By Dr. Joseph D. Lim “Ngiti” is a haunting ballad. “Smile,” in English, has gripped the hearts of countless fans of Ronnie Liang. It is more than just a smile for Liang who, as the Philippine Daily Inquirer describes him, “put a smile on people’s faces, even those who physically couldn’t.” Liang was part of …
The Dentist is In
Lab-grown teeth
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim It could be the best thing to happen since fillings, root canals and implants have become common. And that’s growing real teeth in the laboratory. A new, special material has been developed in the United Kingdom that lets scientists take cells from a patient, enabling these cells to interact with …
Ateneo, Taiwan scientists develop AI tool that will ‘revolutionize’ dentistry
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim Scientists in Taiwan and the Ateneo de Manila University have developed an artificial intelligence tool that detects with high accuracy a sinus infection that may affect the brain. They say it will revolutionize dentistry. It detects with high accuracy a sinus infection that may affect the brain. Along with a …
Oral health and frailty
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim By the middle of this century, one in four people will be aged 60 years and older. That’s around two billion people. The United Nations estimates that regional life expectancy is now approaching 65 years in Africa and between 75 and 80 years in Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, …
Oral health, from global to local
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim The need for global action on oral health has received unprecedented attention. This is because many oral diseases are preventable. However, oral diseases have high prevalence and a lifelong impact on people’s health. Dental and oral health services are still not included in Universal Health Care in many countries, known …
Alzheimer’s and oral health
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim Alzheimer’s might be lurking in gum disease. Research at the University of Louisville has discovered Porphyromonas gingivalis, a key factor in chronic periodontitis or gum disease. It was identified in the brain of Alzheimer’s disease patients. In separate experiments with mice, researchers found that oral infection caused by Porphyromonas gingivalis …
Digital dental data
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim The FDI World Dental Federation recently released a landmark Consensus Statement on Integrated Electronic Health Records (EHRs). The FDI World Dental Federation (French: Fédération Dentaire Internationale) represents more than one million dentists worldwide, including dentists in the Philippines. The FDI statement urges health systems worldwide to transition into digital health …
No health without oral health
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim In November 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) convened the first-ever global oral health meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. It was part of the preparatory process for the 4th United Nations High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases in September this year. The landmark event aimed to accelerate and scale up the prevention …
Sugar and tooth decay
By Dr. Joseph Lim Sugar is the main culprit behind tooth decay — or dental caries. The condition develops after bacteria inside the mouth change sugars to produce acid that demineralizes the hard tissues of the teeth (enamel and dentine). In many countries, sugars-sweetened beverages, including fruit-based and milk-based sweetened drinks and 100 percent fruit …
Truth in labels
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim And talking of sugar and foods in our previous column, there are now new requirements, in the United States anyway, before American manufacturers can claim their food product as “healthy.” Manufacturers who choose to use the “healthy” claim have three years to conform but can use the new criteria sooner. …