Cristina M.P. Vidal, DDS, MS, PhD
Associate Professor of Operative Dentistry
Office
Introduction
Dr. Vidal is a clinician-scientist with clinical training in Operative Dentistry and research training in Biomaterials and Cariology. Her research interest is the characterization of the role of components of the dentin extracellular matrix on tissue biochemical and mechanical properties in physiological and pathological conditions. Her current projects focus on understanding the role of host mechanisms in dentin degradation and pulp inflammation in caries. She has extensive experience in therapeutic approaches to inhibit dentin degradation by inhibiting tissue breakdown, mainly working with enzymatic inhibition in adhesive interfaces. She has expanded her research program to explore the contribution of host enzymes to dentin-pulp complex destruction, inflammation, and repair.
Current Positions
- Associate Professor of Operative Dentistry
Education
- PhD in Dental Materials, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, Brazil
- MS in Operative Dentistry, Aracatuba School of Dentistry, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Aracatuba, Brazil
- DDS, Aracatuba School of Dentistry, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Aracatuba, Brazil
- Post-doctoral Research Associate, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Center, Program and Institute Affiliations
Selected Awards & Honors
- 1st place Postdoctoral Fellows and Junior Faculty Award in Basic Science, UIC College of Dentistry Clinic and Research Day, Chicago, Illinois
Professional Memberships
- American Academy of Cariology
- Academy of Operative Dentistry (AOD)
- American Dental Education Association (ADEA)
- Academy of Dental Materials (ADM)
- American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR)
- International Association for Dental Research (IADR)
Selected Publications
- Esteves LMB, de Souza Costa CA, Cintra LTA, Aidar KMS, Vidal CMP, de Oliveira Santos A, Briso ALF. Bleaching with biocatalysts and violet LED: a randomized clinical trial using a hybrid design with parallel-group and split-mouth approaches: Violet LED and biocatalysts in in-office whitening: a split-mouth trial. Clin Oral Investig. 2025 29(9):419. doi: 10.1007/s00784-025-06503-1. PMID: 40846796.
- Vidal, C., Rysavy, O., Zeng, O., Kulanthaivel S., Araujo. E.M.S., Drake, D., Xie, J., Banas J. Proteomic profile of dentin in moderate and advanced caries lesions. New York City: 2025 AADOCR/CADR Annual Meeting & Exhibition.
- Kulanthaivel, S., Banas, J.A., Rysavy O., Zeng, E., Drake, D.A., Xie, X.J., Vidal, C.M.P. Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Dentin-Pulp Complex Responses to Bacterial By-Products. 2025 Annual Meeting of the Iowa AADOCR Section and New York City: 2025 AADOCR/CADR Annual Meeting & Exhibition.
- Cooley, B., Kulanthaivel, S., Banas, J.A., Drake, D.A., Xie, X.J., Vidal, C.M.P. MMP-3/TIMP-4 Levels in pulp stem cells exposed to bacterial by-products. 2025 Annual Meeting of the Iowa AADOCR Section and New York City: 2025 AADOCR/CADR Annual Meeting & Exhibition.
- Mathews, M., Vidal, C., Steinkamp, H. Dental Sealant Retention: Cured Versus Uncured Adhesive. 2025 Annual Meeting of the Iowa AADOCR Section and 2025 American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Meeting.
- Queiroz M.E., Leme-Kraus A., Vidal, C.M.P, Dos Santos, P.H. Bond Strength of Intraradicular Posts Using Different Cementation Protocols. 71st Annual Meeting of the Iowa AADOCR Section.
- Yeh J.S., Abuhammoud, S., Jurado, C., Vidal, C.M.P., Cho, S. Fracture Resistance of CAD/CAM Veneers Fabricated With Pre/Fully-Crystallized Lithium Disilicate. 71st Annual Meeting of the Iowa AADOCR Section.
- Dos Santos Araujo, E.M., Kulanthaivel, S., Banas J., Zhu, M., Lima, B., Vidal, C. Standardizing Protocol for Obtaining Collagenase From Streptococcus Mutans. New Orleans: 2024 AADOCR/CADR Annual Meeting & Exhibition.
- Kulanthaivel, S., Banas, J., Rysavy, O., Drake, D., Vidal C. Different Stimulation Strategies to Study the MMPs Expression by DPSC. New Orleans: 2024 AADOCR/CADR Annual Meeting & Exhibition.
- Giacomini, M.C., Wang, L., Zabeu G.S., Scaffa, P.M.C., Vidal, C.M.P., Costa M.P. 30-Month performance of a 10-MDP-based universal adhesive system under mechanical and biological perspectives (2025). International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives; 136. 103869 01/2025.
Selected Grants & Contracts
- Modulation of MMPs gene expression and activity by the microbiome in caries (K08 DE029490); NIH/NIDCR; Salem, Aliasger, Levy, Steven, Ganesan, Sukirth (Consultant), Taylor, Eric (Collaborator), Zeng, Erliang (Collaborator), das Neves Cavalcanti, Bruno (Collaborator), Radoshevich, Lilliana (Collaborator), Xie, Jin, Brogden, Kim, Drake, David, Banas, Jeffrey, Vidal, Cristina (Principal Investigator)
- Modulation of MMPs gene expression and activity by the microbiome in caries (KL2 Scholars; Institute for Clinical and Translational Science; Taylor, Eric (Collaborator), Radoshevich, Lilliana (Collaborator), Cavalcanti, Bruno (Collaborator), Xie, Jin, Brogden, Kim, Drake, David, Banas, Jeffrey, Vidal, Cristina (Principal Investigator)
- Anti-Cariogenic and anti-proteolytic effects of an experimental silver nanoparticles and fluoride containing solution; American Dental Education Association (ADEA); Alves Dias, Flaviana (Investigator), Zamperini, Camila (Collaborator), Vidal, Cristina (Principal Investigator)
- Development of therapeutic nanoparticles for sustained delivery of proanthocyanidins in adhesive interfaces; Colgate-Palmolive Company (Colgate CARE Award); Jessop, Julie (Collaborator), Salem, Aliasger (Collaborator), Armstrong, Steven (Co-Investigator), Vidal, Cristina (Principal Investigator)
- Proteomics Profile and Activity of Dentinal and Salivary Collagen-degrading Enzymes in Caries Progression; ADEA; Stine, Katelyn (Co-Investigator), Vidal, Cristina (Principal Investigator)
- TUB - In vitro adhesive performance/durability; Tokuyama Dental Corporation; Vargas, Marcos (Collaborator), Teixeira, Erica (Co-Investigator), Qian, Fang (Statistician), Maia, Rodrigo (Co-Investigator), Kolker, Justine (Collaborator), Ahmed, Amira (Collaborator), Armstrong, Steve (Co-Investigator), Vidal, Cristina (Principal Investigator)
- ECM001 shade matching evaluation; Tokuyama Dental Corporation; Skiff, Frederick (Co-Investigator), Vargas, Marcos (Co-Investigator), Qian, Fang (Co-Investigator), Kolker, Justine (Co-Investigator), Elgreatly, Amira (Co-Investigator), Vidal, Cristina (Co-Investigator), Teixeira, Erica (Co-Investigator), Armstrong, Steven (Co-Investigator), Rocha Maia, Rodrigo (Principal Investigator)
- Application of Gene-activating BMP-2/FGF-2 Scaffolds for Dental Pulp Capping; American Association of Endodontics Foundation; Salem, Aliasger (Collaborator), Cavalcanti, Bruno (Principal Investigator), Vislisel, Jered, Vidal, Cristina (Co-Investigator)
- Esthetic outcomes of a newly developed dental composite and adhesive system: a randomized clinical trial; Tokuyama Dental Corporation; Kolker, Justine (Collaborator), Armstrong, Steven R (Collaborator), Rocha Maia, Rodrigo (Collaborator), Vidal, Cristina (Collaborator), Teixeira, Erica (Principal Investigator)