April 13, 2004

By: Savio Lewis
Website: http://www.teeth-whitening-smiles.com

Preventing Cavities – UW To Study Preventing Cavities In Underserved Populations

Researchers from the University of Washington School of Dentistry and health care providers in the Yakima Valley will cooperate on a clinical trial this fall to explore a new way of using fluoride varnishes to prevent cavities in high risk children.

Many of the nation's oral health advances have yet to adequately benefit the underserved in our society, and we need to change that, said NIDCR Director Dr. Lawrence Tabak. Through this research partnership with UW, we'll add to our understanding of new strategies for oral disease prevention that could help those at highest risk.

This latest research effort is an outgrowth of The Northwest/Alaska Center to Reduce Oral Health Disparities, also supported by NIDCR and based at the School of Dentistry.

Faculty in the UW School of Dentistry have been among the nation's pioneers in emphasizing that identification of children at risk, coupled with early intervention to prevent dental disease, will benefit a child throughout his or her life. This latest research also complements our school's research and outreach efforts to address the great disparities in oral health among children across the state and around the nation, said Dr. Timothy DeRouen, executive associate dean for research and academic affairs.

Researchers say their findings may eventually be applied nationwide to help prevent cavities in small children at risk of dental disease. The clinical trial will determine whether three fluoride varnish treatments completed within two weeks are as effective as three treatments spaced out over a year and a half, which is a more difficult treatment to practice because of the space between appointments. The advantage of the two-week regimen is that children would more likely be in the same school or living near the same clinic and would be able to finish treatment, the researchers said.

Good care begins with baby teeth. Children with caries in their baby teeth have an increased risk of developing decay in their permanent teeth, said Dr. Philip Weinstein, lead investigator and a professor of dental public health sciences in the UW School of Dentistry. There will never be enough dentists and dental hygienists to treat every decayed tooth of every person; it’s best to control the disease when the child is young.

Author Notes:

Savio Lewis contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.teeth-whitening-smiles.com.  Everything you need to know to get a whiter, brighter smile!