Edgard C. Moreno, PhD: a tribute to his major contributions to oral biology research.

The seminal contributions of Dr. Edgard C. Moreno to physical chemical aspects of oral biology research are reviewed, with personal insights provided by the author. Dr. Moreno has made major contributions to our understanding of fundamental processes which occur within the oral cavity and which control the formation of mineralized tissues. These contributions include extensive research in the areas of: the chemistry of synthetic calcium phosphates and biominerals, the interaction of salivary proteins and other molecules of biological interest with calcium phosphate surfaces, the mechanism of dental caries formation and the effects of fluoride on this process, the mechanism of dental calculus formation and prevention, and the mechanism of dental enamel formation.