The ADA Forsyth Institute

02/13/2026

Massachusetts high school students: Thinking about a career in science?

Forsyth Student Scholars provides a comprehensive lab experience, including mentorship from expert researchers and hands-on experiments. Our prestigious high-school internship will run this summer from June 29 to August 21. Forsyth Student Scholars prepares students for STEM careers as they learn alongside world-renowned scientists in ADA Forsyth’s state-of-the-art labs.

Apply by April 1: https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/3834202/Forsyth-Dental-Infirmary-for-Children/AFI-Summer-Institute---2026-Programs-Student-Scholars-Internship-SSI

02/06/2026

ADA Forsyth scientists uncovered previously unknown survival mechanisms of TM7x, a periodontitis-associated strain of the bacterial class Saccharibacteria.

In a new paper published in The ISME Journal, the team reports new insight into how the episymbiont Saccharibacteria survives without a host during crucial stages of its life. Research on the characteristics of this microbe’s behavior with and without its host allows scientists to further understand the human oral microbiome and factors that can contribute to periodontitis.

Congratulations to the paper’s lead author, ADA Forsyth postdoctoral researcher Nusrat Nahar, Ph.D., on the publishing of an exciting new study and on receiving the 2026 AADOCR Bloc Travel Grant for her excellence in research.

Other contributors to the study include - based at ADA Forsyth unless otherwise noted - Pu-Ting D**g, Ph.D., Jing Tian, Ph.D. (Peking University), Alex Grossman, Ph.D., Erik L. Hendrickson (University of Washington), Kristopher Kerns (University of Washington), Prof. Mary Ellen Davey, Ph.D., Jeffrey McLean (University of Washington), and Dr. Xuesong He.

Get the full story here: https://forsyth.org/saccharibacteria-metabolically-active-during-host-free-stage-he-lab/

02/04/2026

A first-in-human clinical trial established the safety and efficacy of Sensi-IP, a novel bioactive glass technology developed by IR Scientific. Scientists at the renowned ADA Forsyth Institute conducted the clinical study and found statistically significant reductions in tooth sensitivity scores in the test group compared to a control group using a common sodium fluoride (NaF) toothpaste.

Learn more: https://forsyth.org/novel-bioactive-glass-incorporated-in-toothpaste-shows-reduction-in-tooth-sensitivity-in-first-in-human-clinical-trial/

02/03/2026

ADA Forsyth is proud to support the ADA Seal of Acceptance program with our extensive testing capabilities and scientific expertise, ensuring your oral health products meet the highest standards.

This New Year, reset your oral health routine with products you can trust. Whether you’re caring for patients or your own family, choose products with the ADA Seal of Acceptance®. Visit ADA.org/seal to choose the right products for your new routine! Learn more, here: https://bit.ly/3Nq8fqs

01/29/2026

Watch as an interdental brush, a floss pick, and a toothbrush head are put to the test in our Instron universal testing machine — will they pass?

In this video, Kyle Bredin from ADA Forsyth Core Laboratory Services demonstrates how we use standardized testing protocols and calibrated instruments to evaluate dental products to ensure they meet ADA and ISO performance standards in strength and durability.

Visit our website to explore how our core services provide innovators with access to advanced testing, expert guidance, and state-of-the-art facilities that help bring dental products to market: https://forsyth.org/core-services/

01/20/2026

It was amazing hosting Mayor Jake Wilson today at our new home in Somerville, MA!

01/16/2026

Tickets are on sale for ADA Forsyth’s 2026 Networking and Golf Fundraiser!

Join us Monday, June 29, 2026, to play, connect, and support ADA Forsyth’s impactful community and research initiatives.

Early-bird pricing ends Jan. 31, so secure your spot now! Whether you’re hitting the course or networking in the clubhouse, your participation helps advance oral health innovation and access to care.

Register here: https://trellis.org/afi-2026-networking-and-golf-fundraiser

01/06/2026

We recently spoke with Holger Willems of Relu about the continued digitization of dentistry and how digital workflows, data, and imaging can enable more personalized, consistent, and scientifically validated care at a greater scale. Holger offers a perspective shaped by how these technologies come together to expand access, consistency, and impact across oral health care.

At ADA Forsyth, we value perspectives that connect technology, research, and access to care, helping us think more holistically about the exciting ways that oral health can evolve in the years ahead.

12/23/2025

A new ADA Forsyth microbiology study presents a novel approach to microbial imaging, introducing a sectioning-based fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique that enables spatial visualization of microbial communities in greater detail.

While preserving biofilm architecture, the new approach allows visualization of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in a single biofilm by physically sectioning embedded biofilms.

The study from Professor Jessica Mark Welch and Research Professor Gary Borisy’s lab enables researchers to observe how the oral microbiome organizes itself in states of health or disease. ADA Forsyth researchers Jennifer Gundrum and Tabita Ramirez-Puebla conducted the study, which is published in Microbiology Spectrum.

Read the full article here: https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02001-25

12/05/2025

A newly identified population of dental pulp stem cells may lead to advances in regenerative endodontic treatment.

Presently, root canals offer the most effective treatment for tooth infection. However, for decades, endodontists and researchers have recognized the need for biologically based treatments rooted in regenerative medicine.

The study – led by ADA Forsyth scientists including Prof. Wei Hsu, Ph.D., Prof. Takamitsu Maruyama, Ph.D., and lead author Shinichiro Yoshida, Ph.D. – shows that stems cells originating at the bottom tip, or apex, of a tooth rapidly multiply and rise to the site of tooth injury.

“The more we uncover about how these cells act and what controls them, the closer we get to creating regenerative treatments that can truly maintain live human tooth,” said Dr. Maruyama.

Other collaborators includ Eri Maruyama, Ph.D., and George Huang, Ph.D., of University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

Learn more: https://forsyth.org/newly-identified-dental-pulp-stem-cell-population-holds-potential-for-regenerative-endodontic-alternative-to-root-canals/

12/04/2025

Congratulations to Dr. Richard Rosato on beginning his term as President of the American Dental Association! We caught up with Dr. Rosato during dentech 2025 to talk about how technology and AI are reshaping every part of dental practice, from patient engagement to diagnostics and treatment.

At ADA Forsyth, we’re inspired by leaders like Dr. Rosato who are driving innovation and ensuring technology enhances both the patient experience and clinical excellence.

Learn more about how you can partner with us and our technology development services here: https://forsyth.org/technology-development-services/

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from ADA Forsyth! 🦃

Today, we’re especially grateful for a year of meaningful opportunities to work together toward a healthier future. This year we’ve settled into our new building and continued making progress by convening the oral health ecosystem through one-of-a-kind events and community outreach. All of this has been powered by cutting-edge science, despite a uniquely challenging research funding landscape.

Most of all, we are deeply thankful for our sponsors and supporters. Your commitment supports our mission to advance global health, accelerate oral health innovation, and support the dental profession through basic research, translational science, clinical innovation, education, and global public health outreach.

Wishing you a joyful and restful holiday!