PRECISION DENTISTRY: CHALLENGES FOR ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY
Authors:
Lambrou Persefoni1, Gkinosati Angeliki Anna2, Nicolaou Zoe3, Emmanouil – Nikoloussi Elpida - Niki4
Affiliation:
1 Scientific Collaborator, School Of Dentistry, European University Cyprus, Nicosia Cyprus
2 Dental Student, School Of Dentistry, European University Cyprus,Nicosia Cyprus
3 Cyprus Cranio Maxillo Facial Center, Limassol Cyprus
4 Professor, Histology-Embryology, School of Dentistry, European University Cyprus, Nicosia Cyprus
Doi: 10.54936/haoms242p11
ABSTRACT:
Objective: To explain the concept and clinical implementation of Precision Dentistry and how Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is managing this challenge.
Introduction: Precision Medicine can be defined as an emerging approach for disease treatment and prevention, taking into account individual variability in genomics, environment and lifestyles. This advanced form of care refers to the use of personal data and biomarkers to create protocols and treatments that improve health outcomes. Precision Dentistry is a data-driven approach classifying patients into subgroups allowing tailored interventions.
Methods: An electronic search of the PubMed database was conducted to identify relevant studies, in English, from 2010 to present. The following keywords “maxillofacial surgery” and “precision dentistry/medicine” were entered into the search engine.
Results: Precision Dentistry(PD) involves tailoring medical/dental treatment to each patient’s individual characteristics, building on modelling and prediction making. Research showed that this new understanding of diseases is revolutionary, a data-driven approach that classifies patients into subgroups allowing tailored treatments and interventions. The success of this approach depends on its ability to be predictive, preventive, personalized and participatory. Precision Medicine and Dentistry promise for improving healthcare delivery while also reducing costs. This approach relies on genetic and molecular data and the social determinants of health, along with the collaboration of clinicians, researchers, bioinformaticians, data scientists, and, most importantly, patients.
Discussion: PD should not only consider the reversal of a single-gene variant pathophysiological mechanism but also consider multiple non- genetic factors. Most dental diseases are complex, meaning they can be caused by the interface of different genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. That is the reason why yet, PD approaches are not always available and successfully implemented in the everyday practice. Although understanding of the determinants of craniofacial deformities is still limited, there is a great potential for future chances for providing the best available option to each patient according to their individual genomics. Apart from craniofacial syndromes, PD would allow the understanding of a variety of conditions as the susceptibility to temporomandibular joint disorders, variability of patient’s response to different medicines as well as the prevalence of mucosal disorders like oral lichen planus, aphthous ulcerations or pemphigoid and pemphigus in a specific number of patients among the general population. Generally, the implementation of PD in Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery is promising both in practice and research. PD is beneficial for the surgeon by providing clear, individualized and evidence-based diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic treatment options.
Conclusion: Successful implementation of PD requires training of “precision-minded” practitioners. Thus, expansion of this model will require the incorporation of these concepts and frameworks in dental educational curricula. PD brings the promise of improving the ability of clinicians to more precisely diagnose, manage, and even prevent human disease and deformities. Oral-Maxillofacial Surgeons should recognize, appreciate and reflect on the implications PD brings.
KEY WORDS:
Authors:
Lambrou Persefoni1, Gkinosati Angeliki Anna2, Nicolaou Zoe3, Emmanouil – Nikoloussi Elpida - Niki4
Affiliation:
1 Scientific Collaborator, School Of Dentistry, European University Cyprus, Nicosia Cyprus
2 Dental Student, School Of Dentistry, European University Cyprus,Nicosia Cyprus
3 Cyprus Cranio Maxillo Facial Center, Limassol Cyprus
4 Professor, Histology-Embryology, School of Dentistry, European University Cyprus, Nicosia Cyprus
Doi: 10.54936/haoms242p11
ABSTRACT:
Objective: To explain the concept and clinical implementation of Precision Dentistry and how Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is managing this challenge.
Introduction: Precision Medicine can be defined as an emerging approach for disease treatment and prevention, taking into account individual variability in genomics, environment and lifestyles. This advanced form of care refers to the use of personal data and biomarkers to create protocols and treatments that improve health outcomes. Precision Dentistry is a data-driven approach classifying patients into subgroups allowing tailored interventions.
Methods: An electronic search of the PubMed database was conducted to identify relevant studies, in English, from 2010 to present. The following keywords “maxillofacial surgery” and “precision dentistry/medicine” were entered into the search engine.
Results: Precision Dentistry(PD) involves tailoring medical/dental treatment to each patient’s individual characteristics, building on modelling and prediction making. Research showed that this new understanding of diseases is revolutionary, a data-driven approach that classifies patients into subgroups allowing tailored treatments and interventions. The success of this approach depends on its ability to be predictive, preventive, personalized and participatory. Precision Medicine and Dentistry promise for improving healthcare delivery while also reducing costs. This approach relies on genetic and molecular data and the social determinants of health, along with the collaboration of clinicians, researchers, bioinformaticians, data scientists, and, most importantly, patients.
Discussion: PD should not only consider the reversal of a single-gene variant pathophysiological mechanism but also consider multiple non- genetic factors. Most dental diseases are complex, meaning they can be caused by the interface of different genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. That is the reason why yet, PD approaches are not always available and successfully implemented in the everyday practice. Although understanding of the determinants of craniofacial deformities is still limited, there is a great potential for future chances for providing the best available option to each patient according to their individual genomics. Apart from craniofacial syndromes, PD would allow the understanding of a variety of conditions as the susceptibility to temporomandibular joint disorders, variability of patient’s response to different medicines as well as the prevalence of mucosal disorders like oral lichen planus, aphthous ulcerations or pemphigoid and pemphigus in a specific number of patients among the general population. Generally, the implementation of PD in Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery is promising both in practice and research. PD is beneficial for the surgeon by providing clear, individualized and evidence-based diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic treatment options.
Conclusion: Successful implementation of PD requires training of “precision-minded” practitioners. Thus, expansion of this model will require the incorporation of these concepts and frameworks in dental educational curricula. PD brings the promise of improving the ability of clinicians to more precisely diagnose, manage, and even prevent human disease and deformities. Oral-Maxillofacial Surgeons should recognize, appreciate and reflect on the implications PD brings.
KEY WORDS: