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Implications of pharmacogenomics in oral health

The Pharmacogenomics Journal volume 2, pages 148–151 (2002)Cite this article

The word oral, both in its Latin root and in common usage, essentially describes the mouth. The mouth is a portal of entry as well as a mirror that reflects a wealth of information that can be derived from oral fluids and tissues. The recent progress of the human and microbial genomes provides unprecedented opportunities to not only understand the molecular basis of oral diseases, but to design and fabricate new generations of diagnostics, therapeutics and biomaterials. In parallel developments, remarkable progress is being made to understand human as well as oral microbial (viral, bacterial and yeast) genetic variations including their respective responses to drug therapies. Oral infections and systemic diseases are a global health challenge. In tandem, drug discovery is focusing on the identification and validation of pharmaceutical targets in the molecular pathways or circuits embedded within our growing knowledge base of oral microbial and human functional genomics. The management of chronic oral and craniofacial pain present significant opportunities for pharmacogenomics. Biomimetic-based innovations leading to new biomaterials for the replacement of tissues and organs are also being advanced and evaluated as a direct consequence of the nexus between pharmacogenomics, biotechnology, informatics and clinical health care.

The recent first-time ever Surgeon General's Report Oral Health in America provides a comprehensive and evidence-based assessment of oral health and oral health care in America.1 Significant progress has been made in reducing the extent and severity of common oral diseases in most people through a variety of preventive measures adopted by nations, communities, individuals and oral health professionals.1 However, not everyone is experiencing the same degree of improvement or resistance to oral diseases and disorders.

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  1. School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    H C Slavkin

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Correspondence to H C Slavkin.

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Slavkin, H. Implications of pharmacogenomics in oral health. Pharmacogenomics J 2, 148–151 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.tpj.6500107

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