Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The majority of currently marketed fluoride varnishes (FV) have not been evaluated for their effectiveness in preventing dental caries. Fundamental research on FVs and how different formulations affect adherence to teeth, fluoride release into saliva and uptake by teeth is virtually non-existent. The objective of this work was to investigate the anti-caries potential, measured as fluoride release into saliva, change in surface microhardness of early enamel caries lesions, and enamel fluoride uptake, of multiple commercially available FVs. We have found that FVs differed in their release characteristics, rehardening capability, and ability to deliver fluoride to demineralized lesions. In addition to our in vitro work, we have conducted a clinical study that aimed to compare saliva and plaque fluid fluoride concentrations following the application of three commercially available FV treatments at predetermined post application time points. We also investigated the change in fluoride concentration in saliva and plaque fluid fluoride from baseline to each post application predetermined time point. We found that FVs varied in their release of fluoride into saliva and plaque fluid but shared common trends in release characteristics. The outcomes of our in vitro and in vivo investigations demonstrate a great variation in anti-caries potential of FVs. This may be attributed to different compositions and physical properties of the tested FVs.

La tesi ha estat publicada pel Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya-Girona dins la Sèrie Monogràfica número 23 amb el títol La colònia grega de Rhode (Roses, Alt Empordà). 643 p. ISBN: 84-393-7334-1 / RESUMEn la primera part de la tesi es revisen els materials arqueològics i els documents de les excavacions antigues al jaciment grec de la Ciutadella de Roses (Alt Empordà). Es fan estudis comparatius i de conjunt amb els resultats proporcionats per les excavacions recents. A partir d'aquí s'obté una periodització del jaciment, des del moment de la fundació de la colònia massaliota de Rhode, al segon quart del segle IV aC, fins a la fi de la ciutat, al 195 aC. Es tracten aspectes de topografia, urbanisme i estudi dels edificis. La segona part analitza les produccions dels tallers ceràmics (vernissos negres, pastes clares, ceràmiques de cuina i altres produccions secundàries). Es fa una nova classificació, un estudi de les formes, de la cronologia i paral·lels. S'estudien les instal·lacions dels tallers, els forns, la seva capacitat, les argiles i les terreres. Es conclou amb una caracterització socioeconòmica i històrica de la ciutat, i dels aspectes històrics relacionats amb les fases de la seva fundació, desenvolupament i fi. / In the first part of this doctoral thesis archaeological materials and documents from old excavations in the Greek site of the Citadel in Roses are revised. Comparative and global investigation is carried out between information provided by old excavations and that coming from the more recent ones. The results help to put forward a site periodisation from the Rhode massaliot colony foundation, during the 4th century up to the ending of the village in 195 BC.Topographic and urban aspects as well as studies of the buildings are presented. The second half of the study analyzes the production of the pottery workshops (black varnishes, light pastes, kitchenware and other secondary productions). A new classification system is presented which is based on both morphological and chronological studies and their territorial similarities. Workshops installation, their ovens, their capacity, clays and claypits are examined.The paper is finished with a description of socioeconomic and historic aspects of the village and the historical traits concerning the foundation phases, their development and final stages.