How Can Dentists Apply Multi-Omics in Practice: Challenges, Hopes and Realistic Approaches

Dentistry has long been treated as an isolated discipline, but no part of the human body operates in isolation. Just as heart health is connected to overall well-being, the same is true for oral health.

The intersection of molecular biology and dentistry has gained immense traction in recent years. Fields like genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metagenomics, and metabolomics are shedding light on the molecular complexities behind oral health and diseases.

As molecular biology evolves, technologies such as PCR-based analyses, whole genome sequencing (WGS), RNA-seq, and mass spectrometry provide essential tools for studying genetic and biochemical pathways.

These techniques offer insights into oral conditions like cancer and periodontitis and help us understand how oral health reflects broader systemic health issues.

The promise of multi-omics in dentistry is not a mere academic concept. It can change how dentists approach diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of oral diseases.

How Can Dentists Apply Multi-Omics in Practice

While the integration of genomics, proteomics, and other omics disciplines may seem complex, dentists can take practical steps to begin applying this innovative science in their clinical practice.

1. Personalized treatment plans

Dentists can use insights from genomic data to develop more personalized treatment plans for patients. For example, genetic markers for conditions like periodontal disease or oral cancer can help dentists identify patients at higher risk, even before clinical symptoms manifest.

For example, a patient genetically predisposed to gum disease may benefit from more aggressive plaque control measures, regular microbiome analysis, or using tailored oral probiotics to maintain a healthy oral environment.

2. Enhanced diagnostics

Proteomics and metabolomics have already shown promise in improving diagnostics, especially through saliva testing.

Dentists can collaborate with laboratories specializing in salivary diagnostics to incorporate these tests into routine check-ups.

If a patient’s saliva test reveals certain protein biomarkers associated with cancer or other systemic diseases, the dentist could refer the patient for further medical evaluation, potentially catching the disease in its early stages.

3. Early detection of Oral Cancers

Using genomics and epigenomics can assist in the early detection of oral cancers, particularly oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), one of the most common forms.

Dentists can screen patients who present risk factors (e.g., tobacco use, HPV infection) using genetic tests that identify specific mutations or epigenetic markers linked to cancer development. This allows for early intervention, which significantly improves patient outcomes.

4. Microbiome management

The oral microbiome plays a key role in maintaining oral health, and the field of metagenomics allows dentists to examine the microbial communities in their patient’s mouths.

Dentists can use this information to provide microbiome-targeted therapies such as recommending specific probiotics, prebiotics, or antimicrobial treatments that can help shift the balance toward a healthy oral environment.

For example, patients prone to cavities might have an imbalance in their oral microbiota that favours bacteria like Streptococcus mutans, which contribute to decay.

With 16S rRNA sequencing (a metagenomics approach), dentists can identify this imbalance and recommend tailored treatments to restore the patient’s microbial health.

5. Precision Dentistry: Tailoring restorative materials

Advances in proteomics and biomaterials research can help dentists select the most appropriate restorative materials for each patient.

Certain materials may interact with a patient’s tissue proteins differently based on their genetic and proteomic profiles.

This data can help guide choices in dental implants, fillings, or crowns, ensuring better long-term success and reduced risk of complications like implant rejection or tissue inflammation.

6. Guided regenerative therapy

Dentists specializing in regenerative dentistry can leverage omics research to promote healing and tissue regeneration.

For example, epigenomics and epi-transcriptomics help understand how the environment influences gene expression in tissue healing.

By manipulating these factors, dentists can apply regenerative techniques more effectively, such as using growth factors or stem cell therapies in bone and tissue regeneration following tooth extractions or periodontal surgery.

7. Incorporating omics into dental education

Dentists who are faculty members or educators should begin integrating multi-omics concepts into dental curricula to ensure that future dentists are prepared for precision dentistry.

This means developing courses and workshops that teach students the basics of genomics, proteomics, and other omics sciences, and how they can be applied in dental practice.

Continuing education programs for practising dentists can also ensure that they stay up-to-date on the latest developments in multi-omics research and its clinical applications.

8. Collaboration with medical professionals

Dentists can collaborate with genetic counsellors, medical geneticists, and oncologists to develop a more integrated care model.

For instance, when a patient shows signs of a systemic condition such as a genetic disorder or cancer that manifests in the oral cavity, a dentist can work closely with the patient’s medical team to coordinate care.

This collaboration ensures that oral health issues are not treated in isolation but as part of the patient's overall health picture.

9. Addressing disparities in oral healthcare

One of the key challenges is the lack of diverse genetic data in current research, particularly from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Dentists in such countries can advocate for and participate in studies that explore ethnically diverse genomes, contributing valuable data to global dental research.

This ensures that genomics-based treatments are effective across populations and that disparities in healthcare outcomes are reduced.

Additionally, through partnerships with global research institutions, dentists can access resources for multi-omics-based diagnostics and therapies and start incorporating in their practice one step at a time.

What are the Key Challenges?

The integration of multi-omics into dentistry holds great promise, but several key challenges need to be addressed for its widespread adoption.

1. High Costs and Limited Access

Multi-omics research and technology are expensive and involve significant financial investment.

These costs make it difficult for smaller practices, especially in low- and middle-income countries, to implement advanced omics-based approaches.

Additionally, patients can encounter high costs for omics-based diagnostics, which may limit access and widen health disparities.

Moreover, insurance coverage for these innovative tests is still limited in many areas, making access even more challenging.

2. Complexity of Data Interpretation

One of the biggest challenges with multi-omics is the sheer volume and complexity of data generated.

Moreover, translating this complex data into actionable clinical insights—such as personalized treatment plans or diagnostic criteria—requires collaboration between dentists, bioinformaticians, and geneticists, which may not always be feasible in practice.

3. Lack of Standardized Protocols

While multi-omics holds great potential, no standardised protocols or guidelines for its adoption in dentistry exist at present.

This lack of standardization leads to inconsistencies in how omics data is collected, analyzed, and interpreted across different dental practices and research institutions.

As a result, integrating omics into clinical workflows remains challenging.

5. Lack of Specialized Training

Many dentists are unfamiliar with multi-omics techniques, creating a need for more specialized education and training.

The integration of omics-based insights into routine dental care requires significant educational and cultural shifts within the dental profession.

Implementing these technologies into everyday practice requires infrastructure updates and collaboration with specialised labs, which can be time-consuming and expensive.

6. Limited Clinical Validation

Many omics-based tools still require further clinical validation for consistent use in dental diagnosis and treatment.

7. Ethical and Privacy Concerns

The handling of genetic data raises important ethical questions about patient privacy and consent.

8. Barriers to Access Resources

Dentists in low-middle-income countries may face significant barriers to accessing the infrastructure and resources needed for omics research and application.

9. Interdisciplinary Collaboration Gaps

Integrating omics into dentistry requires close collaboration between dental professionals, geneticists, and bioinformaticians, which is not yet routine.

10. Regulatory Hurdles

The regulatory landscape for multi-omics is still evolving. The approval process for new diagnostic tools and treatments that incorporate omics data can be slow and complicated.

How Can a Dentist Start Integrating Multi-omics into Dental Practice or Research?

Integrating multi-omics into dental practice or research is an exciting but complex endeavour.

Here's a step-by-step starter guide:

• Learning the basics of multi-omics (courses, workshops, and readings).
• Collaborating with experts in bioinformatics and molecular biology.
• Identifying applications of omics for personalized dental care.
• Investing in tools and technology or partnering with labs for omics analyses.
• Staying informed about regulations and ethical considerations.
• Engaging in research to contribute to advancing dental genomics.
• Leveraging existing technologies such as salivary genomics or microbiome tests.
• Piloting omics-based approaches with a small group of patients.
• Tracking outcomes and adapting the clinical practice based on findings and evidence.
• Educating patients on the benefits of omics-driven dentistry.

My Two Cents

The integration of multi-omics into dentistry opens up new possibilities for personalized, preventive, and precision dental care.

While full implementation may still be on the horizon, dentists can start embracing these technologies slowly by incorporating genomic insights into their treatment plans, using saliva as a diagnostic tool, and adopting a more holistic approach to patient care.

As the field continues to advance, dentists at the forefront of this movement and early adopters will play a crucial role in shaping the future of oral health.

You can gradually introduce multi-omics into your dental practice, allowing you to offer personalized, data-driven care to your patients while staying at the forefront of dental science.

And in this whole story....

Collaboration and communication are the keys to success
- a WIN-WIN collaboration, to be precise - a collaboration between academia, industry and clinical practitioners.
and 
- a two-way communication between service providers and clinicians        

The journey toward omics-integrated dentistry may be challenging. (Everything is challenging that way)

Implementing one baby step at a time can change the way we look towards dentistry or oral health today.

........and the rewards?

A future where dentistry is as much about precision health as it is about fixing teeth.

Post inspiration: Information compiled from multiple sources

Raindrops here to note:

• Transcriptomics: Study of RNA expression, using techniques like RNA-seq.
• Proteomics: Analysis of the complete set of proteins, often using mass spectrometry.
• Metagenomics: Study of microbial communities, employing sequencing techniques like 16S rRNA and shotgun sequencing.
• Metabolomics: Measurement of metabolites to understand dynamic biological responses.
• Epigenomics: Analysis of epigenetic modifications, using techniques such as DNA methylation and ChIP-seq.
• Epitranscriptomics: Profiling RNA modifications and their impact on gene expression.
• Epiproteomics: Study of post-translational modifications of proteins.
• Intractomics: Investigation of protein interactions, including DNA-RNA interactions.