DT South Asia No. 11, 2023

AI and dental biomaterials can make great careers / News

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The World‘s Dental Newspaper
South Asia Edition
Published in India

www.dental-tribune.com

DDCC 2023

Vol. 1, No. 11

RADIOTHERAPY

ML IN DENTISTRY

Digital Dental Craftsman Convention
takes place in Mumbai in October.

Dr Josiane Almeida on dentistry
in radiotherapy patients.

Machine learning (ML) applications are
expanding in dentistry.

Page 03

Page 06

Page 09

AI and dental biomaterials can make great
careers
Dr Jason Griggs interviewed by Dr Amisha Parekh
By Dr Amisha Parekh
Dental Tribune South Asia
Dr Jason Griggs, Associate
Dean of Research, School of
Dentistry, University of Mississippi
Medical Center (UMMC), who was
recently awarded the prestigious
Wilmer Souder Award by the
International
Association
for
Dental Research (IADR) for his
outstanding achievements in
dental materials research talks
about his research journey and the
future scope of dental biomaterial
science in this interview with
Dr Amisha Parekh, Head, Dental
Biomaterials, Dental Tribune South
Asia.
First of all, congratulations on
receiving the Wilmer Souder
Award from IADR! Could you tell
us what this recognition means to
you personally and in your career?
It is a tremendous honour for
me because I remember my
mentor [Ken Anusavice] winning
the Souder Award when I was a
PhD student. Ken was a great
scientist and a hard worker. Every
time I am selected for an award or
a service position that he held, I
feel that I have somehow repaid
the time that he invested in
training me.
Can you tell us about some of
your most impactful research
projects or discoveries in dental
materials science that you believe
contributed to receiving this
award?

www.dental-tribune.com

Dr. Jason Griggs advises the dental biomaterial science students to learn the basic principles of processing - structure - properties thoroughly. (Image: Dr. Jason Griggs)

Most of my work has been
aimed at developing mechanical
test methods that are more
efficient. Some of the highlights
were demonstrating that finite
element analysis can be used to
predict cyclic fatigue lifetime,
developing a statistical model to
predict the result of two forms of
lifetime acceleration (overstress
and usage rate acceleration) and
their interaction, training artificial
neural networks to predict the
fatigue
limits
of
implants,
developing the only method so far
for measuring the fracture
toughness of clinically failed
ceramics, settling the controversy
regarding healing behavior of
hydrothermal porcelains, and
determining which specimen
dimensions result in the best
precision for strength tests and
fracture toughness tests.
Can you tell us about how your
journey in dental materials
research
began
and
what

motivated you to pursue this
career?
I was taking an undergraduate
course in glass formulation at the
University of Florida from Larry
Hench, who was famous for
designing bioglass. I decided not
to waste this close contact with
such a fine potential mentor, and I
asked him for a summer research
job. He said that he would wait to
see how I performed in his course.
I worked extra hard throughout
the course, and when it came time
to assign term projects each
student chose a series of glass
formulations for which to predict
the structure and properties. Larry
asked if someone would like to
write software to automatically
solve this type of problem for the
general case, and I accepted and
completed that challenge. He
hired me to make laser cavities for
anti-missile defense systems, but
the defense project was then
canceled by the sponsor. Through
his work on bioglass, Larry knew

several professors in the campus
hospital, including Ken Anusavice,
who was famous for his work on
dental materials. When Larry’s lab
was downsized, he sent me and
three other students to Ken, who
had enough grant funding to hire
over ten students. I found myself
in a wonderful environment and
stayed there for my BS, MS, and
PhD degrees.
Can you share some examples
of collaborations or industry
partnerships that have been
particularly instrumental in your
research journey?
It has been small benefits from
many different sources. The
primary thing has been to never
refuse someone who asks for help.
Whether it was to serve as a
meeting organiser, society officer,
grant reviewer, coinvestigator,
course
director,
committee
member, or mentor – if someone
asked and I had the resources,
then I said “yes”. This often resulted

in working long hours and losing
sleep, but it paid back the
investment many folds.
Could you explain some key
considerations when developing
new dental materials?
Developing new materials has
not been a major focus for me, but
I have been successful in helping
others on several occasions when
they were out of ideas. In each
case, my suggestions did not come
from recent discoveries but rather
from basic principles that I had
encountered in formal courses
decades before. My advice to
students is to not just study for the
exam grade. Learn the basic
principles of processing structure
properties thoroughly.
In your opinion, what are some
of the challenges we face in dental
materials science today, and how
can the dental community address
them?
The interview continues on page 2.

[2] =>

NEWS

2

Dental Tribune South Asia Edition | 11/2023

The primary challenge is the
disregard of many dental students
for materials science. We know
that the operator is the most
important factor influencing the
success (or failure) of dental
surgeries.
Dental
materials
researchers should give careful
thought to making our research
easy to understand and to
developing teaching methods that
hold dentists’ interest and longterm retention of information.
Could you enlighten us on any
emerging trends or technologies in
dental materials science that you
believe will shape the future of
dentistry?
We are at the beginning of a
new age caused by advances in
artificial intelligence (AI). Learning
to use AI as a research tool and
learning the weaknesses of AI will
be important to the career of most
dental materials researchers in the
future.
You have been utilising some
of
the
latest
cutting-edge
technologies in your research.
How do you stay updated on the
latest advancements in dental
materials science and related
fields?
It is important to make time for
traveling and meeting face to face
with other scientists. It also helps
to agree to serve on panels that
review grant applications.

Can you give us a sneak peek
into some of your upcoming
research projects?
Genetic algorithms (GA) cover
for some of the weak points of AI.
I am currently repeating some of
my previous AI-powered studies
using GA. I am also trying to
develop a better large-crack
fracture toughness test method
for ceramics and a new dental
implant design that should have
greater primary stability in the
low-quality bone.
Would you like to share some
unique features or characteristics
of the Biomedical Materials
Science department at UMMC?
My current department has
unprecedented levels of trust and
transparency. This allows us to
provide constructive criticism to
each other and to team up in
response to external threats more
effectively than I have seen before.
It is a helpful group of people that
is a pleasure to work in.
Lastly, you are an inspiration
for all young researchers. What
advice would you give to young
scientists or students who wish to
pursue a career in biomedical
materials science?
A successful scientist is one
who can adapt to changes in topics
and tools. Don’t allow yourself to
be a ‘one-trick pony’ but rather be
in a state of continuous learning.

About Dr Jason Griggs
Dr Jason Griggs earned his
PhD in materials science &
engineering from the University of
Florida in 1998. He was mentored
by Ken Anusavice and Jack
Mecholsky. The same year he
joined Baylor College of Dentistry
as an Assistant Professor and later
became a Professor, Graduate
Program Director, and Vice-Chair
of the Department of Biomaterials
Science. In 2007, he moved to the
University of Mississippi Medical
Center, School of Dentistry as
Chair of the Department of
Biomedical Materials Science and
became Associate Dean for
Research a year later. He is a Fellow
and former President of the
Academy of Dental Materials, with
numerous NIH grants, editorial
roles, and over 90 peer-reviewed
articles, eight book chapters
(including those in a core dental
materials textbook - Phillip’s
Science of Dental Materials), and
two patents to his name.
Dr Griggs has dedicated his
research to two main areas:
accelerated lifetime testing of
medical materials and devices and
analysis of broken surfaces to
understand the origins and causes
of failures. His expertise spans a
wide range of materials and
devices,
including
implant
abutments,
implant
bodies,
connector screws, polymer-based

denture teeth, polycrystalline
ceramics, glass-ceramics, fused
layered ceramics, water pipes, and
semiconductor wafers. In recent
years, he has directed his attention
towards design optimization and
efficient screening of design
factors. He utilises cutting-edge
techniques such as response
surface methods and artificial
intelligence to enhance the
research process and improve
outcomes.
Dr Griggs was awarded the
prestigious Wilmer Souder Award
by the International Association
for Dental Research (IADR) for his
outstanding achievements in
dental materials research. This
award is one of the highest honors
presented by IADR, a prominent
international organization that
focuses on promoting dental and
oral health research. This award is
named in honor of Dr. Wilmer
Souder, a distinguished figure in
the field of dental materials. He is
recognized for his significant
contributions to the study and
advancement of dental materials
science throughout his career. The
Wilmer Souder Award is typically
reserved for individuals who have
demonstrated
exceptional
accomplishments, leadership, and
significant contributions to the
field of dental materials research.

Dr Amisha Parekh is currently
pursuing her in Biomedical
Materials Science at the University
of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry, with an
expected completion date in May
2025.
She
heads
the
Dental
Biomaterials section of Dental
Tribune South Asia. She was also
the Assistant Executive Editor of
Dental Tribune South Asia (202122).
Dr Amisha holds a copyright
for her innovation “Dental highspeed handpiece with aerosol
control” (Copyright Registration
No. L-95018/2020).
Also, her dissertation project:
“Titanium (CPTi) implant surfaces
with hydroxyapatite and tricalcium
phosphate compounds to improve
osseointegration” — is currently
(as of Oct 2023) under intellectual
property review.

About Dr Amisha Parekh

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[3] =>

NEWS

Dental Tribune South Asia Edition | 11/2023

Digital Dental Craftsman Convention
— huge success
By Dr Rajeev Chitguppi,
Dental Tribune South Asia

DDCC—a unique event
DDCC stood out as the firstever dental lab-focused event that
offered dental lab technicians a
much-needed
platform
to
discover, learn, and network. The
event, held on 21-22 Oct 2023 in
Mumbai, distinguished itself by
providing
practical-oriented
sessions for technicians who wish
to embrace digital dentistry fully.
The event covered all aspects of
digital
dentistry,
including
scanning, designing, milling, and
printing, which were demonstrated
to attendees.

The Indian Society of Digital
Dentistry
(ISDD)
successfully
organized the Digital Dental
Craftsman Convention (DDCC) —
a unique event where dentists and
dental lab technicians came
together.
With
125
tickets
available, the event attracted more
than
130
participants—both
technicians and doctors — coming
from Kerala, Rajasthan, Odisha,
Gujarat,
Karnataka,
Andhra
Pradesh, and many other parts of
India.
The Digital Dental Craftsman Convention organised by the Indian Society of Digital Dentistry brought the dental technicians and
dentists together on one platform. (Image: ISDD)

Inauguration

Inaugural addresses

Drs Ratnadeep Jadhav & Pankaj Chivte lighting the lamp.

Dr Vipin Mahurkar, Organizing Chairman, Digital Dental Craftsman Convention 2023.

Zoran Hinic, Head of dental lab at bredent — lighting the lamp.

Dr Pankaj Chivte, President, Indian Society of Digital Dentistry.

Dr Vipin Mahurkar, Zoran Hinic, Dr Ratnadeep Jadhav, Dr Pankaj Chivte.

Dr Ratnadeep Jadhav, Secretary, Indian Society of Digital Dentistry.

[4] =>

NEWS

4

Dental Tribune South Asia Edition | 11/2023

Keynote lecture: Zoran Hinic, Head of Dental lab at Bredent

Zoran Hinic. Head of Dental lab at bredent.

Madan Soman speaking on the revolutionary digital denture system ‘Ivotion’.

Zoran Hinic. Head of Dental lab at bredent.

Dr Anshul Mel explaining different options to achieve passive fit in implant prosthetics.

Zoran Hinic. Head of Dental lab at bredent.

Dr Datta Bhajibhakare on conventional vs digital implant prosthodontics.

Keynote Lectures

Mr Danesh Vazifdar on Amann Girrbach Zolid range of blanks.

Dr Prashant Shirke on CBCT for implant planning.

[5] =>

NEWS

5

Dental Tribune South Asia Edition | 11/2023

New announcements

Dr. Mahesh Jagwani — printing restorations chairside.

Indian Society of Digital Dentistry panel discussion.

Honorary life membership.

Fellowship in digital dentistry.

Upcoming events of ISDD
After a highly successful
convention in Pune in 2022,
attended by more than 800
clinicians with 12 international
speakers and 12 industry partners,
ISDD plans to hold such
conventions bi-annually, with the
next
event
scheduled
for
November 2024. Furthermore,
ISDD will host a digital dental
conference for students in Gujarat
early next year. ISDD aims to
continue fostering the growth and
development of digital dentistry in
India through these initiatives.
Indian
Dentistry:

Society

of

Digital

The advent of digitisation has
brought about significant changes
globally and has made a substantial
impact in India. Digital technology
is revolutionising various fields of
medicine, including dentistry,
where tools like scanners, CBCT,
CAD/CAM, 3D printing, and milling
are transforming patient care.
To keep pace with this rapid
advancement in digital dentistry
knowledge and technology in
India, the ISDD was officially
founded in 2022 by a group of
experienced
and
tech-savvy
dentists.
The founding members of
ISDD include Drs Ratnadeep
Jadhav, Vijay Tamhane, Pankaj
Chivate, Sanjay Asnani, Suresh
Ludhwani, and Kaustubh Patil.
Indian Society of Digital Dentistry has many events lined up for the year 2024.

These founders, who are also
multi-practice owners, share a
deep passion for digital dentistry
and are dedicated to promoting
advanced, innovative training in
digital dentistry in India, with the
aim of enhancing the quality of
dental work and creating new
opportunities for Indian dentists.
Presently, we have been joined by
20 clinicians from various parts of
India to expand ISDD’s activities to
different states.

[6] =>

NEWS

Dental Tribune South Asia Edition | 11/2022

IMPRINT
INTERNATIONAL
HEADQUARTERS

Prominent endodontist shares
expertise on treating patients
undergoing radiotherapy

PUBLISHER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Torsten OEMUS

CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER:
Claudia DUSCHEK

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All rights reserved. © 2023 Dental
Tribune International GmbH. Reproduction in any manner in any language, in whole or in part, without the
prior written permission of Dental
Tribune International GmbH is expressly prohibited.

Dr Josiane Almeida will be speaking at ROOTS SUMMIT 2024, which will take place from 9 to 12 May in Athens in Greece. (Image: ROOTS SUMMIT)

By Franziska Beier,
Dental Tribune International
As cancer treatments evolve,
clinicians of all disciplines must
also adapt their approaches to
medical and dental treatments in
order to best compensate for the
powerful side effects of more
robust
treatment
options.
Dr Josiane Almeida, researcher
and lecturer in the Department of
Endodontics at the University of
Southern Santa Catarina and
Federal University of Santa
Catarina in Brazil, will explain to
attendees at the 2024 ROOTS
SUMMIT how they can best adapt
their approaches for patients who
have undergone head and neck
radiotherapy.
The number of patients treated
with radiation therapy is growing
as a result of improvements in
surgery
and
radiotherapy
techniques. This means more
endodontists will be required to be
part of a team providing
multidisciplinary
treatment.
Based on your experience, what
should clinicians know about
endodontic treatments before and
after radiotherapy in order to
manage the oral health of a
patient?
Head and neck cancer poses a
significant health challenge on a
global scale. Although radiation
therapy is highly recommended
for cancer treatment, it may
produce adverse effects on the
patient’s oral condition. The high
risk of osteoradionecrosis after
radiotherapy
limits
tooth
extraction. Therefore, endodontic

treatment is a feasible option for
managing oral health. Although
an effective root canal treatment
avoids serious complications to
the patient’s oral health, it is
necessary to know how to perform
it and the ideal moment to choose,
taking into consideration all the
concerns that arise as a result of
irradiation.
What are some of the specific
implications of radiotherapy on
endodontic
treatment?
Do
endodontists have to change their
treatment procedures in order to
treat previously irradiated areas?
The dental structure most
affected by radiotherapy is
dentine, owing to its high organic
content. Some of the alterations
are caused by a process called
radiolysis, leading to dehydration
of the substrate, breakdown of the
odontoblastic extensions and
collagen fibrils, and cracks and
fissures around the dentinal
tubules. These alterations make
the
dental
structure
more
susceptible to fracture and
increase the dentinal roughness,
which in turn affects the interaction
between the substrate and
microorganisms.
Therefore,
microbial colonisation, followed
by the establishment of a more
complex and structured biofilm,
may occur. Bearing this in mind,
endodontists need to redirect
their
treatment
procedures
regarding patients who have
undergone radiotherapy in order
to achieve endodontic success and
restore oral health.

There seems to be a debate
about whether root canal therapy
or tooth extraction is the preferred
option
for
patients
after
radiotherapy. From your clinical
experience, what is your opinion
on this topic?
The ideal course of action for
treating a patient who has been
exposed to radiation should
involve a collaborative effort
between medical and dental
professionals. The treatment plan
should be well thought out, taking
into account all potential risks to
the patient. It is clear that tooth
extraction in radiation-exposed
patients may lead to osteonecrosis
and other complications that
might harm the patient’s health.
For this reason, endodontic
treatment is often the preferred
option. Nonetheless, the top
priority should always be the
patient’s overall well-being.
In your presentation, you will
speak about future treatment
options
for
patients
after
radiotherapy. Could you give a
preview of what this will entail?
There is limited literature
available on the combination of
endodontics and radiotherapy. We
will not focus on new treatment
techniques, as in this sense
endodontics itself is already quite
advanced, but rather on the
damage and structural changes
that radiotherapy causes to the
dental
structures.
Additional
topics include the way in which
such damage can be overcome
and the ideal time frame in which
to perform endodontics in order
to obtain a more effective

endodontic treatment with
greater chance of success.

What will be the three main
learning objectives of your session
at ROOTS SUMMIT 2024?
The objectives will be to
address the alterations to dental
structures caused by irradiation, to
examine irradiation’s impact on
endodontic therapy and to discuss
appropriate treatment approaches
for the affected teeth.
What are you personally
looking forward to at next year’s
ROOTS SUMMIT?
The event has been successful
since its inception. Although I have
never before attended in person, I
have followed the entire event—
speakers, topics covered and
excellent organisation—online. I
am excited about participating
actively this time in Athens and
joining the team of speakers. I am
confident that the event will
provide valuable knowledge for all
attendees, as well as an
opportunity to network and share
experiences.
Editorial note:
Dr Josiane Almeida will be
giving a lecture titled “Effect of
radiotherapy on dental structures:
Current clinic and future treatment
perspectives” at the 2024 ROOTS
SUMMIT on 11 May 2024 from
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
More information on the
programme and registration can
be found on the ROOTS SUMMIT
website, www.roots-summit.com.

Dental Tribune International GmbH
makes every effort to report clinical
information and manufacturers’ product news accurately but cannot assume responsibility for the validity of
product claims or for typographical
errors. The publisher also does not
assume responsibility for product
names, claims or statements made
by advertisers. Opinions expressed
by authors are their own and may
not reflect those of Dental Tribune
International GmbH

DENTAL TRIBUNE SOUTH ASIA
EDITION

PUBLISHER
Ruumi J. DARUWALLA
CHIEF EDITOR
Dr. Meera VERMA

CLINICAL EDITOR
Dr. Dilip DESHPANDE

RESEARCH EDITOR
Dr. Shobha DESHPANDE

ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Dr. GN ANANDAKRISHNA
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Dr. Rajeev CHITGUPPI

ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE EDITORS
Dr. Riddhi D. TELISARA
DESIGNER
Anil LAHANE

PRINTER
Mehernosh MISTRY
Burzin MISTRY
Ampersand, Mumbai, India

[7] =>

NEWS

7

Dental Tribune South Asia Edition | 11/2023

Reversing dysbiosis can treat autoimmune
diseases
By Dr Geetpriya Kaur
The human body consists of
distinct
and
abundant
microorganisms referred to as the
microbiome.1 The oral cavity is
colonized by 700 different species
of bacteria. 2 The unique oral
microbiome niches are mucosal
surfaces, tooth surfaces, and
saliva. The gut and oral microbiota
are the largest and second-largest
microbiota in the human being,
respectively. 3 They are physically
connected as the oral cavity is the
beginning of the digestive tract,
thus a large number of oral
bacterial species can enter the
gastrointestinal tract (GIT) through
saliva. The alteration of oral and
gut microbiota composition is
known as dysbiosis. Recent
evidence suggests that oral–gut
microbiota dysbiosis plays a
crucial role in modulating the
initiation and progression of an
array of autoimmune diseases.
Therefore, targeting and reversing
oral–gut microbiota dysbiosis can
be an effective strategy for treating
autoimmune diseases.1,4
Oral microbiota targeted therapy
To prevent autoimmune diseases,
it is important to maintain
homeostasis dynamics between
the oral microbiota, gut microbiota,
and the host immune system. The
driving factors that significantly
affect the composition and
structure of the oral microbial flora
are poor oral hygiene, smoking,
dietary shifts such as high
carbohydrate, fat, and sugar
intake,
administration
of
1
antibiotics, and infections. The
main potential strategies for
treating oral microbiota-mediated
autoimmune diseases are:
Good oral hygiene
Oral infections such as dental
caries and periodontitis upregulate
several systemic inflammatory
reactions which, in turn, play a
crucial role in the initiation and
development of many autoimmune
diseases. Thus, maintaining oral
hygiene can prevent autoimmune
diseases.5
Low carbohydrate, sugar, and fat
diet
These dietary changes can reduce
the oral microbial load, thereby
affecting the composition of the
oral microbial communities.
Healthy lifestyle
Lifestyle changes including proper
sleep, stress reduction, and
physical exercise can improve the
condition of patients suffering
from autoimmune diseases.
Usage of prebiotics, probiotics, or
synbiotics
Probiotics
are
foods
or
supplements that contain live

Conclusion
The oral and gut microbiota
dysbiosis plays a critical role in the
initiation and progression of
several autoimmune diseases,
thus targeting oral and gut
microbes can be a potential
strategy for curing autoimmune
conditions. The current approaches
including
dietary
changes,
probiotics, prebiotics, and FMT
have improved the condition of
patients
suffering
from
autoimmune diseases. Further
clinical trials are needed to study
the effect of OMT and FMT
therapies
on
autoimmune
diseases.

Recent evidence shows that targeting and reversing oral–gut microbiota dysbiosis can be an effective strategy for treating
autoimmune diseases. (Image: Canva)

microorganisms
intended
to
maintain or improve normal
microflora. Prebiotics are typically
high-fiber foods that promote the
production of beneficial microbial
metabolites
for
pathogenic
bacteria
suppression
and
improvement of the gut barrier.1
For instance, Prebiotic D-tagatose
suppresses the growth of the oral
pathogens Streptococcus mutans
(S. mutans) and S. gordonii.1
Synbiotics are mixtures of both
probiotics and prebiotics that
improve the activity and survival
of beneficial gut microflora.
Oral microbiota transplantation
(OMT)
Huang et al. suggested that OMT
can be a promising strategy for the
treatment of autoimmune diseases. Oral bacteria can be efficiently encapsulated for curing
oral microbiota-mediated autoimmune diseases. A recent study
demonstrated that OMT alleviated
radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis by altering the oral microbiota
composition in mice.1
Nanomedicine–based therapeutics
The nanomedicine–based strategies involve biological immunomodulatory agents for the treatment of autoimmune diseases
such as Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), psoriasis, rheumatoid
arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), multiple sclerosis (MS), and Type 1 diabetes (T1D).
For instance, TNF – α siRNA nanomedicine-targeted macrophages
can significantly reduce TNF – α
levels to improve the condition of
patients suffering from IBD1.
Gut microbiota targeted therapies
The composition and function of
the gut microbiota are generally
altered
in
patients
with
autoimmune disorders.4 The major
potential strategies for curing gut

microflora-mediated autoimmune
diseases are:
Fasting-mimicking diet (FMD)
The FMD consists of specific plantbased ingredients such as low carbohydrates, proteins, and good
fatty acids that keep the patient in
a fasting state. This diet protects
the body by rejuvenating the cells
and improving their functions,
thus reducing intestinal inflammation.4
Water–only fasting intervention
This intervention can enhance the
body’s regenerative mechanisms
and also reduce inflammatory
markers.4
Probiotics and prebiotics
Probiotics might be used as an
adjuvant therapy to maintain the
homeostasis of the gut microbiota
and can affect systemic immune
responses. Prebiotics support
numerous digestive and immune
functions.4
Fecal microbiota transplantation
(FMT)
FMT is an effective therapeutic
modality that can alter the
composition of the gut microbiome
in clinical settings. The process
involves transferring the gut
microbiota from a healthy donor,
already screened for pathogens or
any underlying disorder to a
recipient through various modes
like oral capsules, enemas, or
transnasal intestinal tube infusion
of bacterial fluids. Thus, it provides
colonization resistance, produces
favorable
metabolites,
and
restores mucosal immune system
interactions while improving the
symptoms of the patient. Several
clinical trials have been conducted
to study the effects of FMT in
different autoimmune diseases.6

FMT and RA
A recent study on RA patients
treated with FMT revealed that
FMT can alleviate the symptoms of
RA. On the 42nd day after FMT, the
Health Assessment Questionnaire
Disability Index (HAQ-DI) dropped
to 0.05, the Disease Activity Score
28 (DAS28) was 1.9 from the initial
score of 6.6, and the titer of the
rheumatoid factor decreased to
158 from the initial value of 314 IU/
ml.7
FMT and MS
The latest study conducted on
nine patients with MS who were
treated with monthly FMTs for six
months disclosed that the patients
with abnormal intestinal permeability improved to the normal
range. Additionally, the concentration of Hungatella hathewayi spp.
also increased post – FMT, thus
suggesting the efficiency of FMT in
modifying the gut microbiome
composition.8
FMT and IBD
In 2014, a meta-analysis of 122
patients revealed a potential
impact of FMT in different types of
IBD; pooled results from 18 studies
showed a clinical remission of
36.2% and 60.5% in Ulcerative
colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease
(CD)
patients,
respectively.
Another clinical trial named Fecal
Microbiota Transplantation in
Ulcerative Colitis (FOCUS) on 85
active UC patients, evaluated the
clinical and endoscopic remissions
while
comparing
FMT
by
colonoscopy, FMT enema, and a
placebo for eight weeks. A
remission rate of 27% was
observed in the FMT group while
8% remission was observed in the
placebo groups.9

References
Available upon request

About
Dr Geetpriya Kaur is an oral
pathologist, running a dental
diagnostic center for the past nine
years. She taught oral pathology
courses as a professor at the
Department of Oral Pathology and
Microbiology at the Institute of
Dental Studies and Technologies
(IDST), India. She has also worked
as an assistant editor with the
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic
Research and has many national
and international publications to
her credit. Additionally, she has
peer–reviewed articles in national
and international journals.
Her master’s thesis looked into
“Detection of oral squamous cell
carcinoma metastasis with cathepsin D: An immunohistochemical
study” and concluded that patients with lymph node metastasis
had higher Cathepsin D(CD) expression and that increasing tumor
size seemed to correlate with
higher CD expression. Thus, based
on the active potential of CD in
regulating the prognosis of oral
squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC),
the design and synthesis of specific CD inhibitors can have significant research and therapeutic
consequences.

[8] =>

NEWS

Dental Tribune South Asia Edition | 11/2023

Combined treatment potentiates anti-biofilm
and anti-cariogenic efficacy
By Iveta Ramonaite,
Dental Tribune International
PHILADELPHIA, US: According
to research, dental caries is the
most prevalent and costly biofilminduced oral disease. Fluoride as
the primary anti-cariogenic agent
cannot both sufficiently control
biofilm and prevent enamel
demineralisation and can lead to
risks associated with overexposure
to fluoride, especially in children.
However, a recent study has shown
that using a combination of an iron
oxide nanoparticle (ferumoxytol,
Fer) approved by the US Food and
Drug Administration and stannous
fluoride (SnF2), even at lower
concentrations, can help inhibit
both biofilm accumulation and
enamel damage. The study has the
potential to prevent dental caries
and to reduce fluoride exposure in
patients.
“Traditional treatments often
come short in managing the
complex biofilm environment in
the mouth,” senior researcher Dr
Hyun (Michel) Koo, a co-founding
director of the Center for
Innovation and Precision Dentistry
and a professor in the Department
of Orthodontics at the University
of Pennsylvania, said in a press
release. “Our combined treatment
not only amplifies the effectiveness
of each agent but does so with a
lower dosage, hinting at a
potentially revolutionary method
for caries prevention in high-risk
individuals,” he continued.
The researchers found that Fer
can stabilise SnF2 and that it shows
increased catalytic activity when
combined with SnF2. Additionally,
they discovered that fluoride, iron
and tin form a protective film on
tooth enamel to protect it against
further demineralisation. It was
also reported that the combined
therapy did not disrupt the
ecological balance of the oral
microbiota and showed no side
effects on the surrounding host
tissue.

Researchers have recently combined two treatments for dental caries, thus enhancing their antimicrobial potency. (Image: Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock)

Since both Fer and SnF2 are
commercially
available,
the
research findings could quickly be
translated into clinical practice.
However, further research is
needed to closely examine the
mechanisms
of
interaction
between SnF2 and Fer, the process
of reactive oxygen species
generation and the formation and
efficacy of the protective enamel
film. “There’s potential here not
just in dental care but in exploring
how this combination can be
targeted against other biofilms,”
Dr Cormode said.

The study, titled “Iron oxide
nanozymes stabilize stannous
fluoride for targeted biofilm killing
and synergistic oral disease
prevention”, was published online
on 29 September 2023 in Nature
Communications.

Senior author Dr David
Cormode, an associate professor
of radiology at the university,
commented: “What excites us
most about these findings is the
multifaceted approach to caries
prevention. It’s not just about
inhibiting bacterial growth or
protecting the enamel; it’s a
holistic method that targets both
the biological and physicochemical
aspects of dental caries.”
“While we are happy with
these initial findings, we still aim to
dig deeper in understanding the
intricate ways Fer and SnF2
synergise to boost the therapeutic
effects,” Dr Koo added.

Amelotech
Synahealth Singapore Pte. Ltd.
16 Raffles Quay
#41-01 Hong Leong Building
Singapore 048581

LifeCare Devices Private Limited
New Jubilee Building, Office no. 1, Laxmiben Chheda Road,
Nalasopara West, Palghar 401 203. Mumbai Metropolitan Region,
Maharashtra, INDIA. | E: info@lifecare.in | Website: www.lifecare.in
| Customer Service : +91 99304 50170
| Customer Service WhatsApp : +91 99304 50169
| Management WhatsApp : +91 99304 50163/+91 99997 86275

[9] =>

NEWS

Dental Tribune South Asia Edition | 11/2023

How machine learning is transforming
dentistry
By Dr Rewant Chauhan

important to develop ML
models that are transparent
and can be easily explained to
dentists.

The past few decades have
witnessed remarkable progress in
the application of artificial
intelligence (AI) and machine
learning (ML) in medicine, notably
in medical imaging. The application
of ML to dental and oral imaging
has also been developed, powered
by the availability of clinical dental
images. As ML models become
more adaptive day by day, there is
a huge scope for further
enhancement of these tools and
their application in dentistry.
ML, as a branch of AI, empowers
computers to learn and make
decisions from data without being
explicitly programmed. It’s like
teaching a computer to recognize
patterns or trends. Instead of
providing rigid instructions, you
feed the machine a lot of
information, and it figures out how
to solve problems or make
predictions on its own. For
instance, it can identify objects in
photos, predict stock market
trends, or recommend movies
based on your preferences.
Machine Learning is all about
computers learning from data to
assist us in solving complex
problems and making smarter
decisions.
ML, the ever-evolving domain of
AI, has, in recent years, become
synonymous with innovation
across various industries. It is the
digital guardian behind selfdriving cars, the curator of
personalized playlists, and the
diagnostic
powerhouse
in
healthcare. But in the realm of
dentistry, its remarkable potential
to revolutionize oral care has
remained relatively uncharted
territory.
Applications currently available in
the dental industry:
• V7: A computer vision platform
that allows dentists to build
and deploy AI solutions for
dental imaging, such as dental
decay and periodontal disease
detection,
oral
cancer
detection, endodontics, and
orthodontic
treatment
planning.
• Dentem: A cloud-based dental
practice management software that uses ML to automate
tasks such as appointment
scheduling, billing, patient
communication, and analytics.
• Denti.AI: A dental image
analysis software that uses ML
to detect and diagnose dental
caries, periodontal diseases,
bone loss, and other oral
conditions.
• Pearl: A dental AI company
that offers various products
such as Smart Margin (a margin
marking software for dental
restorations), Smart Radiology

Conclusion
The future of ML in dentistry is
bright. ML has the potential to
transform the way dental care is
delivered and to improve the lives
of patients worldwide. As ML
technology continues to develop,
we can expect to see even more
innovative applications of ML in
dentistry.

About

As the machine learning (ML) technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more innovative applications of ML in
dentistry. (Image: Canva)

•

(a radiograph interpretation
software), and Smart Triage (a
teledentistry software).
Overjet: A dental AI company
that provides products such as
Overjet Vision (a dental
charting software), Overjet
Clinical Review (a dental claims
review software), and Overjet
Research Platform (a dental
research
software).
The
accuracy of ML software
depends on various factors,
such as the quality and
quantity of the data used to
train and test the ML models,
the choice and complexity of
the ML algorithms, the
performance metrics and
evaluation methods, and the
clinical
relevance
and
applicability of the results.

Accuracy rates:
Some of these software have
reported high accuracy rates for
different tasks and domains in
dentistry. For example:
• V7 claims to achieve an
accuracy of 99.7% for dental
decay detection, 98.9% for
periodontal disease detection,
and 97.8% for oral cancer
detection.
• Dentem claims to reduce
human errors by 80% and
increase productivity by 30%.
• Denti.AI claims to achieve an
accuracy of 95.4% for dental
caries detection, 94.2% for
periodontal disease detection,
and 92.6% for bone loss
detection.
• Pearl claims to achieve an
accuracy of 97% for margin
marking, 96% for radiograph
interpretation, and 95% for
tele dentistry.
• Overjet claims to achieve an
accuracy of 98% for dental
charting, 97% for dental claims
review, and 96% for dental
research.
However, these accuracy rates may
not reflect the true performance of

these software in real-world settings, as they may be based on
limited or biased data or use inappropriate or inconsistent metrics.
Moreover, accuracy is not the only
criterion to evaluate the usefulness of ML software, as other factors such as reliability, validity, interpretability, generalizability, usability, and cost-effectiveness
should also be considered.
Therefore, it is important to
critically appraise the evidence
and claims of these softwares
before adopting them in clinical
practice. More rigorous and
standardized research is needed
to validate and compare these
software and their ML models.
Ethical and legal issues such as
data privacy, consent, liability, and
accountability should also be
addressed.
Limitations:
Some of the limitations of ML
software are:
• They may not be able to handle
complex or rare cases that
require human expertise and
judgment,
such
as
interdisciplinary or ethical
issues.
• They may not be able to
explain their reasoning or
decisions, which can affect the
trust and acceptance of the
users and patients.
• They may not be able to
generalize to different settings
or populations, such as
different
dental
systems,
cultures, or demographics.
• They may not be able to cope
with the dynamic and evolving
nature of dentistry, such as
new technologies, techniques,
or standards.
• They may pose ethical, legal,
and social challenges, such as
data privacy, consent, liability,
and accountability.
The use of ML in dentistry is still in
its early stages, but it has the
potential to revolutionize the way

that dental care is delivered. ML
models can help dentists to make
more accurate diagnoses, provide
more personalized treatment
plans, and improve patient
outcomes.
Other applications:
ML is also being investigated for
use in a variety of other areas of
dentistry, such as:
• Drug discovery and development: ML can be used to identify new drug targets and to
design and develop new drugs
for the treatment of dental diseases.
• Predictive analytics: ML can
be used to predict the risk of
developing dental diseases,
such as caries and periodontal
disease. This information can
be used to develop personalized prevention strategies.
• Clinical decision support: ML
can be used to develop clinical
decision support systems that
can help dentists to make
more informed treatment
decisions.
• Quality improvement: ML can
be used to monitor the quality
of dental care and to identify
areas where improvements
can be made.
Challenges:
• One of the key challenges in
the development of ML models
for dentistry is the need for
large
and
high-quality
datasets. Dental data is often
difficult to collect and can be
subject to a variety of biases.
As a result, it is important to
carefully consider the data
collection
process
when
developing ML models for
dentistry.
• Another challenge is the need
to ensure that ML models are
explainable and interpretable.
Dentists need to understand
how ML models make decisions
to trust them. As a result, it is

Dr Rewant Chauhan is a dental
professional with a passion for
using technology to improve the
practice of dentistry. He has a
strong analytical mind and a knack
for problem-solving, which he
brings to his work as an
independent
dentist
and
healthcare innovator. He is
particularly interested in using
artificial intelligence and machine
learning in dentistry. He believes
that these technologies have the
potential to revolutionize the way
dental professionals diagnose and
treat patients. To this end, he has
been involved in healthcare
initiatives that explore the use of
AI and machine learning in
dentistry.
Also, Dr Rewant is well-versed in a
variety of computer platforms and
advanced software packages that
can assist dental practitioners. He
has experience in digital dentistry
workflows
and
CAD/CAM
software, which he uses to improve
the accuracy and efficiency of
dental treatments.
Dr Rewant Chauhan’s contributions to the field of dentistry include a patent for an AI model in
dentistry. This innovation has the
potential to enhance the precision
and effectiveness of dental treatments, which could lead to better
patient outcomes.
Overall, Dr Rewant Chauhan is a
dental professional with a passion
for using technology to improve
the practice of dentistry. His
expertise in AI and machine
learning and his experience in
digital dentistry workflows make
him a valuable contributor to the
field.

[10] =>

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DENTAL HYGIENIST AND THERAPIST FORUM
The 5th edition of the Dental Hygienist and Therapist Forum will bring two
full days of insighful lectures focusing on the learning needs of the dental
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The Forum will cover a variety of topics from geriatric and digital dentistry
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[cover] => DT South Asia No. 11, 2023

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