{"id":171,"date":"2026-08-24T15:05:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T13:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adnacademy.yohanndeprez.fr\/?p=171"},"modified":"2026-10-06T18:39:43","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T16:39:43","slug":"epigenetique-en-dentisterie-sante-bucco-dentaire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn-academy.com\/en\/epigenetique-en-dentisterie-sante-bucco-dentaire\/","title":{"rendered":"Epigenetics in dentistry: understanding its impact on oral health"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Introduction to epigenetics in dentistry<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Epigenetics is a rapidly expanding scientific discipline that is revolutionising our understanding of disease and how the human body works. In dentistry, it offers fresh insight into how teeth and oral tissues develop, respond to injury and react to treatment. Long focused solely on the microbiota, anatomy, physiology and disease, oral medicine now incorporates subtler mechanisms involving genetics and gene expression.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Defining epigenetics <\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Epigenetics encompasses the biological mechanisms that modify gene expression\u00a0<strong>without altering the DNA sequence<\/strong>. These changes can be passed on during cell division and influence how cells function.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In other words, individuals have a relatively stable genetic make-up, but epigenetics determines\u00a0<strong>which genes are switched on or off<\/strong>\u00a0in response to internal or environmental factors.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The main epigenetic mechanisms are:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>the\u00a0<strong>methylation of DNA<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/li><li>the\u00a0<strong>modification of histones<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/li><li>the\u00a0<strong>non-coding RNAs<\/strong>\u00a0(such as microRNAs).\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Epigenetics applied to dentistry <\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In dentistry, epigenetics examines how these mechanisms influence:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>the\u00a0<strong>development of teeth<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/li><li>the\u00a0<strong>inflammatory response<\/strong>\u00a0of oral tissues,\u00a0<\/li><li>the\u00a0<strong>onset of dental diseases<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/li><li>the\u00a0<strong>healing and regeneration of tissues<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although this field is still relatively new in dental practice, research shows that it plays a major role in understanding oral diseases and developing innovative treatments.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Its role in tooth development <\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tooth formation, or odontogenesis, is a complex process regulated by both genetic interactions and epigenetic mechanisms. The latter fine-tune the expression of genes involved in cell differentiation and tooth morphogenesis.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>epigenetic changes control the transformation of dental stem cells into specialised cells,\u00a0<\/li><li>they influence dentine and enamel formation,\u00a0<\/li><li>they contribute to preventing or giving rise to certain congenital dental abnormalities.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Involvement in oral diseases <\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Epigenetics plays a central role in many oral conditions, particularly periodontal diseases affecting the gums and the tissues supporting the teeth.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Periodontal diseases\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These diseases result from a complex interaction between bacteria and the host\u2019s immune response. Epigenetic mechanisms modulate this response by influencing the expression of genes involved in inflammation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Studies show that:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>changes in DNA methylation are associated with the severity of periodontitis,\u00a0<\/li><li>some inflammatory genes, such as IL-6 or TNF, are epigenetically regulated,\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><li>environmental factors such as smoking or diet can alter the epigenome and influence disease risk.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Other dental conditions\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Epigenetics is also involved in:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>the\u00a0<strong>development of tooth decay<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/li><li>the\u00a0<strong>pulpal diseases<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/li><li>the\u00a0<strong>peri-implant lesions<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/li><li>some\u00a0<strong>oral tumours<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In particular, it influences how tissues respond to bacteria and their ability to defend or repair themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The influence of environment and lifestyle <\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the major features of epigenetics is its close link to the environment. In dentistry, several factors can modify gene expression:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>the\u00a0<strong>effects of smoking<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/li><li>the<strong>diet<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/li><li>the\u00a0<strong>effects of stress<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/li><li>the\u00a0<strong>bacterial infections<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/li><li>some\u00a0<strong>systemic diseases<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These factors help explain why two patients in similar circumstances may develop dental diseases that progress very differently.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Towards personalised dentistry <\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The main value of epigenetics in dentistry lies in its clinical potential. Identifying each patient\u2019s specific epigenetic changes makes it possible to:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>better\u00a0<strong>predict disease risk<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/li><li>adapt treatments to the\u00a0<strong>individual<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/li><li>develop new therapies targeting epigenetic mechanisms,\u00a0<\/li><li>improve the\u00a0<strong>regeneration of dental tissues<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, some research explores drugs capable of modulating DNA methylation or histones to reduce inflammation or promote healing.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Epigenetics in dentistry represents <strong>a major advance in understanding the biological mechanisms<\/strong> that govern oral health. Going beyond genetics alone, it highlights the decisive influence of the environment and cellular interactions on gene expression.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still developing, this field promises to transform <strong>dental practice towards a more preventive, personalised and effective approach<\/strong>, paving the way for <strong>new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Sources:<\/em><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC4320272\/\">Epigenetics: general characteristics and implications for oral health (PMC)<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pdf.journalagent.com\/iads\/pdfs\/IADS_46_3_223_232.pdf\"><em>Epigenetics in Dentistry \u2013 Int Arch Dent Sci (2025)<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/adn-academy.com\/en\/formations\/genetique-dentisterie\/\">Explore the Genetics and Dentistry course<\/a><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>L\u2019\u00e9pig\u00e9n\u00e9tique est une discipline scientifique en pleine expansion qui r\u00e9volutionne notre compr\u00e9hension des maladies et du fonctionnement du corps humain. En dentisterie, ce domaine offre un nouvel \u00e9clairage sur la mani\u00e8re dont les dents et les tissus buccaux se d\u00e9veloppent, r\u00e9agissent aux agressions et r\u00e9pondent aux traitements. Longtemps centr\u00e9e uniquement sur le microbiote, l\u2019anatomie, la physiologie et les pathologies, la m\u00e9decine bucco-dentaire int\u00e8gre aujourd\u2019hui des m\u00e9canismes plus subtils impliquant la g\u00e9n\u00e9tique et l\u2019expression des g\u00e8nes.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":155,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dentisterie"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn-academy.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn-academy.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn-academy.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn-academy.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn-academy.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=171"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/adn-academy.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":186,"href":"https:\/\/adn-academy.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171\/revisions\/186"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn-academy.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/155"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn-academy.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=171"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn-academy.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=171"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn-academy.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}