Improving oral health behaviors in children undergoing dental surgery
Official title: Testing a Multi-behavioral Intervention to Improve Oral Health Behaviors in the Pediatric Dental Surgery Population
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11139943 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping kids from low-income and minority families take better care of their teeth after they've had dental surgery, by teaching their parents how to encourage good brushing habits and cut down on sugar, with support from friendly community health workers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 20, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $786,275 |
| NIH project number | 4UH3DE032003-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11139943 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are preschool-aged children who are scheduled for dental surgery due to severe early childhood caries, particularly those from Medicaid-enrolled, low-income, or minoritized backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have severe early childhood caries or are not undergoing dental surgery may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on helping vulnerable children, particularly those from low-income and minority backgrounds, improve their oral health behaviors after undergoing dental surgery for severe early childhood caries. The project involves a behavioral parenting intervention called PROTECT, which is delivered by community health workers. Parents will receive support to change their child's tooth brushing habits and reduce sugar intake, starting with an in-person session at the time of surgery followed by phone sessions over six months. The goal is to address the underlying behaviors that contribute to recurring dental issues.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved oral health outcomes for children, reducing the recurrence of dental caries and the need for further surgical interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that behavioral interventions can effectively improve health outcomes in pediatric populations, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Helen H — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Lee, Helen H
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Coordinated Oral Health Promotion for Chicago Kids
A long-running study in Chicago is following children and their caregivers to find ways to reduce tooth decay and improve daily life for families.
-
Digital adolescent dental health program to reduce tooth decay in at-risk youth
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Improving how schools deliver tooth care for kids using existing data
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-
Host genetics and oral microbiome: big-data clues to oral health
A large study will combine human genetics, saliva bacteria, and health records to understand why oral diseases like cavities and gum disease occur in different people.
-
Understanding dry mouth in adults using AI to read electronic records
A new project uses AI to find adults with xerostomia in medical records and predict who will have worse oral health outcomes.
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Oral health effects of buprenorphine and methadone in people with opioid use disorder
This project will explore how common MOUD medicines like buprenorphine (including dissolvable forms) and methadone may affect oral health in people with opioid use disorder.
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.