Meet the Scientist Shaping the Future of Oral Health Research
When you sit in a dentist's chair, you're benefiting from decades of scientific research—from the composite materials filling your teeth to the understanding of gum disease processes. But have you ever wondered how those scientific discoveries reach your dentist? The journey often begins in prestigious research journals, where scientists publish their findings after rigorous evaluation by experts in their field.
At the helm of one of the most influential dental research journals in the world stands a single scientist whose decisions help shape the future of oral health worldwide. This is the story of Dr. Nicholas Jakubovics, the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Dental Research (JDR), and his critical role in determining which research breakthroughs reach the scientific community—and eventually, your dentist's office.
In April 2020, the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) made a significant announcement: Nicholas Jakubovics would become the new Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Dental Research 5 . The selection followed a thorough search process, with IADR President-elect Pamela Den Besten noting Jakubovics had "demonstrated his passion and commitment to the Journal" through his service on the editorial board 5 .
Jakubovics brought impressive credentials to this prestigious position. As a Senior Lecturer in Oral Microbiology at Newcastle University in England, he had spent more than two decades studying the mechanisms of dental plaque formation by oral bacteria 5 .
The transition to Editor-in-Chief represented a natural progression for Jakubovics, who had previously served as a dedicated member of JDR's Editorial Board and as an Associate Editor since October 2017 5 .
University of Cambridge
University of Warwick, focusing on biofilms in drinking water
Newcastle University, Oral Microbiology
Journal of Dental Research (since October 2017)
Journal of Dental Research (appointed April 2020)
The Journal of Dental Research is far more than just another academic publication. As the official journal of the International and American Associations for Dental Research, it serves as a premier platform for disseminating new knowledge across all sciences relevant to dentistry and oral health 3 6 . The journal takes a multidisciplinary approach, publishing original research across the entire spectrum of dental, oral, and craniofacial sciences 6 .
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Total Citations (2023)
To understand the scientific expertise that Jakubovics brings to his editorial role, it's helpful to examine the type of research he and others in his field conduct. One crucial area of study involves understanding how oral bacteria form complex communities on tooth surfaces—what we commonly know as dental plaque.
Within minutes after tooth cleaning, a thin layer of proteins from saliva, called the pellicle, forms on tooth surfaces. This layer contains receptors that specific "pioneer" bacteria can bind to.
Early colonizers like Streptococcus sanguinis and Streptococcus oralis attach to the pellicle. These bacteria don't just stick to the tooth surface—they begin reproducing and forming microcolonies.
Subsequent bacterial species don't need to directly attach to the pellicle. Instead, they bind to the already-adhered pioneer species through specific molecular interactions. This leads to a more diverse bacterial community.
As bacterial layers build up, they begin producing a sticky matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that provides structural integrity to the biofilm and helps trap nutrients.
Over time, the oxygen levels within the thicker biofilm decrease, creating environments suitable for anaerobic bacteria, which are often more associated with periodontal disease.
Through sophisticated imaging techniques and molecular analysis, researchers can now observe and quantify this process in unprecedented detail, revealing the complex social networks of microbial communities that call our mouths home.
| Bacterial Species | Role in Biofilm | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Streptococcus sanguinis | Pioneer colonizer | Initial attachment to pellicle |
| Streptococcus mutans | Secondary colonizer | Acid production, caries-associated |
| Porphyromonas gingivalis | Late colonizer | Associated with periodontal disease |
| Fusobacterium nucleatum | Bridging species | Connects early and late colonizers |
| Time After Cleaning | Biofilm Characteristics | Clinical Implications |
|---|---|---|
| 0-4 hours | Thin layer, pioneer bacteria | Easily removed by mechanical cleaning |
| 4-24 hours | Increased diversity, matrix formation | Beginning of structural complexity |
| 1-3 days | Multilayered communities, anaerobic niches | More resistant to antimicrobials |
| >1 week | Complex architecture, specialized regions | Associated with inflammatory response |
This stepwise process of biofilm formation explains why regular brushing is so effective at preventing dental disease—it regularly disrupts the early stages of colonization before mature, harder-to-remove communities can establish themselves. The research has also revealed that it's not merely the presence of specific bacteria that causes disease, but disturbances in the balanced ecology of the oral microbiome.
Cutting-edge dental research relies on sophisticated tools and methodologies. Here are some key resources that enable the types of discoveries published in the Journal of Dental Research:
| Research Tool | Primary Function | Application in Dental Research |
|---|---|---|
| Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy | High-resolution 3D imaging | Visualize architecture of oral biofilms without disrupting structure |
| 16S rRNA Sequencing | Genetic identification of microbes | Determine complete microbial composition of oral samples |
| Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) | Visualize specific bacteria in communities | Locate particular bacterial species within complex biofilms |
| Atomic Force Microscopy | Surface characterization at nanoscale | Measure bacterial adhesion forces to tooth surfaces and materials |
| Polymicrobial Flow Cells | Simulate oral environment | Study real-time interactions between different oral bacteria |
Visualizing microbial communities at unprecedented resolution
Identifying and tracking microbial species through DNA sequencing
Simulating oral environments to study bacterial interactions
As Editor-in-Chief, Jakubovics has outlined several priorities for the Journal of Dental Research that extend beyond simply publishing high-quality science. In alignment with trends in scientific publishing more broadly, his vision includes:
There's a growing recognition that diversity in scientific leadership influences which research questions get asked and how they're investigated 9 . As one study notes, "Who occupies top editorial positions in major news organizations is of both symbolic and practical importance" 9 . This principle applies equally to scientific journals, where editorial decisions can shape entire fields of study.
In an era of increasing retractions and concerns about scientific reproducibility, Jakubovics has emphasized the importance of "fostering research integrity, self-correcting science and constructive debate, to ensure the validity of what readers learn from the research published in JDR" 1 .
The new editorial team has committed to broadening "what constitutes a JCR contribution (in terms of disciplines, research approaches and questions studied)" 1 —a philosophy that Jakubovics has likely embraced for dental research as well.
These priorities reflect an understanding that the health of a scientific field depends not just on individual discoveries, but on the health of the scientific ecosystem itself—including the processes by which research is evaluated, published, and incorporated into practice.
The appointment of an editor might seem like an administrative formality, but in reality, it represents a critical inflection point for an entire scientific discipline. The vision, standards, and priorities that Nicholas Jakubovics brings to the Journal of Dental Research will influence which studies get published, how research quality is judged, and ultimately, which discoveries eventually translate to improved patient care.
The next time you receive a new dental treatment or hear advice about oral hygiene, remember that behind these advancements lies a vast ecosystem of scientific evaluation—managed by editors like Jakubovics who work to ensure that only the most robust, significant research reaches the scientific community and, eventually, the public. In this way, the leadership of a single journal touches the oral health of millions worldwide, proving that the pen (or the editorial decision) can be as mighty as the dental drill in shaping our health outcomes.