Preventing tooth decay in Alaska Native infants and young children
Early Intervention for Childhood Caries to Address Alaska Native Disparities in Oral Health
['FUNDING_U01'] · ALASKA NATIVE TRIBAL HEALTH CONSORTIUM · NIH-11259559
This project helps families in Yukon‑Kuskokwim communities get coordinated dental care and practical prevention tips to stop tooth decay in infants and preschoolers.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_U01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | ALASKA NATIVE TRIBAL HEALTH CONSORTIUM (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (ANCHORAGE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11259559 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You and your child will be supported by community health aides and dental health aide therapists who coordinate care and deliver practical prevention counseling like toothbrushing, fluoride, and reducing sugary drinks. The program brings dental interventions to children before 24 months and links services across about 50 remote communities through a single Tribal Health Organization. Parents will receive education and providers will work together so problems are caught early and treated locally when possible. The goal is to reduce severe early childhood caries and avoid full‑mouth dental reconstruction under general anesthesia.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Alaska Native infants and children under 6 years old in the Yukon‑Kuskokwim region, especially those under 24 months or with limited access to dental care, are the intended participants.
Not a fit: Children who live outside the Yukon‑Kuskokwim communities or older children who already had full‑mouth dental reconstructions are less likely to benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lower rates of severe early childhood tooth decay, reduce the need for dental surgery under anesthesia, and improve children's sleep, eating, and school performance.
How similar studies have performed: Care‑coordination, fluoride use, and parent education have reduced early childhood caries in other settings, but this program applies those approaches in remote Alaska Native communities.
Where this research is happening
ANCHORAGE, UNITED STATES
- ALASKA NATIVE TRIBAL HEALTH CONSORTIUM — ANCHORAGE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: THOMAS, TIMOTHY K — ALASKA NATIVE TRIBAL HEALTH CONSORTIUM
- Study coordinator: THOMAS, TIMOTHY K
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.