumptions that the male spotted ratfish’s club-like, barbed structure between its eyes was used to … Read more
A new resin technology developed with U.S. Department of Energy support promises to cut down on costly, repeat dental procedures. Dental restorations such as fillings and crowns often fail within five to seven years because of secondary tooth decay. But a Brazilian dentist-turned-researcher, now based in Oklahoma, has developed a groundbreaking adhesive resin that could … Read more
A UC Berkeley professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering has long aimed to distinguish good oral bacteria from the bad. But Wenjun Zhang’s quest is not straightforward. Researchers have found that bacterial species are not entirely good or bad. This is because individual species can have hundreds of strains that vary in their cavity-promoting qualities. … Read more
Teenagers who lose teeth due to decay or injury are almost twice as likely to be bullied, according to new Australian research. The collaborative study by the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne, published in JDR Clinical & Translational Research, analyzed data from more than 4,400 children in the Longitudinal Study of Australian … Read more
Sugar substitutes have long been promoted as a healthier alternative to sugar. They don’t cause cavities the way sugar does, and some — like xylitol — may even reduce Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria behind tooth decay. Research has also shown they have little to no impact on blood glucose levels, making them popular for people … Read more
Natural ingredients commonly found in consumer products are increasingly being recognized for their ability to fight tooth decay. Two recent studies highlight the potential of chamomile extract and a compound derived from maple to help prevent cavities. Maple compounds Researchers at the University of Wyoming reported in Microbiology Spectrum in early August that a non-toxic … Read more
Nearly three out of four American adults fear going to the dentist, according to new research from the NYU College of Dentistry. Earlier studies, conducted decades ago, estimated that just over a quarter of the U.S. population experienced dental anxiety. The new study, published in the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) on Tuesday, … Read more
A major cross-sectional study reports that people with well-managed diabetes keep about as many natural teeth as those without diabetes — but poor glycemic control is tied to faster tooth loss. The research team from Shiga University of Medical Science, in collaboration with Sunstar, analyzed an employment-based Japanese health claims and check-up database covering 705,542 … Read more
A new study suggests tea tree oil (TTO) could help patients at high risk of dental caries by inhibiting the growth of key oral bacteria and preventing biofilm formation. Published in Scientific Reports on Aug. 29, the research highlights TTO as a “potent antimicrobial agent against cariogenic bacteria,” potentially offering a natural alternative or complement … Read more
Dental pulp stones—calcified deposits in the tooth pulp—are typically asymptomatic and often go unnoticed. A recent study suggests these findings, along with carotid artery calcifications, may be more common in people with diabetes. Published on Aug. 4, 2025, in BMC Endocrine Disorders, researchers examined panoramic radiographs of 107 diabetic patients (67 women, 40 men; age … Read more
Researchers from the University of Sulaimani in Iraq tested whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) could help predict how long dental procedures take. Their study, published in Nature on Aug. 23, suggests that AI could reduce delays and improve patients’ overall experience. What did the study find? AI was trained on 2,500 procedure records. Another 500 records … Read more
Scientists have reconstructed the air dinosaurs once breathed by analyzing oxygen isotopes preserved in fossilized teeth. The research, published in PNAS on August 4, demonstrates how dinosaur teeth can provide unprecedented insight into Earth’s prehistoric atmosphere and the interplay between greenhouse gases and plant life. “Fossil tooth enamel can thus serve as a robust time … Read more
King’s College London researchers have discovered that keratin—a protein found in hair, skin and wool—can repair tooth enamel and arrest early decay by forming a protective, enamel-like coating. Their study, published in Advanced Healthcare Materials, found that when keratin extracted from wool is applied to the tooth and comes into contact with minerals in saliva, … Read more
With no U.S. Food and Drug Administration–approved treatments for Sjögren’s disease, which affects about 4 million people in the United States—predominantly women—the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has renewed a $2.1-million grant for a University at Buffalo dental professor, the university says. The autoimmune disorder, marked by severely reduced tear and saliva production, leaves patients … Read more
Scientists have identified a natural compound found in some cruciferous vegetables that not only has anti-cancer properties but also targets the oral microbial biofilms responsible for cavities. In a study published in Antibiotics, researchers found that 3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM), also known as bisindole and found in vegetables such as broccoli and kale, reduced biofilm formation by … Read more
With advances in bioengineering, researchers are continually looking to nature for materials with exceptional properties. Their latest focus is on marine mollusks called chitons and their ability to grow extraordinarily hard, wear-resistant teeth. Scientists from the University of California, Irvine, along with collaborators at Japan’s Okayama and Toho universities, have uncovered for the first time … Read more
A new study offers a promising approach to creating longer-lasting dental implants while reducing biowaste. Researchers from SUNY Polytechnic Institute, the University of Ghana, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute have developed a sustainable method to enhance the durability of titanium-based dental implants by repurposing biowaste from bovine bones and eggshells. Published in Scientific Reports, the research … Read more