Oral Health Microsimulation for Older Adults
Official title: Development and Validation of the U.S. Oral Health Microsimulation Model
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11356270 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A computer-based model will help forecast how aging, access to care, and social factors affect dental health and costs for adults 65 and older in the U.S.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2026 |
| Project end | August 4, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $328,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R03DE036026-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11356270 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults (65+) and individuals approaching retirement who may be affected by changes in dental coverage and access to care.
✕Less likely to help
The model itself does not involve direct patient participation; its findings may not immediately translate to individual treatment changes.
What this research studies
This project uses a computer-based simulation to map how risk factors, access to dental care, and aging interact to influence long-term oral health outcomes in people aged 65 and older. By building a national model, it aims to project future trends and test the potential impact of policies and interventions on oral health and related costs. The goal is to generate evidence that can guide programs to improve access to care and the overall oral health of older adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the model could inform policies and programs that improve access to affordable dental care for older adults and reduce related health and economic burdens.
How similar studies have gone: Previous aging-and-oral-health research has shown that modeling approaches can illuminate long-term effects of policy changes, though this project focuses on a national microsimulation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, David Daeho — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Kim, David Daeho
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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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-
Host genetics and oral microbiome: big-data clues to oral health
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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.
-
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.