Bridging the Gap: How Omics is Transforming Dental Healthcare

Oral, dental, and craniofacial health are integral to overall well-being across all stages of life. However, despite significant advancements in science and technology, professional oral healthcare often operates in isolation from mainstream healthcare, leading to unmet dental needs and misdirected healthcare utilization.

In recent years, scientific investments have propelled discoveries enhancing our understanding and management of oral and dental diseases.

If we look back at the evolution of dental science, advances in genetics and genomics from the last century have provided substantial benefits to the oral healthcare domain.

From understanding the hereditary component of dental caries suggested in the 1920s, demonstrating the genetic basis of agenesis of third molars in the 1960s to conducting the first genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of dental caries and periodontitis in 2010, the journey is ongoing!

Yet, there persists a gap between scientific knowledge and its application in personal, population, and professional healthcare practices.

Omics technologies, encompassing genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and more, offer unprecedented opportunities for discoveries and therapies. However, the dental fraternity faces challenges in leveraging these resources effectively.

While developed nations have made strides in utilizing omics for disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, many countries lag due to complex diseases, lack of expertise, and resource limitations.

Omics generates vast amounts of data, particularly with next-generation sequencing, requiring specialized infrastructure and expertise not readily available globally.

Despite the rapid evolution of omics in dental science, the prevalence of dental diseases remains high, widening the gap between research and patient care.

Dental clinicians and scientists in resource-limited regions struggle to address oral health crises amid scarce resources, feeling disconnected from rapidly advancing research. However, embracing personalized dental public health initiatives tailored to diverse populations' needs holds promise in addressing oral health disparities.

While challenges exist, the dental profession is poised to harness omics technologies to improve patient outcomes and advance oral and general health.

Bridging the gap between research and practice requires a collective effort involving stakeholders, policymakers, practitioners, and patients.

In conclusion, investing in omics research and personalized dental public health is not just a luxury but a critical necessity to address oral health challenges and disparities.

By aligning cutting-edge research with practical healthcare needs, dentistry can lead the way in revolutionizing healthcare delivery for the betterment of communities worldwide.

Post inspiration: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41405-024-00199-3

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