Keeping babies and toddlers cavity-free with parent coaching
Birth to Three – Cavity Free: Effectiveness of a Psychoeducational Intervention for ECC Prevention
A parent-focused behavior coaching program to help prevent tooth decay in babies and toddlers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11308316 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As a parent, you would get short, practical coaching based on motivation and behavior-change techniques to support daily oral care for children from birth to age three. The program is offered in clinics and public-health settings that serve families at higher risk, and clinic staff are trained to deliver the intervention. Researchers will follow children over time to track tooth decay, oral-care behaviors, and use of dental services and compare outcomes to usual care. The goal is to make prevention easier for families who may not otherwise access dental services.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are parents or caregivers of infants and toddlers (birth to three years) who are at higher risk for early childhood caries and who attend participating public-health or pediatric clinics.
Not a fit: Children without risk factors for early childhood caries or children who already require extensive dental treatment are less likely to benefit from the program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce early childhood tooth decay, lessen pain and costly dental procedures, and improve long-term oral health for high-risk children.
How similar studies have performed: Programs based on Self-Determination Theory have helped change health behaviors in other areas, but applying these methods specifically to early childhood caries prevention is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Iowa City, United States
- University of Iowa — Iowa City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weber-Gasparoni, Karin — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Weber-Gasparoni, Karin
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.