At Smiles by Shields, we’re focused on how dentistry connects with total body health and overall wellness. When we learned of Dr. Jeffrey Kim’s research through the American Dental Association regarding fetal alcohol syndrome, we were amazed at how early in life dental health and overall wellness can be linked.

Dr. Kim’s article in the journal Stem Cell Research notes that while fetal alcohol syndrome is one hundred percent preventable, “three out of 1,000 U.S. children suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome.” By using stem cells to study the disease, Dr. Kim and his partner “found alcohol-related changes in gene expression and epigenetics of the entire human genome.” And this impacts dental care by offering new pathways in treatment. Instead of doing traditional root canal therapy, for example, this research allows the field to move toward cell-based therapy.

Research on fetal alcohol syndrome is ongoing and headway is being made on the use of stem cells for treatment of that and other disease. And once again, research points toward the link between dental health and the wellness of the human genome, even as early as in embryonic cell development. If you have questions about your dental health, contact your Jacksonville dentist Dr. Tiffany Shields today!