In every discipline, there comes a moment when the question of purpose must be asked before the question of method. Without such reflection, even the most diligent effort risks becoming mere motion without meaning. It was written in the wisdom of antiquity:

“If a Man Knows Not to Which Port He Sails, No Wind Is Favourable.”

The Roman Stoic Philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca.
Also Known as Seneca the Younger.
Circa 4 BCE - 65 CE.

Seneca’s maxim distils a truth as enduring as it is profound: without a clear destination, even the most favourable conditions are rendered meaningless. This insight transcends the boundaries of abstract philosophy and finds equal relevance in the applied sciences, dentistry amongst them, where the clarity of purpose must precede the pace of progress. In the present age, the field of dentistry witnesses the publication of hundreds of thousands of studies each year. The essential question is not whether these investigations are methodologically sound or flawed, but whether they serve the higher aims of human flourishing and the advancement of the common good in the very first place before checking for the earlier query. Research, however voluminous, risks becoming directionless if it is not anchored to such guiding principles.

Divergent perspectives on these matters are inevitable. Yet, when discourse intensifies and inquiry is pressed to its most fundamental premises, many voices withdraw, preserving decorum but relinquishing the opportunity for deeper engagement. Still, it is precisely in such moments, when the conversation grows exacting, that the discipline stands to gain the most. Debate, in its truest form, is not a contest to be won but a crucible in which ideas are tested, refined, and sometimes transformed. Some inquiries will reach their intended conclusions; others will falter. Regardless, the dialogue must persist, for the vitality of a discipline depends upon its willingness to question itself without end. It is in this spirit of rigorous and open argument that the present post seeks to contribute. The aim is to propose a vision for a more purposeful and ethically attuned dentistry; one that will serve not only the profession but the generations yet to come. These personal reflections are offered, based on long years of research, academic work, practice, and experience, in the hope that they may kindle both curiosity and constructive debate.

Prioritising Prevention:

Medical history is replete with breakthroughs in therapeutic intervention, yet the greatest gains in public health have arisen from preventive strategies. Vaccination campaigns eradicated smallpox and dramatically reduced polio. Public health initiatives (such as fluoridating water, controlling tobacco, and even promoting seat-belt use) underscore how population-wide preventive measures save millions of lives. Preventive medicine accomplishes three critical objectives: it reduces disease incidence, optimises resources allocation, and fosters healthier communities. By investing upstream, healthcare systems can redirect funds from costly acute care to health promotion and disease surveillance, and this is exactly what we need in dentistry especially when taking into account that dental caries and gingivitis are still invading us and winning each and every battle.^1,2 Again, prevention stands at the heart of sustainable healthcare by shifting focus from reactive treatment to proactive measures resulting in not only alleviating patient burden but rather also curbing escalating costs. As oral health occupies a unique intersection between localised care and systemic health, preventive approaches must reign supreme on the top of all our dental research lists. It has to be always remembered that poor oral health significantly contributes to cardiovascular disease, diabetes complications, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and lots more.^3-5 To zoom closer for a clearer image; dental caries, periodontal disease, and oral cancers afflict billions worldwide, yet they remain largely preventable, and unprevented, too!^6,7 Unfortunately, dentistry’s traditional model emphasises treatment (drilling, filling, extractions), rather than prevention. Reorienting dental practice towards prevention promises to diminish the prevalence of invasive interventions and strengthen general health.

Prioritising prevention through targeted research, enriched clinical training, and robust public-health policy, promises to revolutionise dental care. As we reframe the dental chair from a site of intervention to a forum for education and early detection, we unlock profound benefits: healthier smiles, fewer emergencies, and above all a more resilient healthcare system. Embracing prevention today will safeguard the next generation’s oral and overall health, underscoring dentistry’s pivotal role in the broader medical landscape. Likewise, the significant connection between oral health and systemic diseases reveals an expansive frontier for holistic research initiatives. Diving into these correlations could uncover insights that promote integrated care strategies, addressing not only the symptoms of dental ailments but also simultaneously targeting underlying systemic health issues. Such bidirectional research could transform dental practices into centres of comprehensive health-wellness. This approach would not only improve patients’ quality of life but also alleviate pressure on other healthcare systems and medical specialties, announcing a future where oral health is fundamentally linked to overall bodily well-being, the same way it must have always been.

The Integration of Technology in Dentistry:

The infusion of cutting-edge technology into dentistry represents one of the most promising avenues for exploration. Notably, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are at the forefront, heralding a new age in diagnostics and treatment planning.^8,9 Innovative AI-driven systems, capable of conducting real-time diagnostics using worldwide-collated data, are set to enhance diagnostic precision and develop individualised treatment plans tailored to the specific dental needs of each patient, or in other words the advent of personalised dental medicine.^10,11 This technological integration could significantly improve the accessibility and accuracy of international dental care. Furthermore, AI, spurred by the proliferation of big data, could also spearhead predictive analytics in dentistry, enabling practitioners to identify potential dental issues before they arise, thereby transforming preventive care into a proactive practice. The capacity to reduce the prevalence of common dental problems through early detection is substantial, promising healthier populations with less costs and mostly no pain at all. Still, extreme caution is always advisable when dealing with AI. The use of AI is a double-edged sword. AI makes mistakes and in healthcare they are catastrophes!

Moreover, the expanding field of personalised dental medicine offers exciting prospects. By examining the complexities of genetics and environmental factors unique to each patient, we can develop deeply personalised treatment plans. In-depth investigations into genetic variations affecting oral health, defining outer influences, in conjunction with sequencing, for example, and sophisticated imaging techniques, altogether could potentially map a patient’s oral ecosystem to ensure that treatments are in complete alignment with their special physiological blueprint. This advancement promises to personalise every component of dental care, from preventive treatments to complex surgeries, optimising outcomes on a highly-individual basis.

Investing in Complementary Therapies and Exploring Alternatives:

Going much further beyond the traditional usual confines, future dental research could also lead the way in alternative and adjunct therapies. For instance, regenerative medicine and stem-cell therapy’s roles in dentistry could lead to breakthroughs such as regenerating tooth structures and supporting tissues, which in turn may help researchers scale up the project to replace lost limbs or damaged organs. What may seem like science-fiction today could become a tangible living reality tomorrow, given the rapid pace of scientific advancements. So, continued research in these areas can redefine standard dental procedures and patient recovery options. Similarly, treatments based on autologous and natural materials can be the cornerstone to establish future complementary and alternative dentistry,^12,13 a de facto branch of dentistry which is not yet recognised largely although widely-used for its lesser side-effects. Take propolis as an example with its full spectrum of uses and benefits, those which have been proven as well as those which are still unknown.^14,15

In addition, the field is gravitating towards innovations and advanced research in biomimetic and biocompatible materials for dental uses. This sounds like old news, of course. However, imagine, dear reader, how dental restorative materials inspired by nature can be; yes, flexible and robust, emulating the natural properties of human enamel and seamlessly merging with human tissues. Such inventions could revolutionise not only the longevity and effectiveness of dental treatments but also considerably lower the risk of rejection and infection, leading to safer, more patient-centred care models. Long-term investigations into these materials could significantly elevate patient outcomes, ushering in a new era of synthetic biology applications in dentistry.

The Final Say:

I earnestly hope these prospective visions and creative proposals will spark dialogue and inspire commitment from fellow researchers, research centres, healthcare-related companies, stakeholders, policymakers, everybody, alike. Indeed, with focused dedication and appropriate funding channelled towards these varied, and sometimes imaginative, dental research ideas, the tapestry of dental research will surely unfold in ways we can currently only begin to imagine. Together, let’s pave the path towards a future where oral healthcare does not only heal but also stretches the boundaries of what is conceivable. This is my perspective on the future of dental research and I thank you for considering it.

As we conclude together, we have to return to Seneca’s enduring counsel. The winds of progress will always blow, sometimes gently and sometimes with great force, but without a clearly chosen harbour, they may carry us anywhere, or nowhere at all. Dentistry, like every science, must chart its course with intention, guided not only by technical possibility but by moral and human purpose. If we can keep that compass steady in our research, our teaching, and our practice, then the knowledge we gather will not drift aimlessly, but will arrive where it is most needed. May the dialogue remain unbroken, the curiosity undimmed, and the purpose clear, so that those who inherit our work will find in it both a map and a light for their own voyage.

1. Ballouk, M. A., & Dashash, M. (2019). Caries prevalence and dental health of 8-12 year-old children in Damascus city in Syria during the Syrian Crisis; a cross-sectional epidemiological oral health survey. BMC Oral Health, 19(1), 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-019-0713-9
2. Ballouk, M. A., & Dashash, M. (2018). The gingival health status of 8-12 year-old children in Damascus city in Syria during the Syrian Crisis: a cross-sectional epidemiological oral health survey. BMC Research Notes, 11(1), 887. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-018-3998-x
3. Leelapatana, P., & Limpuangthip, N. (2022). Association between oral health and atrial fibrillation: A systematic review. Heliyon, 8(3), e09161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09161
4. Azzolino, D., Carnevale-Schianca, M., Santacroce, L., Colella, M., Felicetti, A., Terranova, L., Castrejón-Pérez, R. C., Garcia-Godoy, F., Lucchi, T., & Passarelli, P. C. (2025). The Oral-Gut Microbiota Axis Across the Lifespan: New Insights on a Forgotten Interaction. Nutrients, 17(15), 2538. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17152538
5. Beck, J. D., Papapanou, P. N., Philips, K. H., & Offenbacher, S. (2019). Periodontal Medicine: 100 Years of Progress. Journal of Dental Research, 98(10), 1053–1062. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034519846113
6. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/oral-health [Accessed Online: 18^th of October, 2025].
7. https://www.cdc.gov/oral-health/data-research/facts-stats/index.html [Accessed Online: 18^th of October, 2025].
8. Szczepański, T., Płotka, S., Grzeszczyk, M. K., Adamowicz, A., Fudalej, P., Korzeniowski, P., Trzciński, T., & Sitek, A. (2025). GEPAR3D: Geometry Prior-Assisted Learning for 3D Tooth Segmentation. Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention, 218–228. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-04937-7_21
9. Liu, Y., Xie, R., Wang, L., Liu, H., Liu, C., Zhao, Y., Bai, S., & Liu, W. (2024). Fully automatic AI segmentation of oral surgery-related tissues based on cone beam computed tomography images. International Journal of Oral Science, 16(1), 34. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41368-024-00294-z
10. Hashemi, N., Svendsen, M. B. S., Bjerrum, F., Rasmussen, S., Tolsgaard, M. G., & Friis, M. L. (2023). Acquisition and usage of robotic surgical data for machine learning analysis. Surgical Endoscopy, 37(8), 6588–6601. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-023-10214-7
11. Bardideh, E., Lal Alizadeh, F., Amiri, M., & Ghorbani, M. (2024). Designing an artificial intelligence system for dental occlusion classification using intraoral photographs: A comparative analysis between artificial intelligence-based and clinical diagnoses. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, S0889-5406(24)00135-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajodo.2024.03.012
12. Zeitounlouian, T., Haddad, R., Brad, B., Ballouk, M. A., & Fudalej, P. (2023). Does the application of autologous injectable Platelet-Rich Fibrin (i-PRF) affect the patient's daily performance during the retraction of upper canines? A single-centre randomized split-mouth controlled trial. BMC Oral Health, 23(1), 872. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-023-03646-z
13. Ballouk, M. A., Altinawi, M., Al-Kafri, A., Zeitounlouian, T. S., & Fudalej, P. S. (2025). Propolis mouthwashes efficacy in managing gingivitis and periodontitis: a systematic review of the latest findings. BDJ Open, 11(1), 5. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41405-025-00294-z
14. Ballouk, M. A., Altinawi, M., Al-Kafri, A., Zeitounlouian, T. S., & Fudalej, P. S. (2025). Evaluating the possibly-corrosive effects of four different mouthwashes on orthodontic brackets and bands: an exploratory, in-vitro, comparative study. Discover Applied Sciences, 7(5), 405. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-06973-8
15. Ballouk, M. A., Altinawi, M., & Fudalej, P. S. (2025). The multifaceted therapeutic potential of propolis: an integrative report on its pharmacological properties and emerging advances. Discover Applied Sciences, 7(9), 962. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-07648-0