Creating a new tool to measure oral health in adults

Development of a PROMIS measure for adult dental patients

NIH-funded research University of Minnesota · NIH-10675454

This study is creating new tools to help understand how oral health affects adults' daily lives, including things like pain, appearance, and emotional well-being, so that we can better support patients like you.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Minnesota NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Minneapolis, United States)
Project IDNIH-10675454 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research aims to develop a set of four oral health assessment tools specifically for adults, using the PROMIS methodology. These tools will evaluate key areas of oral health-related quality of life, including oral function, orofacial pain, orofacial appearance, and psychosocial impact. By consolidating over 53 existing oral health instruments into a standardized metric, the research seeks to provide a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of how oral health affects patients. This will involve analyzing current instruments and gathering data from focus groups to ensure the new measures are relevant and effective.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adults experiencing various oral health issues, including dental caries and related disorders.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have any oral health concerns or those under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved assessments of oral health, enabling better patient care and treatment outcomes in dentistry.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has successfully developed patient-reported outcome measures in other health domains, suggesting a strong potential for success in this novel approach to oral health.

Where this research is happening

Minneapolis, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.