Preventing tooth decay in Alaska Native infants and young children
Official title: Early Intervention for Childhood Caries to Address Alaska Native Disparities in Oral Health
Funded at Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium · NIH-11259559 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Anchorage, United States) |
| Project start | April 12, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $422,513 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DE033642-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11259559 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
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
Related research
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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.