UCSF Center to address disparities in children's oral health: Understanding and preventing early childhood caries

In this presentation, some of the activities undertaken and accomplishments of the UCSF Center to Address Disparities in Children's Oral Health (nicknamed CAN DO) will be described. CAN DO has focused on understanding, preventing and reducing early childhood caries (ECC), a dental condition with a higher prevalence among low-income, disadvantaged populations. CAN DO's multidisciplinary studies have included several racial/ethnic groups, with an emphasis on low-income Hispanic/Latino populations in California located in both urban and rural areas and at the CA-Mexico border. Highlights of qualitative research and quantitative epidemiologic and clinical studies will be described. The scientific path and translational process from identifying a public health problem (ECC), to conducting a randomized clinical trial to test the efficacy of fluoride varnish and parental counseling to prevent ECC, to obtaining favorable clinical trial outcomes, to dissemination of findings to researchers, providers and policymakers, and finally, to incorporation of fluoride varnish protocols into professional practice guidelines and Medicaid policies will be discussed. CAN DO studies have also explored cultural and delivery system barriers to children's access to dental care, parental understanding (and misunderstanding) of oral health issues, and parental acceptance and preferences of different caries-preventive agents.

Supported by USDHHS NIH/NIDCR U54DE14251.