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Open research questions in Oral Health Pathology and Treatment

247 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 2,663 Oral Health Pathology and Treatment papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • The complex pathophysiology of oral lichen planus makes it challenging to develop precise diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. The lack of a recognized gold standard treatment for OLP is a significant challenge. The need to integrate different data types, such as single-cell transcriptomics and Mendelian randomization, poses a technical challenge.

    Integrated single-cell transcriptomics, Mendelian randomization, and machine learning identify CEBPZ as an immune-related biomarker in oral lichen planus · 2026 · DOI

  • There is no recognized gold standard treatment for oral lichen planus. The current diagnosis relies on histological and clinical characteristics, which may not be accurate. There is a need to develop more accurate methods for the early diagnosis and treatment of OLP.

    Integrated single-cell transcriptomics, Mendelian randomization, and machine learning identify CEBPZ as an immune-related biomarker in oral lichen planus · 2026 · DOI

  • Introduction Chewing betel nut (BN) is a well‐established risk factor for several oral conditions, including periodontal diseases, but direct evidence linking BN chewing to pulpal and periapical (PA) pathology remains scarce.

    The Potential Association Between Betel Nut Consumption and Apical Periodontitis: A Multicenter Cross‐Sectional Study · 2026 · DOI

  • Advanced delivery platforms have helped to overcome challenges associated with miRNA delivery; however, evidence remains largely limited to in vitro and in vivo studies and does not establish reversal of established fibrosis or clinical efficacy in patients.

    Anti‐Fibrotic MicroRNA‐Based Intervention in Oral Submucous Fibrosis: A Scoping Review · 2026 · DOI

  • While OL carries an inherent risk of malignant transformation, the underlying immunological changes remain poorly characterized.

    Immunological Biomarkers in Oral Leukoplakia According to Oral Intraepithelial Neoplasia ( OIN ) Classification: A Comparative Analysis of Salivary and Plasma Cytokines · 2026 · DOI

  • While AI tools have shown promise in oral lesion detection and diagnosis, image segmentation remains underexplored.

    EffiSegNet : Advances in Automated Segmentation of Actinic Cheilitis and Lip Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Clinical Photographs · 2026 · DOI

  • Aims Arecoline, a major betel nut-derived alkaloid associated with betel nut chewing, is linked to increased periodontitis severity, but the molecular mechanisms by which it contributes to periodontitis progression remain unclear.

    Involvement of the MAPK8-Caspase‑3 Apoptotic Pathway in Arecoline‑Associated Periodontitis · 2026 · DOI

  • However, despite significant advancements in biochemical and molecular techniques in recent years, no specific and targeted antifibrotic treatment strategies have been approved, potentially due to the complicated molecular mechanism that initiates and drives the fibrotic events, which remains to be completely understood.

    Oral submucosal fibrosis: a comprehensive review on pathogenesis, diagnosis, therapeutics and computational advances · 2026 · DOI

  • However, the differential impact of SLT product composition, particularly tobacco-only versus combined tobacco-areca nut products, on OPMD prevalence remains inadequately characterized.

    Prevalence of Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders in Smokeless Tobacco Users With or Without Areca Nut: A Meta‐Analysis · 2025 · DOI

  • CONCLUSIONS: Some topics were insufficiently met, necessitating additional educational efforts, such as risk factors and lifestyle modifications, physical and psychological impacts, awareness of potential complications, and seeking medical and psychological support.

    Patient Education and Levels of Disease‐Specific Information Needs Among Individuals With Oral Epithelial Dysplasia · 2025 · DOI

  • Neutrophil and lymphocyte counts, NRL, and SII were significantly altered during multistep carcinogenesis and thus could be explored as biomarkers for ED and OSCC development.

    Comparative Analysis of 4NQO ‐ and Ethanol‐Induced Oral Epithelial Dysplasia and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Male and Female Mice: Association With Peripheral Blood Inflammatory Markers · 2025 · DOI

  • BACKGROUND: Population-based studies on the prevalence of oral mucosal alterations and sociodemographic and behavioral predictors are scarce.

    Oral Mucosal Alterations: Prevalence and Associated Factors Among 31‐Year‐Old Adults From a Brazilian Birth Cohort · 2025 · DOI

  • MicroRNA lethal-7a (let-7a) has been recognized as a key antifibrotic regulator, but its specific role in OSF remains unknown.

    MicroRNA let-7a mitigates the progression of oral submucous fibrosis by targeting high-mobility group AT-hook 2 · 2025 · DOI

  • No studies have been reported on the mechanism of IGU in the treatment of OLP, which deserves investigation.

    The Mechanism of Immune Intervention by Iguratimod in Oral Lichen Planus Patients: An In Vitro Experimental Study · 2024 · DOI

  • Further in-vivo and clinical studies are warranted to validate these observations.

    Effects of lactobacillus pentosus postbiotics on fibrotic response in arecoline-induced oral fibrogenesis · 2024 · DOI

  • The specific MMPs secreted by keratinocytes in OLP lesions and relevant regulatory mechanisms are not fully understood.

    Matrix metalloproteinase-9 upregulation in keratinocytes of oral lichen planus via c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathway activation · 2024 · DOI

  • However, the specific molecular mechanisms underlying the malignant transformation of OSCC from OSF are poorly understood.

    Spatial Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Landscapes of Oral Submucous Fibrosis‐Derived Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and its Tumor Microenvironment · 2024 · DOI

  • The risk factors and mechanisms of OSCC development are not yet fully understood and remain a frequent research topic.

    The Impact of Oral Microbiome Dysbiosis on the Aetiology, Pathogenesis, and Development of Oral Cancer · 2024 · DOI

  • In light of the evidence, further study of the pathology of MEH should be considered and proper clinical trials for effective treatments should be designed.

    Multifocal epithelial hyperplasia: an understudied infectious disease affecting ethnic groups. A mini review · 2024 · DOI

  • The disease warrants further study as it is considered as neglected by research and it affects rural/remote population groups usually living in adverse socioeconomic conditions.

    Multifocal epithelial hyperplasia: an understudied infectious disease affecting ethnic groups. A mini review · 2024 · DOI

  • The complex interactions between keratinocytes and intraepithelial lymphocytes. The limited understanding of the JAK/STAT pathway in regulating KCs proliferation and OLP IELs homing migration. The need for effective therapeutic strategies for the treatment of oral lichen planus.

    Keratinocytes regulate intraepithelial lymphocytes homing and mediate mucosal barrier integrity via JAK2/STAT3 signaling in oral lichen planus · 2026 · DOI

  • The mechanisms by which keratinocytes regulate the homing migration of OLP IELs and their involvement in mucosal barrier disruption remain unclear. The role of the JAK/STAT pathway in regulating KCs proliferation and OLP IELs homing migration has not been fully understood.

    Keratinocytes regulate intraepithelial lymphocytes homing and mediate mucosal barrier integrity via JAK2/STAT3 signaling in oral lichen planus · 2026 · DOI

  • The technique requires standardization and validation. The study had a limited sample size. The technique needs to be compared with other detection methods.

    Flow cytometry in oral cytology: Improved brush biopsy-based delineation of oral malignant and potentially malignant lesions · 2026 · DOI

  • Further validation and standardization of the technique are needed. The study suggests the need for larger sample sizes and comparison with other detection methods. Future research should focus on the application of the technique in resource-limited settings.

    Flow cytometry in oral cytology: Improved brush biopsy-based delineation of oral malignant and potentially malignant lesions · 2026 · DOI

  • Oral mucosal diseases can cause significant physical and psychological discomfort. The prevalence of oral diseases remains high in Kuwait due to factors such as dietary habits and socioeconomic status. Many patients experience delayed diagnosis or inadequate treatment.

    The impact of oral diseases on the quality of life of patients attending the oral medicine clinic at a dental specialty centre · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Oral Health Pathology and Treatment

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247 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 2,663 Oral Health Pathology and Treatment papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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