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Preface

About 20 years ago when I just finished my DDS programme, new frontiers were rapidly expanding in dentistry and brain science. Dentistry was markedly revolutionized by innovations in biological, material and digital technology. Brain science, with the use of non‐invasive neuroimaging approaches, has risen as a mainstream field in clinical science. At the beginning of the twenty‐first century, we have witnessed the advancement of neuroimaging in various health‐related fields, such as neurodegenerative disorders and psychiatric diseases. In contrast, our knowledge of the stomatognathic system is largely based on animal and clinical research, and the brain's role in oral functions has not been fully elucidated. During my college days, the topic of the human brain and mental functions has been rarely discussed in dental textbooks.

This book responds to the evolution of using neuroimaging approaches to investigate the human brain and oral functions, which has been lasting for decades and become gradually popular in recent years. As a relatively uncharted field, ‘dental neuroimaging’ is not merely an adoption of a new method in dental research. It also focuses on the cross‐disciplinary investigation about the connection between the brain, the stomatognathic system and oral health‐related behaviour. As shown in the book, neuroimaging studies have provided many insights on the mechanisms of oral diseases, such as chronic orofacial pain and swallowing and masticatory dysfunctions. Moreover, as I have emphasized in this book, the knowledge from neuroimaging research also contributes to translational application in clinical management, such as the management of geriatric and special needs patients.

Undeniably, a single book will not cover all the progress of neuroimaging research related to oral health. The book focuses on the future directions and challenges of dental neuroimaging research rather than merely a conclusion of past knowledge about the brain and oral functions. In this book, while the key results from classic research works are summarized, more emphasis is put on recent findings and the current trend in neuroimaging research of oral topics.

As an investigator who is lucky enough to witness the rise of this cross‐disciplinary field, I hope you enjoy this book and that you would appreciate how neuroimaging helps to unravel the mysterious connection between the brain and oral functions.