Aim: The burgeoning field of omics research has witnessed exponential growth in both medicine and dentistry. However, despite more than a decade of advancements, clinical dentistry, particularly in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), has seen limited progress in integrating omics-based approaches into routine practice. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the integration of omics approaches in dentistry, focusing on the challenges and opportunities for translating research findings into clinical practice. Methods: we conducted a literature review using key databases to provide a brief overview of the history of genomics in dentistry. Additionally, we summarised recent breakthroughs in omics relevant to oral health practitioners, emphasising the inadequate translation of omics research into clinical practice. Results: Despite significant growth in omics research in both medicine and dentistry, its translation into routine clinical practice in dentistry remains limited. We summarise recent breakthroughs in omics and highlight the gap between research advancements and clinical implementation. Discussion and conclusion: The integration of omics approaches holds promise for enhancing diagnostics, personalised treatment strategies, and preventive measures in dental practice, ushering in a new era of precision oral healthcare. However, several challenges, including infrastructure limitations, cost-effectiveness, and education gaps, hinder the widespread adoption of omics-based approaches in clinical dentistry. A strong commitment to transforming dentistry is required to embrace this transition. This shift has the potential to revolutionise oral healthcare by advancing precision diagnostics and treatment strategies tailored to individual patient needs.

Oral diseases are a major health concern and are among the most prevalent diseases globally. This problem is becoming more prominent in the rapidly growing populations of Africa. It is well documented that Africa exhibits the most diverse genetic make-up in the world. However, little work has been conducted to understand the genetic basis of oral diseases in Africans. Oral health is often neglected and receives low prioritisation from funders and governments. The genetic determinants of highly prevalent oral diseases such as dental caries and periodontal disease, and regionally prevalent conditions such as oral cancer and NOMA, are largely under-researched areas despite numerous articles alluding to a high burden of these diseases in African populations. Therefore, this review aims to shed light on the significant gaps in research on the genetic and genomic aspects of oral diseases in African populations and highlights the urgent need for evidence-based dentistry, in tandem with the development of the dentist/scientist workforce.

Macrodontia is a dental condition where a tooth or group of teeth are abnormally larger than average. Functional and aesthetic discrepancies may arise in affected individuals resulting in lowering the quality of life. It has been noted that macrodontia is associated with several genetic and endocrine abnormalities. Among which, KBG syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by developmental and dental abnormalities. This case report provides a brief overview of the significance of macrodontia, along with presenting a case of KBG syndrome with atypical features in a South African, 16-year-old female. The dental manifestations are often overshadowed by other more conspicuous and complex syndromic features. Recognition of both the clinical and oral changes that occur in KBG syndrome facilitates accurate diagnosis and appropriate management of this condition. The authors highlight the importance for clinicians to be cognizant of the clinical implications of macrodontia.

Introduction: Periodontitis is a significant health challenge caused by a complex interaction between bacterial infection, host immune response, and environmental factors, leading to tooth loss, bone loss, and potential associations with major systemic diseases and conditions. While the determinants of periodontitis have been extensively investigated in other populations, such studies are lacking in South Africa, which represents a high-risk population. Therefore, this study was conducted to characterize the subgingival bacterial biodiversity in the periodontal pockets of patients with periodontitis in a Western Cape population.Materials & methods: Pooled subgingival plaque samples were collected from the deepest pocket/crevices of five periodontitis cases and five controls using sterile paper points. Illumina MiSeq paired-end sequencing and QIIME2 software were employed for sequence filtration and analysis. Several alpha and beta-diversity metrics assessed biodiversity within-sample and population structure between different microbiota datasets, respectively. Statistical significance for alpha diversity was tested using the Kruskal–Wallis H test (p < 0.05), and beta diversity differences were evaluated using PERMANOVA. Data visualization, including beta diversity plots, was conducted with the Phyloseq package in R.Results: Beta-diversity measures revealed significant differences between periodontitis cases and controls (p-value = 0.04), whereas alpha-diversity was higher in cases, though without statistical significance (p-value ≥ 0.05). Cases group showed high relative abundance of Fusobacterium (16%), Porphyromonas (10%), and Treponema (9%), while the periodontally healthy controls were dominated by Streptococcus (20%), Fusobacterium (15%), and Veillonella (10%), with g_Streptococcus showing a significant difference (p-value = 0.008). Differential abundance analysis revealed distinct bacterial genera enriched in cases (Bulleidia, Peptoanaerobacter, Phocaeiola, W5053) and controls (Abiotrophia, Haemophilus, Lautropia, Rothia, Streptococcus). Sample-specific variations included higher levels of Porphyromonas (15%) in grade B and Fusobacterium (20%) in grade C.Conclusion: This exploratory study highlights distinct bacterial communities associated with periodontitis in a South African population. The findings emphasize the need for larger, population-based cohorts to validate these results and lay a foundation for future research into region-specific microbial profiles and their implications for personalized treatment strategies.

Background: Enamel renal syndrome (ERS) (OMIM 204690) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by hypoplastic amelogenesis imperfecta, failed tooth eruption, intrapulpal calcifications, gingival enlargement, and nephrocalcinosis. The rarity of the condition and the variability of the phenotype has led to ERS not being fully characterized. Objective: This scoping review aims to account for the range and current state of knowledge on ERS and synthesize these findings into a comprehensive summary, focusing on the pathophysiology, genotype-phenotype correlations, and patient management from a dental perspective. Methods: The authors will conduct a systematic search of PubMed (MEDLINE), BioMed Central, EbscoHost Web, Web of Science, and WorldCat. We will include all studies with human participants with a confirmed diagnosis of ERS. Articles will be screened in two stages (ie, initially by title and abstract screening and then full-text screening by two independent reviewers). Data extraction will be conducted using a customized electronic data extraction form. We will provide a narrative synthesis of the findings from the included studies. We will structure the results according to themes. Results: This protocol is registered with the Open Science Framework. The electronic search was conducted in July 2020 and updated in April 2021. The research findings will be published in an open access journal. Conclusions: Dentists should be able to identify patients with clinical features of ERS so that they receive appropriate referrals for renal evaluation, genetic counseling, and oral rehabilitation to increase the patient’s quality of life. A scoping review is the most appropriate method to conduct this comprehensive exploration of the current evidence, which may be sparse due to the rarity of the condition. It will also enable us to identify gaps in the research. Trial Registration: Open Science Framework; https://osf.io/cghsa International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/29702

This study aimed to investigate candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms linked to periodontitis susceptibility in a Western Cape cohort, providing insights into population-specific host genetic factors. This observational case-control study recruited a total of 150 South African participants. Saliva samples were genotyped using the OpenArray QuantStudio 12K Flex qPCR System. Genotype and allele frequencies were assessed for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and tested for associations with clinical variables and disease status using Chi-square tests and logistic regression adjusted for age, gender, and smoking. A total of 24 SNPs were analysed. Several genotypes showed suggestive associations with periodontitis risk prior to multiple testing correction. The OPG + 1181 CG, RANKL RL2 AG, and IL-17A + 197 GG genotypes were linked to higher plaque score. The TNF-α -238 GG genotype was associated with lower bleeding score and reduced disease risk (OR = 0.157, 95% CI: 0.039-0.638, P = .010), while IL-1B -511 GG genotype corresponded with a reduced disease risk (adjusted OR = 0.216, 95% CI: 0.054-0.867, P = .031). Conversely, OPG + 1181 CC was related to increased disease risk under multiple models (adjusted OR = 20.42, 95% CI: 1.95-213.9, P = .012). These associations lost significance after correction for multiple testing. Ethnicity-based subgroup analysis revealed differences in genotype distribution, while smoking status showed no effect. Genetic variants may influence periodontitis susceptibility, underscoring the importance of population-specific risk profiling and the need for replication in larger cohorts to support targeted diagnostics in resource-limited settings.