Improving access to oral health care for emergency department patients
Official title: MOLAR: Mapping Oral health and Local Area Resources
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11077686 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking to help people who visit the emergency room get better access to dental care by trying out different ways to connect them with dental services, so they can improve their oral health and overall well-being.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2023 |
| Project end | April 14, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,333,687 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3DE031920-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11077686 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients who visit the emergency department with unmet oral health needs.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not visit the emergency department for oral health issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to address the significant disparities in access to oral health care by leveraging emergency department (ED) visits to connect patients with necessary dental services. It will involve a randomized controlled trial where ED patients will receive different types of interventions, including standard care information, access to Medicaid-accepting dental clinics, or comprehensive support that includes social determinants of health screening. The goal is to identify and reduce unmet oral health needs and improve overall health outcomes for patients visiting the ED. By assessing both individual and community-level impacts, the study seeks to develop effective strategies for linking patients to oral health resources.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve access to dental care for patients who frequently use emergency services for oral health issues.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown challenges in reducing emergency department visits for oral health, making this approach both novel and necessary.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Samuels-Kalow, Margaret Emily — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Samuels-Kalow, Margaret Emily
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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.