Zero Cavity: A smartphone approach to keep young teeth cavity-free
Official title: Innovative mHealth Intervention providing Sustained Anticipatory Guidance (Zero Cavity): Design, Validation, User Perception, and Effectiveness
Funded at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research Trust · NIH-11393346 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A smartphone app delivers ongoing guidance to caregivers of young children to help prevent tooth decay.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research Trust NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chennai, India) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $181,295 |
| NIH project number | 5R33TW012359-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393346 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Caregivers of children aged 0-11 who use Android or iOS devices and are willing to participate in a caregiver-child program.
✕Less likely to help
Families not using smartphones or without access to the required devices may receive limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a mobile app called Zero Cavity to provide continuous tips on oral hygiene, diet, fluoride use, and care for children aged 0-11. In the United States and India partnership, families will be randomly assigned to receive either standard guidance or standard guidance plus the app’s sustained anticipatory guidance, with follow-ups over time. The study will measure the app’s impact on overall health guidance adherence and the occurrence of early childhood caries using real-world dental assessments. Results could inform how digital tools support long-term preventive care for kids’ teeth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, caregivers could have a practical tool to help reduce early childhood caries and improve daily oral health habits for their children.
How similar studies have gone: Digital, reminder-based oral health tools have shown promise in improving adherence, with this study testing a sustained, guided approach across a large sample.
Where this research is happening
-
Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research Trust
Chennai, India Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Murugan, Muthu Satta — Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research Trust
- Study coordinator: Murugan, Muthu Satta
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Zero Cavity: a smartphone app that helps parents prevent tooth decay in young children
A mobile app that sends age‑appropriate tips and reminders to parents to help prevent cavities in babies and young children.
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Mobile app to help prevent tooth decay in young children
This study is testing a friendly mobile app called Zero Cavity that helps parents of kids aged 0-11 learn how to prevent tooth decay by giving them useful tips and advice about oral health.
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The effects of air pollution on birthweight in pregnant women in Chennai, India.
This study is looking at how air pollution, specifically tiny particles and certain chemicals, might affect the weight of babies at birth, and it's for pregnant women in Chennai who want to understand how their environment could impact their baby's health.
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.