Increasing dental sealants for adolescents to improve oral health
Official title: Reducing dental caries and oral health disparities among adolescents: The impact of increasing 2nd molar sealants through school-based sealant programs
Funded at Kennesaw State University · NIH-10706531 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how putting more dental sealants on kids' back teeth can help prevent cavities and improve their oral health, especially for middle school students from low-income families.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kennesaw State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kennesaw, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2022 |
| Project end | September 20, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $181,732 |
| NIH project number | 5R21DE032149-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10706531 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, who are at risk for dental caries and may benefit from increased access to dental sealants.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not adolescents or those who do not have access to school-based health programs may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how increasing the application of dental sealants on 2nd molars in adolescents can reduce dental decay and improve overall oral health. It focuses on school-based sealant programs that primarily serve low-income populations, aiming to extend their reach to include middle school students. By analyzing the prevalence of sealants and their impact on dental caries across different racial and income groups, the study seeks to address disparities in oral health. The methodology includes using multivariable regression models to assess the effectiveness of these interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce dental decay among adolescents, leading to improved quality of life and fewer emergency health interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that school-based sealant programs can effectively reduce dental caries, indicating a promising approach for this study.
Where this research is happening
-
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Scherrer, Christina — Kennesaw State University
- Study coordinator: Scherrer, Christina
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.
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Improving how schools deliver tooth care for kids using existing data
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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.