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Margherita Fontana Margherita Fontana, D.D.S., Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Margherita Fontana, DDS, PhD, holds the position of Associate Professor (tenured) in the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry at Indiana University School of Dentistry. She serves as Director of the Microbial Caries Model Facility, which is part of the Oral Health Research Institute; she is director of the new Oral Biofilms in Caries Assessment and Management Research Program within her Department, and is also Director of Predoctoral Education for her Department. After receiving her dental degree from the Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV), Caracas, Venezuela, in 1990, Dr. Fontana worked as a Research Assistant in the Dental Research Institute, Dental School, UCV for two years, while she also worked in private practice. She then moved to the United States to pursue her research interests, and in 1996 completed a four-year PhD program in Dental Sciences at Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN. As a principal investigator, she has received research grants from the National Institutes of Health, the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry, the Delta Dental Fund, and private industry. Dr. Fontana has lectured as an invited speaker in different countries being recognized for her work in the field of Cariology, and is currently teaching several lectures related to Cariology in the DDS and Dental Hygiene Programs and in several Master and PhD Graduate Programs. She has also been an active participant in the Problem Based Learning aspects of the Curriculum. She was the first president for the Indiana Chapter of the Hispanic Dental Association, and has been a member for many years of the International Association for Dental Research, the European Organization for Caries Research (ORCA), and the American Society for Microbiology.  She is the 2007-2008 President of the Cariology group of the IADR and the 2007-2008 Chair-elect of the ADEA Cariology Special interest Group.
 
Publications

TWETMAN S, FONTANA M (2008). Patient Caries Risk Assessment. Karger Monograph (submitted)

FONTANA M (2008). Caries Detection and Diagnosis Module. Online School-Based Sealant Program. Ohio State Department of Health and Mother and Child Health Bureau (submitted).

FONTANA M, YOUNG D, WOLFF M (2008). Evidence Based Caries Risk ssessment and Management. Dental Clinics of North America (Accepted).

A THNEIBAT, M FONTANA, M.A. COCHRAN, C. GONZALEZ-CABEZAS, B.K. MOORE, B.A. MATIS, AND M.R. LUND (2008). Anticariogenic And Antibacterial Properties Of A Copper Varnish Using An In Vitro Microbial Caries Model. J Operative Dentistry 33-2; 142-148.

SO GRIFFIN, E OONG, W KOHN, B VIDAKOVIC, BF GOOCH for Members of Expert Work Group: J. BADER, J. CLARKSON, M. R. FONTANA, D. MEYER, R. G. ROZIER, J. A. WEINTRAUB, D. T. ZERO (2008). The Effectiveness of Sealants in Managing Carious Lesions. J Dent Res;87(2):169-174.

M. FONTANA M, D. CATT, C. SISSONS, G.J. ECKERT, S. OFNER, M. TORO, R.L.GREGORY, A. FERREIRA ZANDONA, H. EGGERTSSON, R. JACKSON, J. CHIN, D. ZERO (2008). Xylitol: Effects on the Acquisition of Cariogenic Species in Infants. Pediatric Dentistry (accepted)

ECKERT GE, FONTANA M, JACKSON R,… (2008). Ethnicity, Income, and Education Related Differences in Habits and Dental Practices of Toddlers and Their Caregivers. Caries Research (in preparation)

M. FONTANA M, JACKSON R, ECKERT G, SWIGONSKI N, CHIN J, FERREIRA ZANDONA A, ANDO M, STOOKEY GK, DOWNS S, ZERO D (2008). Longitudinal Assessment of Caries Risk Factors in Toddlers. J Dent Res (in preparation).

STAHL JM, GONZALEZ-CABEZAS C, FONTANA M, HAIDER A (2007). Effects Of Frequency Of Exposure On The Cariogenicity Of Soft Drinks. Operative Dentistry (Submitted).

FONTANA M, ZERO D (2007). Bridging the gap in caries management between research and practice through education: the Indiana University experience. J Dental Educ 71(5): 579-591.

CATT DM, FONTANA M (2007). Xylitol – A Dual Role in Caries Prevention. Dimensions of Dental Hygiene, March, p. 24-26.

YOUNG D, FEATHERSTONE J, ROTH JR, ANDERSON M, AUTIO-GOLD J, CHRISTENSEN GJ, FONTANA M, KUTSCH VK, PETERS MC, SIMONSEN RJ, WOLFF MS (2007). CONSENSUS STATEMENT Caries Management By Risk Assessment: Implementation guidelines to support oral health. Journal of the California Dental Association 35(11):799-805.

FONTANA M (2007). Foreword to proceedings from the AADR/ADEA joint symposium on caries management: transitioning from education and research to improve patient care. J Dent Education 71(5): 571.

P. TOTIAM, C. GONZÁLEZ-CABEZAS, M. FONTANA M, AND D. ZERO (2007). A new in vitro model to study the relationship of gap size and secondary caries. Caries Research 41:467-473.

JACKSON R, FONTANA M (2006). The Importance of Caries Risk Assessment, Detection and Diagnosis Prior to Dental Sealant Placement. Part II. Dimensions of Dental Hygiene 4(7):28-31.

FONTANA M, ZERO D (2006). Assessing Patients’ Caries Risk. Journal of the American Dental Association 137(9):1231-1240.

CATT D, FONTANA M (2006). Is it plaque or is it biofilm? (2006). The Journal of Practical Hygiene 15 (8): 13-15.

TORO M, ZUNT S, FONTANA M (2006). Dental erosion: a multi-factorial condition. Journal of the Indiana Dental Association. Summer. 85(2): 4-11.

JACKSON R, FONTANA M (2005). The Importance of Caries Risk Assessment, Detection and Diagnosis Prior to Dental Sealant Placement. Dimensions of Dental Hygiene 3(2):16-21.

FONTANA M, ZUNT S, ECKERT GE, ZERO D (2005). A screening test for unstimulated salivary flow measurement. Operative Dentistry 30(1):3-8.

FONTANA M, HAIDER A, GONZALEZ-CABEZAS C (2005). Caries lesion development and biofilm composition responses to varying demineralization times and sucrose exposures. Biofilms 1:229-237.

GONZÁLEZ-CABEZAS C, FONTANA M (2005). Current research using new technologies for the detection and monitoring of secondary caries. Indiana Conference for early caries detection III. In: early detection of dental caries II. Ed. GK Stookey. 2003:347-62.

EGGERTSSON H, FERREIRA-ZANDONÁ AG, ANDO M, GONZÁLEZ-CABEZAS C, FONTANA M, MARTÍNEZ-MIER EA, WASKOW-CHIN JR, JACKSON RD, ECKERT GJ, STOOKEY GK, ZERO D (2005). Reproducibility of in vitro and clinical examinations with QLF (Quantitative Light-induced Fluorescence). Developing guidelines for imaging and analyzing QLF- images, and a process for training examiners. In: early detection of dental caries II. Ed. GK Stookey. 2003:213-28.

SA LT, GONZALEZ-CABEZAS C, COCHRAN MA, FONTANA M, MATIS BA, MOORE BK (2004). Fluoride releasing materials: their anticariogenic properties tested in in vitro caries models. Operative Dent 29(5): 524-531.

HAZZELRIGG CO, DEAN JA, FONTANA M (2003). Fluoride varnish concentration gradient effects measured by quantitative light fluorescence. Pediatric Dentistry 25(2):119-26.

GONZÁLEZ-CABEZAS C, FONTANA M, GOMES-MOOSBAUER D, STOOKEY GK (2003). Early detection of secondary caries using quantitative, light-induced fluorescence. Operative Dentistry 2003;28(4):415-22.

ZERO D, GONZALEZ-CABEZAS C, FONTANA M (2002). Oral factors to consider that influence restorative treatment. Proceedings of the 5th IUSD Annual Indiana Conference (The changing practice of restorative dentistry), Indiana University, p. 87-103.

FONTANA M, GONZALEZ-CABEZAS C, WILSON ME, STOOKEY GK (2002). Inhibition of secondary caries lesion progression using fluoride varnish. Caries Res, 36:129-135.

ZERO D, FONTANA M, LENNON AM (2001). Clinical applications and outcomes of using indicators of risk in caries management. Journal of Dental Education; 65(10):1132-1138.

FONTANA M, GONZALEZ-CABEZAS C (2000). Secondary caries and restoration replacement. An unresolved problem in dentistry. Compendium 21:15-30.

FONTANA M, DUNIPACE AJ, STOOKEY GK, & GREGORY RL (2000). An in vitro microbial-caries model used to study the efficacy of antibodies to Streptococcus mutans surface proteins in preventing dental caries. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 7:49-54.

FONTANA M, GONZALEZ-CABEZAS C, STOOKEY G (2000). QLF monitoring of therapies for early secondary caries arrestment and remineralization. Proceedings of the society for photo-optical instrumentation engineers: Progress in Biomedical Optics, Lasers in Dentistry VI, 1(4):261-268.

GONZALEZ-CABEZAS C, FONTANA M, STOOKEY GK (1999). Measurement of mineral gain and loss on dental enamel and dentin using confocal microscopy. Methods of Enzymology 307:485-496.

FONTANA M, DUNIPACE AJ, STOOKEY GK, & GREGORY RL (1999). Intranasal immunization against dental caries with a Streptococcus mutans-enriched fimbrial preparation. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 6:405-409.

FONTANA M, GONZALEZ-CABEZAS C, WILSON M, & APPERT C (1999). In vitro evaluation of a “smart” dental material for its efficacy in preventing secondary caries using a microbial artificial mouth model. Am J Dent 12: S8-S9.

SELDERS RJ, FONTANA M, WILSON ME, GREGORY RL (1999). Role of fimbriation in root caries: An in vitro study. Indiana Branch of the American Society for Microbiology Newsletter, p.6-8

FONTANA M, YANIKOGLU FC, OZTURK F, ANDO M, HAYRAN O, GONZÁLEZ-CABEZAS C, HAIDER A, BALDRIDGE LA, & STOOKEY GK (1999). Comparison of QLF, ultrasound and confocal microscopy in the measurement of demineralization/remineralization of enamel lesions developed on natural smooth surfaces. In: Early Detection of Dental Caries II, Indiana University p. 301-316.

GONZÁLEZ-CABEZAS C, FONTANA M, GOMES-MOOSBAUER D, ANDO M, ANALOUI M, & STOOKEY GK (1999). Comparative studies of several methods for the early detection of secondary caries. In: Early Detection of Dental Caries II, Indiana University p. 317-342.

GONZALEZ-CABEZAS C, FONTANA M, DUNIPACE AJ, LI Y, FISCHER G, PROSKIN HM, & STOOKEY GK (1998). Measurement of enamel remineralization using microradiography and confocal microscopy. A correlational study. Caries Res 32:385-392.

PERRONE M, GFELL LE, FONTANA M, & GREGORY RL (1997). Antigenic characterization of fimbriae preparations from Streptococcus mutans isolates from caries free and caries susceptible subjects. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 4:291-296.

FONTANA M, DUNIPACE AJ, GREGORY RL, NOBLITT TW, LI Y, PARK KK, & STOOKEY GK (1996). An in-vitro microbial model for studying secondary caries formation. Caries Res 30:112-118.

FONTANA M, LI Y, DUNIPACE AJ, NOBLITT TW, FISCHER GM, KATZ BP, & STOOKEY GK (1996). Measurement of demineralization of enamel using microradiography and confocal microscopy. A correlational study. Caries Res 30:317-325.

FONTANA M (1995). Secondary caries: Relation with current criteria used to replace restorations. General Dentistry,43:143-154.

FONTANA M, & GONZALEZ CABEZAS C (1995). Topical application of Stannous Fluoride inside of cavity preparations: A review of the literature. Indiana Dental Association Journal,Fall:22-24.

FONTANA M, GFELL LE, & GREGORY RL (1995). Characterization of preparations enriched for Streptococcus mutans fimbriae: Salivary IgA antibodies in caries-free and caries-active subjects. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol,2(6):719-725.

GREGORY RL, WARNER NA, GFELL LE, & FONTANA M (1994). Visualization and characterization of Streptococcus mutans fimbriae by negative and immunogold bead staining in the TEM. Microscopy Research and Technique,27:352.

FONTANA M, & GREGORY RL (1994). Streptococcus mutans fimbriae: Relationship to human dental caries. Indiana Branch of the American Society for Microbiology Newsletter, August:3-4.

FONTANA M (1993). Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid): Clinical Implications for Oral Health. A review of the literature. Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry,7:916-929.

GONZALEZ-CABEZAS C & FONTANA M (1993). Uso de fluoruro topico en las cavidades como medida preventiva de caries secundaria (English translation: Uses of topical fluorides applied to cavities as a preventive measure for secondary caries). Acta Odont Venez,31:55-58.

BASTIDAS R, GONZALEZ CABEZAS C, & FONTANA M, RIVERA H (1992). Esclerosis sistemica progresiva. Consideraciones clinicas, radiograficas y terapeuticas: Enfoque multidisciplinario (English translation: Multiple systemic sclerosis. Clinical, radiographic and therapeutic considerations: A multidisciplinary approach). Practica Odontologica Mexicana,13:13-16.

GONZALEZ CABEZAS C & FONTANA M (1992). Estudio epidemiologico de nutricion y caries en una poblacion preescolar de un barrio marginal de Caracas (English translation: Epidemiological study on malnutrition and caries relationship in a poor area of Caracas). Acta Odont Venez,30:29-33.

FONTANA M, HERNANDEZ S, FERMIN Z, PAEZ M, BUSTAMANTE P, BUENO T, HARB L & CAMPOS A (1990). La efectividad del fluor aplicado en forma de enjuagues (English translation: Effectivity of fluorides applied as mouthrinses). Venezuela Odontologica,55:14-16.



 
Education

Dr. Fontana serves as the director of predoctoral education for the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry. In that capacity she oversees the competency–based caries management program for her Department. She also serves as the director of the cariology modules in the didactic predoctoral curriculum, and serves as lecturer in many courses in the predoctoral, graduate, and dental hygiene curricula. She is involved in the problem based learning curriculum, serving as a case writer and manager for the cariology content in the first 2 years of the DDS program. She regularly mentors students (graduate and predoctoral) in research projects in cariology. She serves in the curriculum committee, is one of the 4 school liaisons to the Commission on Change and Innovation (CCI) in ADEA, and she serves in the new Coordinating Committee for Curricular reform in the school.
Research

Dr. Fontana's clinical research interests relate primarily to caries management in children, including risk assessment, dental sealants, oral biofilms as it relates to caries development and/or prevention (and included in this area, therapies that may affect the biofilm, such as xylitol), secondary caries, caries remineralization, and early caries detection. Her work has received funding from the National institutes of Health, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the Delta Dental Foundation, and private industry. She directs the microbial caries facility (ADD LINK), which is part of the Oral Health Research Institute (ADD LINK). The facility includes a microbial caries model which is used to study primary, secondary and root caries, using single or multiple species biofilms. The model is also used extensively for testing of anticariogenic agents (e.g., toothpastes) and dental materials.
 
Contact Information

Phone: (317) 274-5626; 274-8822
Fax: (317) 274-5425
Email: mfontan@iupui.edu
 
Indiana University School of Dentistry
Oral Health Research Institute
415 Lansing St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
 
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