Silver Diamine Fluoride and Medicaid Policy to Improve Kids’ Tooth Health
Official title: Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) and Medicaid Policy: Improving Pediatric Oral Health
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11391303 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A government-funded study will look at how Medicaid policies around silver diamine fluoride affect dental care and outcomes for children ages 0-11.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 11, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $704,167 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE034379-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11391303 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 0-11 who are enrolled in Medicaid and receive dental care may be eligible, depending on state policies and practice settings.
✕Less likely to help
Some children may not experience direct benefit if their dentist does not use SDF or if there are no favorable policy variations in their state.
What this research studies
This project examines whether Medicaid reimbursement rules for silver diamine fluoride (SDF) influence how often dentists use SDF to treat cavities in kids and how well children’s oral health improves, especially in low-income and rural populations. It uses a mixed-methods approach across multiple states to understand policy variations, practice patterns, and patient outcomes. By connecting state policies to real-world care, the study aims to identify policy changes that could help more children get timely, affordable dental treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could guide Medicaid policy to improve access to effective, simple cavity treatments for children.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research shows SDF can arrest cavities, but this study adds population-level outcomes linked to Medicaid policies, making its question more policy- and system-focused.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Meyer, Beau — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Meyer, Beau
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.
-
Digital adolescent dental health program to reduce tooth decay in at-risk youth
A digital program designed for lower-income 7th and 8th graders to help them avoid tobacco use and sugary drinks to lower the risk of tooth decay.
-
Improving how schools deliver tooth care for kids using existing data
This project analyzes past school-based dental care data to help more underserved children get effective, affordable preventive treatment.
-
Host genetics and oral microbiome: big-data clues to oral health
A large study will combine human genetics, saliva bacteria, and health records to understand why oral diseases like cavities and gum disease occur in different people.
-
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.