NUS Faculty of Dentistry

We're delighted to share that a study led by our very own Associate Professor Xiaoli Gao has been featured in Lianhe Zaobao! 👏

The study, published in the Journal of Oral Microbiology, identified a rapid and painless screening tool that can help identify children's risk of developing dental caries before visible signs of decay appear.

The tool is simple and child-friendly: children chew a piece of gum and provide a saliva sample, allowing dentists to detect levels of Streptococcus mutans—a key bacteria associated with tooth decay—and obtain results within just 15 minutes during a routine dental visit ⏱️.

The research team found that this testing approach demonstrated strong predictive performance for future caries risk, with higher specificity than conventional methods based on existing cavities or bacterial culture techniques.

Their findings represent an important step towards shifting dental care from a reactive, treatment-focused model to one centered on prevention and early intervention, enabling clinicians to support better oral health outcomes from a young age.

Congratulations to Associate Professor Gao and her research team on this impactful achievement!

Read the news article here: https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapore/story20260610-9168885

Oral health is much more than your teeth. 🦷

Assistant Professor Charlene E. Goh was featured in CNA TODAY's Big Read on the rising cost of dental care and its implications for an ageing population.

In the article, Dr Charlene highlights growing evidence linking oral health to overall health and wellbeing. Poor oral health has been associated with systemic conditions such as malnutrition, diabetes, and frailty. She also points to the emerging concept of "oral frailty" — a decline in oral function that may signal broader health challenges, including loss of muscle mass and cognitive decline.

Her message is clear: preventive dental care remains one of the most important investments we can make in lifelong health. By reducing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease early, we can help individuals avoid more complex and costly treatments in the future.

As Singapore's population ages, these conversations are increasingly important. Oral health is an integral part of healthy ageing, and strengthening awareness, prevention, and access to care will continue to be critical priorities. 👵👴

Thank you, CNA TODAY, for spotlighting this important issue and for advancing the conversation on how we can support better oral and overall health outcomes for all!

Read the news article here: https://lnkd.in/gtdb2EBW

Thrilled to share that Associate Professor Vinicius Rosa, NUS Dentistry's Research Thrust Lead for Novel Diagnostics and Therapeutics, has been featured in The Straits Times for his groundbreaking research in developing AI-designed 'living' laboratory models that could make medical treatment development safer, faster, and more effective! 👏

Assoc Prof Rosa and his research team are using advanced hydrogel-based systems that closely mimic how human tissues behave and evolve over time. By creating more realistic testing environments, this innovation has the potential to reduce reliance on animal testing, accelerate treatment development, and improve outcomes for patients across healthcare beyond dentistry. 🔬

The research also led to Assoc Prof Rosa receiving the prestigious International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research Innovation in Oral Care Award in March this year, recognising the global impact and translational potential of his work in biomaterials and tissue engineering. 🏆

At NUS Dentistry, we are proud to see our researchers pushing the boundaries of science and innovation to shape the future of oral and overall healthcare.

Read the news article here: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/living-lab-models-by-nus-dentistry-researchers-could-make-developing-medical-treatments-safer-faster?ref=singapore

We're proud to share that Assistant Professor Charlene Goh, NUS Dentistry's Director of the Discipline of Primary Dental Care & Population Oral Health, has been featured in Lianhe Zaobao 👏!

Dr Charlene led a study involving 426 participants that sheds light on a critical gap in oral health awareness in Singapore. Among individuals with moderate to severe periodontitis, only about 1 in 10 thought that they had gum disease—highlighting how easily this common condition can go unnoticed until it progresses.

The research, published in the Journal of Dentistry, underscores the importance of early detection and public awareness. Periodontitis, if left untreated, can lead to gum recession, tooth mobility, and even tooth loss—impacting both health and quality of life.

Congratulations to Dr Charlene and her team on this meaningful contribution to public healthcare ✨!

Read the news article here: https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapore/story20260430-8979131

Happy to be collaborating with National University Health System - NUHS on the HEADS-UPP initiative, specifically with regards to the tele-dentistry programme! 🦷

We'd especially like to thank Associate Professors Shang Chee Chong and Catherine Hong, as well as Dr Ishreen Kaur for their dedication and hard work in driving this programme. Looking forward to hearing more about the continued impact HEADS-UPP will bring!

Heartiest congratulations once again to our very own Associate Professor Vinicius Rosa on receiving the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research Innovation in Oral Care Award! 🏆

Presented at the IADR General Session & Exhibition in March 2026 at San Diego, this award recognises Assoc Prof Rosa's groundbreaking work using AI to design and test biomaterials that closely mimic human tissue.

This innovation is a major step toward safer, more effective, and more affordable dental care—helping treatments reach patients faster.

Learn more about Assoc Prof Rosa's research here: https://news.nus.edu.sg/vinicius-rosa-award-ai-driven-biomaterials/

Adding feathers to our global rankings jump (from 32nd in 2025 to 19th) in this year's QS World University Rankings by Subject (Dentistry), our researchers bagged 3 awards at the 104th General Session & Exhibition of the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research held from 25-28 March this year in San Diego 🇺🇸 👏! In no particular order, may we present:

🏆Associate Professor Vinicius Rosa - Innovation in Oral Care Award
🏆Keerthika Natarajan - Geriatric Oral Research Group Post-Doctoral 1st Prize
🏆Ng Wei Bo - IADR Pediatric Oral Health Research Group Young Investigator Award

Congratulations to our winners—we are proud of you!

Congratulations to our colleagues at National University Centre for Oral Health, Singapore (NUCOHS) for the successful ex*****on of their very-first World Oral Health Day community event! We were delighted to have been able to play a part in it - thanks to the commendable efforts of the event organisers! 👏🫰