Proceedings of the 3rd international conference on oral mucosal immunity and microbiome

The International Conferences on Oral Mucosal Immunity and Microbiome held under the auspices of the Aegean Conferences, commonly designated as “OMIM,” have gained their place on the pedestal of top scientific events in dental and oral research. The present Research Topic in Frontiers in Oral Health reports the proceedings of the 3rd OMIM, which was held in Heraklion, Crete, Greece, from 26 September to 1 October 2023 (Figure 1). The conference addressed cutting-edge basic and translational research of oral immunological and microbiological scope, highlighting the importance of the composition and functions of the oral microbiome and the mechanisms underpinning its interactions with the host, particularly the oral mucosal immunity. Specific themes of the conference included microbial pathogenesis, inflammatory host response, polymicrobial communities, oral–systemic connection, and therapeutic approaches. In relation to previous OMIMs, we have achieved a greater integration of clinical translational research, with emphasis on the molecular determinants of the interconnection between oral and systemic diseases, as well as the molecular basis for novel therapeutic modalities.