Oral Biofilms in Caries Assessment and Management - Research Program
        
   

Program Director

Dr. Margherita Fontana

• Modify the existing microbial caries in vitro model to add a more complex microbial population.
  
  

• Modify our confocal microscopy methodology to be able to study the structure of oral biofilms.
  
  

• Test the cariogenicity of different bacteria, under different biofilm conditions, and their responses to environmental challenges as a response to biolfilm dynamics.
  
  

• Develop an in vitro model that reproduces different clinical situations (gaps, biofilms) of secondary caries (also see Secondary Caries Strategic Program)
  
  

• Test the effects of diverse anticariogenic interventions using the newly developed biofilm-caries model.
  
  

• Compare the biofilm composition of different sites in the mouth and as a response to different treatment products, and its relationship with caries formation and prevention.

• Study the role that plaque assessment has in dental caries risk assessment.

• Study the role that intervention therapies, such as xylitol gum use, have on biofilm composition and transmission of oral flora, as it relates to caries prevention.

Other Faculty Supporting the Program

Dr. Carlos González-Cabezas

Dr. Richard L. Gregory

Dr. Domenick Zero

Recent Publications

Fontana M, Haider A, Gonzalez-Cabezas C (2005). Caries lesion development and biofilm composition responses to varying demineralization times and sucrose exposures.  Biofilm (2005) 1, 229-237.

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, 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.

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, 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.

Recent Abstracts

Fontana M, Haider A, Gonzalez-Cabezas C (2004). Caries lesion development and Biofilm composition responses to varying incubation times and sucrose exposures. Caries Res 38:385 (abstract 83).

Platt JA, Fontana M, Duke ES, Gonzalez-Cabezas C, Haider A, Haberlein I (2002). Microbial Evaluation of a Caries Risk Impression Material. J Dent Res 81: A-425 (Abstract 3450)

Sordelli AE, Gregory RL, Gonzalez-Cabezas C, and Fontana M (2000). In vitro adherence of Streptococcus mutans to root surfaces. J Dent Res 79: 226 (Abstract 657).

Fontana M, Dunipace AJ, Gonzalez-Cabezas C, Stookey GK, and Gregory RL (1999). In vitro microbial caries model: Streptococcus mutans laboratory reference strain vs. a clinical isolate. Caries Res 33:289.