Coming Together for Better International Oral Health: A Model for Hope.

Good oral health is crucial to overall well-being, and everyone needs to have equal access to quality oral healthcare. Despite this, disparities in oral health still exist on an international scale. In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted a global oral health strategy to reduce oral diseases and health inequities through public health approaches, integrating oral health with primary healthcare and adopting innovative workforce models.

Nkx2.5 regulates endothelin converting enzyme-1 during pharyngeal arch patterning.

In gnathostomes, dorsoventral (D-V) patterning of neural crest cells (NCC) within the pharyngeal arches is crucial for the development of hinged jaws. One of the key signals that mediate this process is Endothelin-1 (EDN1). Loss of EDN1 binding to the Endothelin-A receptor (EDNRA) results in loss of EDNRA signaling and subsequent facial birth defects in humans, mice and zebrafish.