Hyun (Michel) Koo, DDS, MS, PhD, Professor in the Department of Orthodontics in the divisions of Pediatric Dentistry and Community Oral Health in Penn Dental, and the co-founder of the Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry at Penn, and David Cormode, DPhil, Associate Professor of Radiology and Bioengineering with appointments in Penn Medicine and Penn Engineering, co-led a study that discovered a potential solution for dental caries, also known as tooth decay.
Currently, the predominant and traditional treatment for prevention of tooth decay is fluoride, which does not control biofilm formation (a main cause of tooth decay) or prevent enamel demineralization. In search of a more effective treatment for the prevention of tooth decay, the Penn team employed a combination of ferumoxytol (Fer) and stannous fluoride (SnF2). The study found that this combination results in the formation of a protective film on tooth enamel, which can act as a shield against biofilm accumulation and further demineralization without disrupting the balance of good bacteria in the mouth. Read more about this innovative research here.
Read about some of Dr. Koo’s other technologies here: