Our Group and Mission

Formally The D3 Group (D3G) comprises a translational research and education network spanning the Developmental Dental Defect (DDD = D3) and Chalky Teeth sector – originally across Australia and New Zealand (the Hub) and now around the world. But actually we are an eclectic bunch of individuals whose lives have been touched by D3 problems one way or another. Some of our families have experienced D3s first hand, many of us care for people with D3s either as dental practitioners or public health professionals, and many others are engaged in D3 research and education. We are also pleased to have a growing number of medicos and D3-savvy folk from industry amongst us (see D3G Down Under and International Friends).

All of us share the vision that teaming up and pulling together in a global "D3 family" effort will help get "chalky teeth" problems – particularly Molar Hypomineralisation and allied tooth decay – recognised better, understood better, and cared for better. Our overall mission is to make many of these problems go away through prevention – at medical (primary), dental (secondary) and social levels.

To achieve these social benefits, our primary aim is to help educate people about D3s as they pertain to them – families and patients, the public health sector and politicians, practitioners and industry,
researchers, educators and students. Hopefully, such an improved
foundation of science-based knowledge and understanding will
lead to widespread benefits across societies and around the globe.

Besides our focus on education and advocacy, we also aim to foster improved research and healthcare of D3s, with a focus on prevention. To do so, one key goal is to develop a scientifically-driven translational research network that strengthens our field and connects it with others around the world. By leveraging this cross-sector network – nicknamed the "D3 family" – our action plan is to develop a pathway towards "stronger science, better practice, and social good". A second major goal is to discover what causes Molar Hypomin and then learn how to cure it medically, leading to massive lifelong health benefits around the globe. Here our action points are distilled to "healthier babies, stronger teeth, and happier societies" (read more).

More practically, our key objectives are to:

• Disseminate information across the sector – including D3G members, students and the public
• Hold scientifically-flavoured events of interest to our diverse membership
• Undertake strategic planning and development – strengthening global efforts around D3s
• Foster research and training – build teams, support researchers and trainees
• Improve the health and well-being of people afflicted with D3s or chalky teeth

The D3-Chalky Teeth Movement

Following internationalisation of D3G in 2017 (below), we increasingly heard others talk about "the D3 movement" and "the chalky teeth movement". This of course was very pleasing to us – optimistically taking it as a compliment reflecting awareness of what we're up to and where we're headed. We first used these expressions in 2013 when launching the D3G website and Chalky Teeth Campaign (see report from here), little realising that those early dreams – to bring science, medicine and dentistry together to do something special for kids and society – would turn into today's reality.

Later, in preparation for our 2021 D3 Research Incubator, we drafted a one-liner definition for these professional and public-facing "science to
social good" initiatives – now merged into the "D3-Chalky Teeth
movement" – as follows.

The D3-Chalky Teeth movement is an international, science-driven,
child health initiative aimed at improving societies worldwide

To justify this statement, we proudly point to wins from the Chalky Teeth Campaign (WFCT network, HB=ST, Sam's Story Club), international engagement, world-first events, reconceptualised global health problem and social impact. In 2024, celebrating the adoption of our flagship translational paradigm by a leading academic journal, we bestowed the D3-Chalky Teeth movement with its own logo as above.

Our thanks go to the many wonderful people from around the globe who've teamed up to make this unique translational movement happen.

Our HUMANISTIC VALUES AND CULTURE

D3G's "universal social good" mission fits well with the ideals of humanism, which – in our translational realm – prioritises use of science, reason and ethics to understand the world and benefit all those living on it. It follows that our endeavours must embrace multiculturalism and inclusivity, which in turn necessitates our learning about marginalised and underrepresented groups alongside those in the mainstream, all with a view to "win-win" integration. These lofty aspirations for D3G's cultural competence add up to a Herculean undertaking, and something we'd be foolish to attempt on our own. But, by teaming up and taking various baby steps in seemingly appropriate directions as follows, we're certainly trying our best. We invite further guidance and support from those "better in the know" (contact us). To show that we're indeed making progress thanks to inputs from many, what follows is essentially a timeline of our learning process (for the latest, jump to Towards a cultural
ecosystem for translating D3 science).

D3G's worldview and values – our 'D3 family creed' (2020 – )

• Per the hit song by "Men at Work", D3G "comes from the land Down Under" (D3G Down Under) where life today is exceptionally good for many but nowhere near all – this obviously puts us in a privileged position to build a global network and pursue our scientifically-driven social mission.
• Accordingly, we undertake to work in a responsible manner befitting our modern societies – being multicultural and inclusive – and to foster our humanistic vision of helping all humankind through advancement of D3 science, education and healthcare.
• In so doing, we acknowledge that, as is typical of colonialism, the histories of many countries are marred by poor behaviour toward their indigenous peoples – who not only were forced to share their land ("country") but also had their cultural specialities and assimilation needs neglected, leading to inequities ("gaps") that persist today. Hence, we will try to help "close the gaps" and foster equalities through the work we do.
• We also gratefully salute those heroes – from Down Under and around the world – who fought for the rules-based freedom and sociocultural beliefs we leverage today.
• Last and not least, we respect the (well-evidenced) social good of science and allied reasoning, and praise our predecessors across the healthcare sector on whose shoulders we stand.

To help communicate these points across our diverse readership, we've introduced "Humanist Toothy" (2022) and "Respect D3 Science" badging (2025) to the global conversation, alongside our long-admired "Pay It Forward Toothy" (2017).

First Nations – inclusion and learning (2020–)

The D3 family proudly includes representatives from various First Nations communities around the globe. However, we're the first to say such inclusion is only a beginning. Indeed, from our early collaborative efforts, it has become clear that "both sides of the coin" (D3G, indigenous and other cultural mentors) have plenty more to learn together, before our mission can be fulfilled properly.

In 2020, respecting Australia's national observances for indigenous recognition and celebration (Reconciliation Australia, NAIDOC), we drafted the following acknowledgement alongside contextual information shaped as a forward-looking culture/values statement for D3G. And then in 2021, we introduced an annual quote taken from an article we found particularly helpful in our own learning, and following section about advancing From Acknowledgement to Action.

Our intent is not only to include, learn from, and support First Nations peoples, but also to set the scene for D3G's collaborative future-building by expressing thoughts on overlapping issues, past and present. While initially focussed on Australasia – but see recent expansion below – we'd like our international readership to help refine these thoughts into a translationally robust statement that has global meaningfulness – so your comments are welcomed (contact us).

D3G's FIrst Nations acknowledgement (2020 – )

D3G acknowledges Country, the mistakes of colonialism, and the residual gaps – plus the broader needs to respect history, culture, diversity and science – as we all collaborate to build a better future for humankind.

Annual learning quotes (2021 – )

2025 (source): "It’s important to preserve [cultural heritage] – not only for Australian history or for archaeology but for our people for generations to come. As more sites are “reawakened”, there is a profound effect on her people and her country. It strengthens who we are and it strengthens and heals country" Erin Wilkins

See our past learnings here.

Growing up culturally – from Acknowledgement to Action (2020 – )

Following from above, our growing awareness of cultural rights and needs is certainly a good start – however, concrete progress towards universal social good awaits collaborative actions delivered across several fronts. We intend to work with indigenous and other marginalised or underrepresented sectors (e.g. females, all too often) to help shape our global attack on Molar Hypomin and childhood decay, as opportunity and resources allow. For starters, improving our accessibility to, and mentorship by, indigenous peoples, seems wise.

Sponsoring inclusion

While as a volunteer-driven, barebones charity D3G is totally "strapped for cash", some of our members and partners have wealth they're generously willing to share. Accordingly, we’re putting mechanisms in place for supporting (self-claimed) "low-income individuals", using the disadvantage-reducing principles of "pay it forward" giving, and "Robin Hood" redistribution:

(1) D3 Pay It Forward sponsorship of D3G subscriptions, event registrations, Sam's Storybooks;
(2) D3G discounting for low & middle-income country residents (events, education packs)

Cultural attachés and advisors

Led by our inspirational friend in Nigeria, Morenike Folayan, we’ve also started building a global team of “D3G cultural attachés and advisors”, many of whom are knowledgeable in both the indigenous and D3 domains. Read more about Morenike's wonderful efforts to harmonise sociocultural considerations with healthcare and science, not only across Africa but around the globe too (here, here, here, here).

D3G cultural attachés (D3-savvy)

• Morenike Folayan, paediatric & public health dentist, OA University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, D3G leadership, D3G Africa Project
• Sheri McKinstry, public health & paediatric dentist, Indigenous Dental Assoc Canada, University of Saskatchewan, Canada, Chalky Teeth Check-Durham Project
• tbc: Janet, Azza, Ola, Tricia,

Cultural advisors (other strengths)

• Sam

If you're willing to help us assemble and incubate these components we'd love to hear from you. There's strong need for international teamwork involving those who know – or have actually experienced – the grassroot problems (subject matter experts. patients & affected families), along with enablers (social entrepreneurs, impact investors) who delight in spotting opportunity and nurturing it through to social good. While our hearts are in the right place, we've got lots to learn and need to
develop skills and grow resourcing if our dreams are to be converted at
global scale. We also believe the unique patch of "D3 land" we've surveyed
and pioneered translationally comprises a wonderful new cause for those
interested in science-based social good – most notably, the realistic
prospect of halving tooth decay worldwide by making babies healthier
is something not to be sniffed at (read more).

A cultural ecosystem for translating D3 science to social good (2026 – )

In 2026, with several groundbreaking translational science projects underway – namely Chalky Teeth Check-Durham, D3G Africa Project, "Polynesian AI", "Make It Happen@D3G" – we've necessarily started broadening our cultural horizons. We're aiming to assemble a "cultural toolbox" that applies across the full spectrum of our work – i.e. from basic science through to social good. At the social end, our increasing exposure to indigenous matters is an obvious priority, whereas at the clinico-scientific end, respect for science is currently a hot topic for science-driven terminological evolution. Recognising potential synergies across this "science to social good" spectrum, we're enlisting help – from Project participants and allied stakeholders – to develop a cultural ecosystem for translating D3 science to social good. Hopefully, as hands-on experience grows, this culturally-tuned environment will eventually become robust enough – i.e. competent from individual, local & cross-cultural levels through to transculturalism – for global application by us and others. Yet from the outset, these cultural advances will undoubtedly enrich the new paradigm for "chalky teeth" we've been developing since 2020 (Toronto D3 framework) – initially focussing on the mainstream for pragmatic reasons.

An indigenous "our peoples, and our lands" metaphor seems useful for mapping both the grounds to be covered (core principles, technical foundations), and the voices deserving to be heard (consultancy, rights and needs). However, this proposition isn't as simple as it may sound. As emerged early in the development of our "Toronto D3 framework", it's important to recognise the "nonlinearity" of D3G's translational realm. Rather than a "linear A to B to C" scenario, we're in a complex yet wonderfully rich "matrix planning" situation, comprising three translational axes – one extending across the sector, another spanning from basic science to social good (research translation), and another wrapping around the globe.

As a scientifically reductionist starting point – and aware of associated pitfalls – we're now gathering key terms as follows, before fleshing out to bullet points & headings, with aspirations for an eventual translational code of practice and integrated delivery platform.

Discussion framework for D3G cultural ecosystem
Draft, under consideration by D3G's cultural advisors

A. Cultural foundations (cf. our lands)

Mainstream

• Scientific & ethical norms, balanced representation
• Respect for science & all stakeholders
• Collaborative leadership & design, shared governance

Indigenous/margins

• Sovereignty & self determination, indigenous knowledge & science
• Reconciliation & cultural respect/safety, balance of power
• Indigenous leadership & design, sovereign decision, reciprocal benefits

B. Voices across the sector (cf. our peoples)

Mainstream

• Indigenous scientists, health professionals, industry, government, affected & at-risk public
• Non-indigenous scientists, health professionals, industry, government, affected & at-risk public

Indigenous/margins

• Diversity & heterogeneity within indigenous communities (plurality)
• Plurality between indigenous communities (geographic, urban/remote)

In short, our aspirational goals are global, and the aims are to marry scientific prowess, healthcare smarts, and cultural savviness for the good of humankind.

These beginnings inevitably raise as many questions as answers they provide. So don't hesitate to speak up (contact), watch this space, and wish us luck!

History of The D3 Group

Increasing dental awareness of D3s, plus uncertainties regarding their cause and treatment, led to the initiation in 2007 of an informal group of interested practitioners, scientists and public health representatives from Melbourne. Spear-headed by scientist Mike Hubbard and paediatric dentist David Manton, this informal group grew rapidly to include interested parties from elsewhere in Australia and New Zealand. As the figure depicts, a translational vision emerged, covering understanding, treatment and prevention at three operational levels (population, clinic and lab). At a network meeting in 2009, the decision was made to formalise the group as an Australasian, cross-sector network – and so The D3 Group (D3G) was born. Subsequent planning sessions by the Melbourne-based focus group led to agreement that better education was the number-one priority, and that a comprehensive, multi-targeted "online education resource" would be a major advance in this regard. In 2010, Rebecca Williams (then in her first year of training to be a specialist paediatric dentist) kindly agreed to include co-development of such a website in her doctoral research work. After beta-testing by the target user groups, the final draft website went online on 29th March 2013 and days later was launched to the dental community at meetings of the Australasian Academy of Paediatric Dentistry and the Australian Dental Congress. After responding to suggestions from across the D3G community, the official website launch event was held on 24th August 2013 together with release of a public-friendly media campaign about "Chalky Teeth" (see reports under News and Events).

Our D3 initiative can be traced back to 2003 when Mike Hubbard came to Melbourne with a brief to develop medico-dento-scientific research efforts in the tooth and bone arena under auspice of the Melbourne Research Unit for Facial Disorders, a translational initiative focussed on children. To get the ball rolling, Mike decided to pursue D3s as a worthy clinical problem, and to promote proteomics as a complementary research technology. By 2006, he had a State-wide technology network underway (launched in 2008 as Proteomics and Metabolomics Victoria) and so his attention turned to initiating a parallel translational network for D3. Tiring of the tongue-twisting terms then in common use (i.e. Developmental Dental Defects or DDD, Developmental Defects of Enamel or DDE), Mike coined the term "D3" as a much simpler alternative – and although it will always require explanation, this abstract moniker seems to have struck a chord with the greater dental fraternity and the public alike. In 2013, just a couple of days before public launch of the D3G website, Mike was told by a media consultant that "Molar Hypomin" was too complicated for public consumption (despite being more suitable than "Molar-Incisor Hypomineralisation", the academically favoured term of the day). Recalling a term used by his grandmother, Mike asked "how about chalky teeth?" and the rest is history – the Chalky Teeth media campaign took off, attracting national TV and radio coverage in Australia and over 40 reports around the world (media release, other links). Following further encouragement including broad professional acceptance of D3G's take on "chalky teeth", a dedicated Chalky Teeth Campaign landing site was launched in 2015. Early in 2017, the "We Fight Chalky Teeth" practice network launched in Tasmania – thanks to Garry Nervo for the idea of mirroring the global "fight against tooth decay" idiom. Read more about D3G's origins in the "MRUFD Story" booklet.

For further information on how we're tracking, see Our Social Impact.

Key events timeline

• July 2007, inaugural meeting with scientific presentations & networking (hosted by Dentsply)
• November 2007, 2nd scientific/network meeting (hosted by Dentsply)
• October 2008, 3rd scientific/network meeting (hosted by Dentsply)
• May 2009, 4th scientific/network meeting (supported by Dentsply & Colgate)
• September 2011, 5th scientific/network mtg and website pre-launch (Dentsply & Colgate)
• April 2013, D3G website launch to dental community (AAPD & ADC meetings, Melbourne)
• August 2013, official public launch of D3G website and medico-dental initiative (Melbourne)
• August 2013, initiation of D3G's "Chalky Teeth" media campaign (Australia)
• August 2013, Grace Suckling becomes the Patron of D3G (sadly, Grace passed in July 2015)
• November 2015, Chalky Teeth Campaign website launched (ANZSPD meeting, Adelaide)
• February 2017, "We Fight Chalky Teeth" Supporter Practice and Satellite Page launched
• May 2017, International Friends of D3G launched, D3G-ANZ becomes D3G Down Under
• May 2017, paid membership scheme launched (annual subscription added in October)
• May 2019, D3G's inaugural International Symposium on MH & Chalky Teeth announced
• October 2020, D3G's pre-symposium International Workshop held online (due to pandemic)
• November 2020, D3G's "100 years of Chalky Teeth" Campaign launched (here, here & here)
• October 2021, D3G's ground-breaking D3 Research Incubator held online (cf pandemic)
• December 2021, 100-year breakthrough on chalky enamel pathology by D3G researchers
• February 2022, D3G website reached 10-million-hits milestone (< 9 years since launch)
• October 2022, world-first translational symposium on Molar Hypomin & Chalky Teeth (here, here)
• January 2023, US National Library of Medicine & D3G redefined Molar Hypomin (here)
• September 2024, leading dental journal adopts D3G's MH-chalky teeth paradigm (here)
• October 2025, "D3 Africa Project" launched at world paediatric dental congress (here)

Acknowledgements

The D3 Group acknowledges:

• Start-up funding and ongoing support from the Melbourne Research Unit for Facial Disorders – special thanks to principal benefactors, Allan & Maria Myers, and Clinical Director, Andrew Heggie
• Fellowship support for Mike Hubbard from the Melbourne Research Unit for Facial Disorders (2003-13)
• Support for D3G scientific/network meetings from Dentsply (2005-12) and Colgate (2009-12)
• Support for Rebecca Williams' website project from Melbourne Dental School and MRUFD
• Hosting & support of Team Hubbard by UniMelb Departments of Paediatrics & Pharmacology
• Funding for the Chalky Teeth Campaign site from a University of Melbourne Engagement Grant

The D3 Group Website

This portal website is intended to help four target groups:

• Families – D3 sufferers (particularly kids) and their families
• Community – public health sector and politicians
• Practitioner – healthcare providers and their support industry
• Researcher – researcher workers and students

Our design intent has been to tailor each section to its target audience but also to pique curiosity so that cross-exploration of other sections occurs. We have also worked to make the website suitable for chairside use (on tablets such as iPad) as well as on laptop and desktop computers.

Although we feel obliged to maintain a reasonable level of curation over this website in its early developmental stages at least (rather than an open wiki style), our overriding goal is to ensure it meets users' needs and reflects consensus understanding of opinion leaders, whilst respecting D3G's scientific heritage and interests in prevention. Accordingly, we strongly encourage input of ideas, suggestions, tips, reinforcements and constructive critique – please email the website administrator (sharon.thed3group@gmail.com) or D3G director (Mike Hubbard) and we'll do our best to please.

D3G website credits

• Original website idea, architecture/design concepts, original text & figures, supervision – Mike Hubbard
• Concept co-development, original content and website management – Rebecca Williams
• Graphical design and concept co-development – Sharon Dunn
• HTML & mobile application implementation – Suzanne Thomson
• Project development and co-supervision of Rebecca Williams – David Manton
• Local photography – Hannah Hubbard

Special thanks go to the following D3G members for their generous contributions and support of this website development: Margarita Silva, Karen Kan, Louise Brearley Messer, Roger Hall, Paul Schneider, Felicity Crombie, Jon Mangum, Mike Swain, Joseph Palamara, Vidal Perez, Luke and Vicki Ditcham.

And we are particularly grateful to the following colleagues for providing clinical images for use on this website (only): Rebecca Williams, Aghareed Ghanim, Wanyi Lim, Debra Elsby, Marilyn Owen, Jamie Lucas, Clarence Tam and Daniel Cocker.

The D3 Group & CHALKY TEETH CAMPAIGN LOGOS

The D3 Group logo, comprising three incisor-like Ds stacked sideways (DDD), signifies that dental defects such as hypomineralisation (chipped blue tooth) typically occur in otherwise healthy mouths and bodies. A colourful connotation is that, as a result of accompanying pain and inconvenience, D3 problems sometimes leave sufferers "feeling blue".

Harmoniously, our Chalky Teeth Campaign logo depicts a "chalky molar" (see Molar Hypomineralisation) with a patch of chalky enamel at the top that has started to crumble (see our Chalky Teeth Lingo).

Logo credits:

• Graphic design & co-conceptualisation – Sharon Dunn
• Original concepts & design –
 Mike Hubbard
• D3G logo introduced in 2010, renovated in 2017
• CTC logo introduced in 2017
• D3-CT Movement logo introduced in 2024

Disclaimer

The D3 Group (D3G) seeks to ensure that all content and information published at this website is current and accurate. Accordingly, all content, information and architecture of D3G's website might be updated or changed without notice. However, D3G gives no assurance or warranty regarding the accuracy, timeliness or applicability of any of the contents, and D3G disclaims all liability in respect of such information.

Reference within this website to any specific commercial or non-commercial product, process or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer or otherwise does not constitute or imply an endorsement, recommendation or favouring by D3G.

In addition, D3G cannot be held responsible for the contents of externally linked pages. Links to external websites are provided solely for visitors’ convenience. Links taken to other websites are done so at your own risk and D3G accepts no liability for any linked websites or their content.