Fluoridated bottled water to help prevent cavities in young children
Phase II, proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial to evaluate dental caries preventive effects of fluoridated bottle water
This project gives fluoridated bottled water to infants and young children in a community without fluoridated tap water to try to reduce tooth decay.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11160465 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked to enroll a newborn in a phase II proof-of-concept randomized trial where babies are randomly assigned to receive fluoridated bottled water or non-fluoridated bottled water during early childhood. About 470 infants born over one year in Kinston, North Carolina will be followed and their teeth checked for cavities. Study staff will track how families use the bottled water, collect oral health information, and monitor dental outcomes. The aim is to see whether providing fluoridated bottled water is practical for families and can lower dental caries in young children.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are newborns and young children who live in communities without fluoridated public water and whose families are willing to use study-provided bottled water.
Not a fit: Children who already receive fluoridated tap water or whose families do not use the study bottled water consistently may not receive benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lower tooth decay in young children and offer a practical option for families in areas without fluoridated tap water.
How similar studies have performed: Observational and non-randomized community studies have long linked water fluoridation to fewer cavities, but a randomized trial of fluoridated bottled water is novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Slade, Gary Douglas — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Slade, Gary Douglas
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.