Mary Anne Melo

My research focuses on interactions between oral biofilms and dental biomaterials with an emphasis on developing novel strategies to reduce the initiation and progression of dental caries adjacent to existing restorations (recurrent caries). My work relates primarily to 1) Oral biofilm control with nanotechnologies by investigating the anti-biofilm nanotechnologies for the oral health care field; 2) Biofilm modeling with the development of new in vitro caries/biofilm models; 3) evaluate antimicrobial properties of biomaterials and 4) the translational research for the development of clinically relevant therapeutic strategies for control of the dental caries. These materials include dental composites, nanocomposites, sealants, bonding agents, cements, etc. I am current member of the Academy of Operative Dentistry; Academy of Dental Materials; the International Association for Dental Research; the Society for Color and Appearance in Dentistry, and American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. I have published over 60 research articles and serves as reviewer for several journals in Dentistry, Medicine and Biomaterials.