Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #122185

Ruth Nowjack-Raymer, MPH, PhD, Health Disparities Research, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research/NIH, 45 Center Drive, 4AS-43J, Bethesda, MD 20892-6401, 301-594-4394, ruth.nowjack-raymer@nih.gov

Recently released findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicate that while the oral health status of some Americans improved since 1994 for others disparities persist. Disparities in oral health status exist for the poor and for those from minority backgrounds. For instance there was a 15 percent decrease in the prevalence of tooth decay in the permanent teeth of children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years overall but the decrease was only 4 percent in Mexican American children and adolescents. Likewise use of preventive regimens such as dental sealants is less common amongst Mexican- American and non-Hispanic black children than non-Hispanic whites, 37.9, 23.4 and 22.6 percent, respectively. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research is committed to eliminating oral health disparities and has undertaken several initiatives aimed at 1) disclosing important determinants of oral health disparities within population subgroups and testing interventions to address these factors, 2) increasing the cadre of researchers who come from disadvantaged backgrounds and/or who pursue health disparities research, and 3) promoting the dissemination, understanding and implementation of research findings. This presentation will focus on the NIDCR's Health Disparities Research Program and provide the audience with an understanding of the approaches being used by the NIDCR, the mechanisms available to researchers to obtain funding for research projects, and the importance of interdisciplinary research and community involvement in oral health disparities research endeavors.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the goal of the NIDCR to eliminate oral, dental and craniofacial disparities as defined in the NIDCR Strategic Plan.
• Define the major strategies that the NIDCR is using to accomplish the goal.
• Describe the mechanisms available to researchers to obtain funding for research projects.

Keywords: Oral Health, Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered