James S. Wefel PhD

Dr. Wefel joined The University of Iowa College of Dentistry in 1973. He was director of the Dows Institute for Dental Research, administrative director of the Office of Clinical Research, and a professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Wefel’s primary teaching responsibilities included the areas of graduate cariology, undergraduate cardiology and preventive therapies, and undergraduate seminars in elective courses.

Dr. Wefel’s areas of research included laser and tooth interactions, early caries detection, mechanisms of action of fluoride, topical fluorides, remineralization, the kinetics of calcium phosphate crystal growth, secondary caries, oral fluoride kinetics, antimicrobials, and F-releasing materials. Specific research in the Dows Institute for Dental Research included root surface caries, laser prevention of tooth demineralization, and F-releasing biomaterials and secondary caries. Activities included the promotion of research from the laboratory to the clinic in the Center for Clinical Studies.