Harvard School of Dental Medicine

10/27/2026

Pumpkin season is here 🎃

10/22/2026

What can your mouth tell you about how you’re aging?

Dean William Giannobile recently joined Katie Couric on her Art of Aging podcast series for an episode on how our teeth and gums change as we get older and why oral health matters in relation to overall health and longevity. He answers in-depth questions about oral health and disease and illuminates why taking care of your mouth is about more than your smile.

Listen to the podcast: https://youtu.be/oI-O39MpOzw?si=XDafrjOhkQm8C4pk

10/21/2026

Fresh air, fall scenery, and learning along the way! 🍂

HSDM staff recently enjoyed a docent-led walking tour of the Arnold Arboretum, exploring its beautiful grounds, learning about its history, and spending some quality time outdoors together.

10/15/2026

A little pumpkin painting to break up the semester 🎃

10/14/2026

After intensive chemotherapy, the bone marrow must rebuild the cells that produce blood and support the immune system. Recovery depends on a carefully coordinated response to injury, including the formation and eventual removal of fibrin, a protein that helps stop bleeding and provides a temporary framework for tissue repair.

New research from Lakmali Silva, assistant professor of Oral Medicine, Infection, and Immunity at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM), sheds light on what happens when that process goes awry. Published in Blood Advances, the study found that when fibrin remained in the bone marrow instead of being cleared, it interfered with the tissue’s ability to regenerate. Silva conducted the study with Rafaela Ferrer, DMSc29, Betul Ogan, a postdoctoral fellow, and other collaborators.

The findings complement Silva’s broader research program at HSDM, where her laboratory investigates the mechanisms through which persistent fibrin contributes to inflammation and tissue damage in the oral cavity, particularly in periodontal (gum) disease.

HSDM researchers uncover how persistent fibrin impairs bone marrow recovery and investigate its role in chronic inflammation and tissue damage in the oral cavity

10/05/2026

Autumn strolls on Longwood Ave

10/02/2026

A day worth smiling about! Happy World Smile Day from HSDM 😁

09/30/2026

Partners and stakeholders recently gathered in Heidelberg, Germany, to kick off SMILE-Bridge: Strategic Multinational Initiative for Leading Equity in Oral Health. The new joint initiative between HSDM and the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health brought together representatives from HSDM, Universität Heidelberg, and community partners from Germany, the U.S., and Chile to address the most pressing global oral health challenges.

"We are deeply inspired by the extraordinary commitment the SMILE-Bridge team has to advancing oral health equity around the world," said Catherine Hayes, department chair and associate professor of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology and co-PI for the initiative. "The energy, shared purpose, and spirit of collaboration that emerged from our time together were truly inspiring."

Teams from both universities will conduct research in communities with vulnerable populations across Latin America, Germany, and the United States. Through joint, community-participatory research, they will assess local oral health needs and engage community stakeholders to develop and test program prototypes designed to address those needs and support feasible, sustainable improvements in oral health.

09/28/2026

The $150 million strategic research initiative seeks to strengthen pioneering Harvard research across fields including neuroscience, immunology, quantum science, artificial intelligence, and energy and climate.

University plans range of awards in basic and applied science, seeking to meet "moment of remarkable opportunity."

09/23/2026

HSDM students recently helped provide dental care to families in Cambridge and the greater Boston area, serving more than 20 patients at an oral health clinic.

Part of HSDM’s ACTION program, the event aims to increase awareness of and access to pediatric dental care in Cambridge and surrounding communities. Guided by HSDM faculty, DMD students served as providers and assistants, delivering dental exams, cleanings, and other preventive care.