Two groundbreaking studies by the Faculty of Dentistry at The University of Hong Kong (HKU), published in the British Dental Journal in June 2025, have drawn significant industry attention to denture safety and oral healthcare innovation.
One study analyzed full-arch denture aspiration cases through radiological examinations, identifying a "vertical upright swallowing" mechanism as the potential cause of accidental ingestion. The research emphasized that patients with neurodegenerative diseases face a higher risk due to weakened swallowing control, urging clinicians to optimize denture retention designs to enhance safety. This addresses a critical concern, as ill-fitting or loosely retained dentures are a major contributor to aspiration incidents, especially among vulnerable groups.
Simultaneously, the team launched the world's first AI-driven oral cancer prediction clinic. Its proprietary tool, OralCancerPredict, achieves a 94% accuracy rate in detecting potentially malignant oral lesions. By enabling risk stratification, the AI tool reduces unnecessary surgeries for low-risk patients while providing efficient screening support prior to denture restoration. This innovation bridges a key gap in pre-prosthetic care, ensuring oral health risks are identified early.
Together, these studies underscore HKU's commitment to advancing dental practice-combining clinical safety insights with AI technology to improve patient outcomes in both denture care and oral cancer prevention.