Highlights

Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine: SBU Distinguished Professor and Scientist to Deliver Keynote Address at Research Symposium

Ken Dill, PhD, a decorated figure in the fields of physics and astronomy at Stony Brook University and beyond, has been chosen to deliver the Leo Sreebny Distinguished Lecture at the School of Dental Medicine’s Annual Research Symposium on February 26, 2025. His lecture, titled “Deep Innovation in America”, will connect scientific research from the country’s history to discoveries that are taking place today, and speculate about the future of scientific discovery. Read more.

NYU College of Dentistry PROHmotion Blog: “Reconsidering the Evidence on Fluoride”

Fluoride has been in the headlines — tens of thousands of headlines this past month alone. Even before President-elect Donald Trump nominated a fierce opponent of community water fluoridation to be secretary of health and human services, the popular press was busily examining the mineral’s purported benefits and harms. The latest PROHmotion blog post from the NYU Dentistry Center for Oral Health Policy and Management takes a close look at community water fluoridation as the debates about fluoride and health risks continue in Washington and in the public square. Read more.

Oral Health Care Access

Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College: Smiles for Veterans Brings Service Members to Touro College of Dental Medicine for Seventh Year in a Row

Touro College of Dental Medicine (TCDM) hosted its 7th annual Smiles for Veterans event on November 11, a day-long celebration of veterans, military personnel, and their families. In honor of Veterans Day, TCDM provided free dental screenings, x-rays, and cleanings to veterans as thanks for their service to our country. With patients seen on-site and more scheduled for follow-up visits, the event continues to be a cornerstone of TCDM’s dedication to community and service. Read more.

Research

NYU College of Dentistry: Scientists Find Promising New Target for Antidepressants—In the Gut

Researchers have discovered new connections between the gut and brain that hold promise for more targeted treatments for depression and anxiety, and may offer a new therapeutic approach during pregnancy to avoid newfound risk of digestive issues in children.  Published in the journal Gastroenterology, the study shows that increasing serotonin in the gut epithelium—the thin layer of cells lining the small and large intestines—improves symptoms of anxiety and depression in animal studies. Read more.

NYU College of Dentistry Scientists Discover New Receptor for Nerve Growth Factor—a Promising Target for Treating Pain

Researchers at the NYU Pain Research Center have found a new receptor for nerve growth factor that plays an important role in pain signaling, even though it does not signal on its own, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. The findings hold promise for finding new treatments for arthritis and other forms of inflammatory and cancer pain, without the side effects that led recent therapies to fail in clinical trials. Read more.

Faculty News

University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine Hires Four Experienced Faculty Members in Oral Biology

Four scholars, all considered trailblazers in the field of dental, oral and craniofacial research, have recently been hired as tenure-track assistant professors in the Department of Oral Biology in the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. Each of them brings expertise in different diseases that originate in or affect the oral cavity. Read more.

Eastman Institute For Oral Health, University of Rochester Welcomes New Faculty

Sindhu Kanikicharla, BDS, MS has been appointed assistant professor in EIOH’s Prosthodontics Clinic and sees patients at the University Dental Faculty Practice. After receiving her BDS degree from Vasantdada Patil Dental College in India, she completed a prosthodontics residency at Nova Southeastern University in Florida. She previously served as faculty at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. Read more.

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine: Aaron Myers ’12, Peds ’14, is Named Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs

Dr. Aaron Myers, ’12, Peds ’14, has been appointed to the role of the senior associate dean for clinical affairs at Columbia University’s College of Dental Medicine. Dr. Myers connection to CDM is strong. After earning his B.S. in biology from Cornell University, he earned a D.D.S. from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine and completed his specialty training in pediatrics at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Read more.

More News

University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine’s Dental Implant Center Receives Prestigious International Recognition

The Buhite-DiMino Center for Implant Dentistry and Advanced Dental Education at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine has been named an international scholarship center by the International Team for Implantology. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, the 44-year-old nonprofit is the largest implant organization in the world with more than 25,000 members and fellows worldwide. Read more.

University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine: UB Pediatric Surgeon Performs Life-Changing Procedure on Newborn

The newborn was struggling to breathe. Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, in July with Pierre Robin Sequence, a rare craniofacial condition that consists of upper airway obstruction, the 3-day-old baby girl was in danger. A tracheostomy looked like the only solution. Read more.