About
Mary Anne Melo (DDS, MSc, Ph.D., Fellow of ADM, ACD,PFA, ) is a Clinical Professor at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry and currently serving as Chair of the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry. Dr. Melo applies her experience as a dentist and dental materials researcher to advance the development of smart and bioactive restorative materials. Her clinical areas of interest focus on minimally invasive dentistry, management of high caries risk patients, and esthetic dentistry. Her research has focused chiefly on anticaries approaches for caries-inhibiting, antibacterial, or remineralization functionalities. Her research group has pioneered the investigations of antibacterial and remineralizing dental adhesives and resin composites. Dr. Melo is a current member of the Academy of Operative Dentistry; the International Association for Dental Research; The American Academy of Cariology, and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr. Melo is a co-inventor on two patents, has edited three books, and has published more than 200 papers in the area of dental materials. Several grants support her research. She lectures nationally and internationally on diverse topics of restorative dentistry. She also serves as an advisor to graduate theses in the School of Dentistry for the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences Program for Advanced General Dentistry and Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Sciences on the Dental Biomaterials track. As a American Dental Education Association member, she has served as a mentor for the Academic Dental Careers Fellowship Program.
Her clinical areas of interest are minimally invasive dentistry, management of high caries risk patients, and esthetic dentistry. She has extensive training and experience in esthetic dentistry, especially with direct restorations.
As a clinician-scientist, she is also actively involved in dental research, particularly in areas of antibiofilm approaches: 1) Nanotechnology-based dental materials with functionalities for caries-inhibiting, antibacterial, or remineralization (Fig.1) and 2) Mechanism of action/interactions of the experimental modality of antibacterial photodynamic therapy, including the types of sensitizing agents used and the various light/laser sources that can be applied to dental field (Fig.2).
Dr. Melo’s studies the interactions between oral biofilms and dental biomaterials using advanced oral biofilm models, including genetically-engineered and patient-derived versions of inoculum directly from the oral cavity. Her works emphasis on developing novel strategies to reduce the initiation and progression of dental caries. She lectures regionally and nationally on topics related to antibiofilm approaches.
Dr. Melo is a current member of the Academy of Operative Dentistry; the International Association for Dental Research; the Society for Color and Appearance in Dentistry, and American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
With a prolific publication record of over 200 papers in the specialized field of dental materials, Dr. Melo's impact on the dissemination of knowledge cannot be overstated. Supported by several esteemed grants, her research is a beacon of innovation that drives progress in dentistry.
Dr. Melo imparts her insights and expertise on the global stage, delivering lectures that traverse a spectrum of restorative dentistry topics. This commitment to education solidifies her role as a guiding light, shaping the next generation of dental professionals and propelling the field to new horizons.
