Domenick T. Zero, DDS, MS, holds the position of Director of the Oral Health Research Institute and Professor (with tenure) in the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry at Indiana University School of Dentistry. After receiving his dental degree from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., in 1975, Dr. Zero completed a general dentistry residency at the Eastman Dental Center and then a three-year research fellowship leading to a master’s degree from the University of Rochester in 1979. As a principal investigator, he has received research grants from the National Institutes of Health and private industry.

Dr. Zero has lectured extensively as an invited speaker throughout the US and internationally and is well recognized for his expertise in the fields of Cariology and dental erosion and the related use of in situ caries models. He has published more than 130 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and book chapters and over 200 abstracts. His current research interests include the evaluation of the clinical efficacy of topical fluorides in the prevention of dental caries and erosion, non-fluoride remineralization agents, new early caries diagnostic systems, caries-associated virulence properties of dental biofilms, and salivary diagnostics.

In 1996 he assumed the presidency of the Cariology Research Group of the International Association for Dental Research. From 1999 to 2001 he served as an elected member European Organization for Caries Research (ORCA) Advisory Board. He has also served as chair and vice-chair of the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs, as a member of the Dental Products Panel of the Food and Drug Administration’s Medical Devices Advisory Committee, and as a member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Expert Panel on School-based Dental Sealant Programs.