From Vision to Innovation – Building a Research-Driven Future: The Next Frontier for IAOMR

The Indian Academy of Oral Medicine (IAOM) was founded in 1985, and later expanded with the integration of Oral Radiology to become the Indian Academy of Oral Medicine and Radiology (IAOMR). I had the privilege of being one of the founding members of IAOMR. From the very beginning, our vision was clear—we recognized the significance of oral diseases, the disease burden, and their unique etiological factors in the Indian population, and the importance of therapeutic approaches tailored to these needs. The aim of the Academy was to support the growth of Oral Medicine and Radiology, while emphasizing its vital role in bridging the gap between the medical and dental professions. We also understood the challenges ahead, as the specialty did not promise the immediate, tangible outcomes that patients often expect—such as a restoration or an appliance-and hence lacked the same economic appeal. At the same time, the need for strong research was recognized, though resources posed a major challenge in the early years. Over the years, the scope of Oral Medicine and Radiology has expanded tremendously. The exponential growth in treatment of medically complex diseases, medically compromised patients, preventive care, regenerative medicine, geriatric dentistry, palliative care, orofacial pain management, laser therapy in oral diseases, and cancer immunotherapy has a profound effect on our specialty. Oral Radiology today is indispensable for dental implant planning and execution, with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) revolutionizing diagnostic precision and enabling 3D printing for advanced treatment solutions. Digital dentistry is now emerging as a distinct specialty, creating new opportunities for professional growth, and IAOMR must actively engage in impressing concerned authorities with these evolving areas to create broader job opportunities. The future must be research-driven. Global trends shaping dental research include the following: Artificial intelligence (AI) and digital diagnostics—AI is increasingly used for automated radiographic interpretation, risk prediction, and workflow optimization in dentistry. Systematic and descriptive reviews document expanding machine-learning applications across diagnosis, treatment planning, and practice management.[1] Teledentistry and hybrid care model dental consultations, triage systems, and remote monitoring—recent reviews highlight teledentistry’s potential to improve access and deliver hybrid care models.[2] Biomaterials, microbiome modulation, and regenerative approaches—Work on microbiome-modulating biomaterials, peptides, and stem-cell-based regenerative strategies, and enamel/dentin repair are high-growth areas with translational promise.[3] Convergence science and personalized oral care—Genomics, host-response biomarkers, and precision prevention are creating opportunities for individualized risk-stratified oral-health interventions. Recent editorials and consensus pieces flag genomics and oral-microbiome therapeutics as disruptive domains.[4] These trends create technical and translational entry points for Indian researchers—from population-scale digital phenotyping to bench-to-bedside biomaterials work. We need to begin with the identification of the facilities and human resources to facilitate the identified credible research. The Dental Council of India (DCI), now replaced by the National Dental Commission (NDC), needs to play an important role (so far, DCI has focused on dental education and dental services in India), and now, the NDC has to take up Dental research as an additional responsibility to make ATMANIRBHAR India a reality in the days to come. Wherever postgraduate courses are conducted, the dental institution has to be incentivized to have a department of research, funded by the colleges, the government funding agencies, and concerned universities, private partnership to be encouraged to have synergetic effect. The staff of the Dental Research department should not be part of the teaching faculty; they should be independent research scholars supported for the identified research projects. The staff of the dental institutions should support such research projects. The outcome of intellectual property rights can be shared as per the agreements entered while launching the research projects. IAOMR, through its national body and state branches, should launch a research initiative for targeted oral disease to facilitate the same. IAOMR has to form a suitable research trust to promote and monitor research. This requires organized initiatives at both the state and central levels of IAOMR. India already has strong research funding frameworks through ICMR, DBT, and DST (fdiworlddental.org),[5] and there is immense potential for international collaboration, industry partnerships, start-up involvement, and multidisciplinary linkages. With adequate resources and collective will, we can build credible, impactful research initiatives. The Academy has the opportunity not only to strengthen our profession and contribute to a self-reliant nation but also to extend its benefits for global welfare.