Global Dental Leaders Visit Yonsei for Collaboration
Yonsei University College of Dentistry(YUCD) and Dental Hospital recently hosted a series of visits by distinguished international guests seeking collaboration and benchmarking opportunities. On April 11, a delegation of 11 representatives from Taiwan—including the Director General of Oral Health from the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the President of the Taiwan Dental Association—visited YUCD. Aimed at benchmarking Yonsei’s advanced dental education and hospital systems for potential application in Taiwan, the visitors engaged in detailed discussions about facilities, clinical departments, organizational structure, research infrastructure, industry-academic partnerships, and government support. Dean Young-Soo Jung and Hospital Director Hyung-Joon Ahn, along with Yonsei faculty members, responded to their inquiries and guided the delegation through a tour of the university’s cutting-edge facilities.
On June 11, Dr. Bernard J. Costello, Distinguished Professor and Senior Vice President for Health Affairs at Wayne State University, visited YUCD and met with Dean Jung and executive faculty members to discuss potential research collaborations between the two institutions. Dr. Costello’s prior role as Dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine adds further significance to his visit, which is expected to foster broader partnerships with leading U.S. universities.
On June 19, Yonsei welcomed a research delegation from Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Dentistry in Thailand, a long-standing partner institution. Led by Professor Joao Ferreira, the seven-member team engaged in academic presentations and in-depth discussions exploring potential areas for future joint research initiatives.
YUCD Shares Results of Phase 1 Future Strategy Research
On April 23, YUCD held a presentation to share the outcomes of Phase 1 of its Future Strategy Research Project. This joint research initiative, supported by a research grant from Dentium Co., Ltd., was launched in September 2023 with the aim of identifying strategic research areas, strengthening innovative research capabilities, and boosting the acquisition of large-scale national research grants.
The presentation event provided a platform to showcase the achievements of the first-phase projects. Principal investigators from all eight research teams, along with representatives from Dentium, the sponsoring company, were in attendance for discussions and knowledge exchange.
As this project serves as a pilot funding program to enhance research capacity, participating teams are actively encouraged to produce tangible outcomes such as SCIE-indexed publications and patent applications. The second phase of the project has also been underway since September of last year.
Ready for the Future - Yonsei Dental Medicine Marks 110th Anniversary
Yonsei University College of Dentistry held the first commemorative event for its 110th anniversary on May 26 at the Presidential Residence Reception Hall. Ahead of the main celebration scheduled for November, the event honored the college’s rich history, paid tribute to pioneer, and reaffirmed its commitment to future advancement.
Over 50 attendees gathered for the occasion, including Yonsei University President Dong-Sup Yoon, Alumni Association President Hong-Chul Yoon, senior alumni members, and honorary professors. A donation ceremony was also held, where alumni presented generous contributions supporting the university.
Dean Young-Soo Jung commented, “Yonsei University College of Dentistry has ranked No. 1 in Korea for three years in a row in the QS World University Rankings, and currently stands at 31st globally. We plan to step up our fundraising efforts to build top-tier research and education facilities within the upcoming new medical campus, with the goal of becoming a global leader in dental education.”
YUCD Faculty Honored for Their Contributions to National Health Improvement
Recently, YUCD professors have been consecutively awarded commendations from the Minister of Health and Welfare in recognition of their contributions to advancing national oral health.
On April 7, in celebration of the 53rd Health Day, Professor Kee-Deog Kim from the Department of Advanced General Dentistry received the Minister’s Commendation for introducing Advanced General Dentistry to Korea. His efforts in founding the Korean Academy of Advanced General Dentistry and establishing the specialist system have significantly contributed to improving oral health across the nation.
Additional honors were bestowed upon Yonsei faculty members for their commitment to oral health promotion on Oral Health Day, June 9. Professor Jong-Hoon Choi of the Department of Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine was honored for his dedicated volunteer work for medically underserved communities. On the same day, Professor Jae-Young Kim of the Department of Prosthodontics received the Minister’s Commendation for nurturing future dental professionals and contributing to health policy through government committees.
1. Rheumatoid arthritis severity is mediated by crosstalk between synoviocytes and mature osteoclasts through a calcium and cytokine feedback loop
Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) and osteoclasts are central cells in the maintenance of joint homeostasis. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of joints that induces cytokine-activated FLSs and progressive bone erosion. Research teams of Professor Dong Min Shin in Yonsei University and Professor Jeong Hee Hong in Gachon University hypothesized that calcium released from bone by mature osteoclasts might activate FLSs, which are also affected by inflammatory cytokines in the inflamed synovium. They revealed that the inhibition of NBCn1 attenuated the infinite calcium and cytokine feedback loop between FLSs and osteoclasts by addressing the role of the sodium-bicarbonate cotransporter NBCn1 in osteoclastogenesis, and as a result, in a collagen-induced arthritis mouse model, the inhibition of NBC reduced the RA pathological phenotype and bone resorption area in the femur. These results suggest that modulation of the crosstalk between FLSs and osteoclasts by inhibiting the calcium and cytokine feedback loop could be effective in overcoming RA severity and dysregulated bone homeostasis. This study was published in the international scientific journal ' Experimental & molecular medicine (impact factor 12.9)' in February 2025.
Dong Min Shin, Professor, Division of Physiology, Department of Oral Biology, Yonsei University College of Dentistry
2. Smartphone-Based Telemonitoring for Better Oral Health With Toothbrushes: 6-Month Randomized Controlled Trial
A 6-month randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a smartphone-connected telemonitoring toothbrush in improving oral hygiene. The study enrolled 150 healthy adults without systemic diseases, who were randomly assigned to one of three groups: an interactive telemonitoring toothbrush (ITT), an oscillating-rotating electric toothbrush (ORT), or a manual toothbrush (MT). Participants in the ITT group received weekly feedback from dental professionals. As a result, significant improvements were observed in the Simple Hygiene Score (SHS) and the Turesky modification of the Quigley-Hein plaque index (QHI), indicating enhanced oral hygiene. These findings suggest that regular professional feedback can contribute to improved oral health. The study was published in Journal of Medical Internet Research (impact factor 5.8), a top 10% SCIE-indexed journal in the HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES category, in February 2025.
Jaeyeon Kim, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Advanced General Dentistry, Yonsei University College of Dentistry
Yiseul Choi, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Advanced General Dentistry, Yonsei University College of Dentistry
Wonse Park, Professor, Department of Advanced General Dentistry, Yonsei University College of Dentistry
Abstract
Background: A toothbrush device that telemonitors toothbrushing is a technologically advanced solution providing personalized feedback on toothbrushing habits and oral hygiene. These devices integrate smartphone apps to enhance oral health compliance through dental professional feedback.
Objective: This 6-month prospective randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the clinical effectiveness, defined as improved oral hygiene measured by plaque reduction and halitosis control, of an interactive telemonitoring toothbrush (ITT), an oscillating-rotating power toothbrush (ORT), and a manual toothbrush (MT).
Methods: Participants were recruited offline from the Department of Advanced General Dentistry at Yonsei University Dental Hospital, South Korea. A total of 150 participants were randomly assigned to 3 groups (50 participants each): (1) an ITT connected to a smartphone app providing real-time feedback and weekly dental professional reviews, (2) an ORT with smartphone-based guidance requiring participants to send weekly brushing records via screenshots, and (3) an MT with a brushing diary for review. Data collection occurred in clinical settings. Primary outcomes included plaque reduction measured using the Simple Hygiene Score (SHS), while secondary outcomes included plaque reduction measured using the Turesky modification of the Quigley-Hein plaque index (QHI), reductions in halitosis, and changes in oral microbiota. All outcomes were assessed at baseline and 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months.
Results: A total of 150 participants completed the study. Over 6 months, the SHS increased in the MT group (mean 3.16, SD 4.86 to mean 5.66, SD 5.20) but significantly decreased in the ITT group (mean 3.47, SD 5.50 to mean 2.27, SD 3.82; P=.004). Similarly, QHI decreased more in the ITT group (mean 1.79, SD 0.72 to mean 0.85, SD 0.63) than in the ORT (P<.001) and MT (P<.001) groups. Regarding microbiota, there were no significant differences in high-risk periodontal microbiota or the ratio of caries-risk to anticaries microbiota between the ITT and ORT groups. However, in the MT group, the ratio of caries-risk microbiota was significantly higher at the 3-month (P<.001) and 6-month (P=.005) recalls than at baseline and at the 3-month (P=.048) and 6-month (P=.03) recalls than at the 1-month recall. Poststudy questionnaires indicated that 45 of 50 ITT participants (92%) and 37 of 50 ORT participants (76%) reported improved brushing ability. The most effective feature in the ITT group was brushing training, while participants in the ORT group cited the brushing guide as most useful (P<.001). Satisfaction scores were higher in the ORT group (mean 7.90, SD 1.21) than in the ITT group (mean 7.15, SD 1.66; P=.004). The number of brushing events decreased significantly in the ORT group (P=.02), while brushing duration increased in the MT group (P=.01).
Conclusions: ITTs enable better oral hygiene management than MTs through dental professional feedback. However, further studies are needed to optimize feedback intervals and improve long-term adherence.
3. Red biofluorescence revealed by dental bleaching in discolored pits and fissures of occlusal caries
Differentiating between caries-related discoloration and surface-bound organic stains on the occlusal surface remains a clinical challenge and often results in overtreatment. Professor Baek-Il Kim’s research team was the first to apply a biofluorescence-assisted dental bleaching (BF-bleaching) technique to extracted teeth to distinguish cariogenic discoloration. Upon applying a 15% hydrogen peroxide dental bleaching gel to discolored pits and fissures, organic stains were removed, revealing previously obscured red biofluorescence in underlying cariogenic discoloration (Masked CD lesions). Notably, lesions that were indistinguishable by visual or conventional imaging exhibited a 15% increase in red fluorescence (ΔR) within 5 minutes, accompanied by a hue angle (h°) shift from orange to red. This study presents a novel diagnostic approach for objectively distinguishing cariogenic discoloration from noncariogenic organic stains, potentially reducing unnecessary restorative interventions. The findings were published in the Journal of Dentistry (impact factor 5.5) in May 2025.
Hyung Suk Lee, LT Lecturer/Research Fellow, Department of Preventive Dentistry and Public Oral Health, Yonsei University College of Dentistry
Baek Il Kim, Professor, Department of Preventive Dentistry and Public Oral Health, Yonsei University College of Dentistry
Abstract
Objective: Distinguishing between cariogenic and noncariogenic discoloration is crucial to avoid unnecessary removal of dental tissue. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of biofluorescence bleaching (BF-bleaching) for identifying cariogenic discoloration in human teeth with naturally discolored pits and fissures.
Methods: Sixty-nine extracted human permanent teeth with discolored pits and fissures associated with suspected occlusal caries were included. A dental bleaching agent (15% H2O2, BeauTis 15 whitening gel, Osstempharma, Seoul, Republic of Korea) was applied in 5-minute intervals for 20 mins. Pit and fissure sites (n = 197) were classified as noncariogenic discoloration (NCD) or cariogenic discoloration (CD) based on histological findings. CD was further divided by the presence of red biofluorescence before bleaching as masked and exposed CD. Biofluorescence was quantified using red biofluorescence intensity (ΔR) and hue angle (h°). Their diagnostic performance was also assessed, including sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).
Results: Prebleaching ΔR values were significantly lower in the NCD and masked CD groups (p < 0.001). ΔR in masked CD increased by 15% after 5 mins (p < 0.001), becoming similar to those in exposed CD. ΔR in NCD and exposed CD showed no significant changes at any time point. The h° value of masked CD decreased by 2.05°, shifting from orange to red after 20 mins. In contrast, the h° of NCD group remained stable within the orange hue range. After 5 mins, ΔR sensitivity increased from 0.79 to 0.90, and h° AUC improved from 0.69 to 0.93.
Conclusion: Bleaching of pits and fissures exhibiting caries-related discoloration effectively removes the overlying stains, revealing the lesion's underlying red biofluorescence. Thus, BF-bleaching can be a useful method for the objective diagnosis and monitoring of cariogenic discoloration.
Clinical significance: Using BF-bleaching for accurate evaluation of CD will help provide minimally invasive preventive and treatment options.
크레딧:
Yonsei University College of Dentistry