Researchers at the University of Iowa have been awarded a new $302,000 grant entitled “Secondary Analyses of Adolescent Caries, Including Fluoride, Diet, and Other Factors” by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). The two-year award will support detailed secondary data analyses of patterns of dental caries incidence from age 13 to 17 years among children in the Iowa Fluoride Study; support will also include complex analyses of the longitudinal predictors of dental caries incidence that include demographic factors, previous caries experience, fluoride intake and exposures, and dietary intakes and patterns.

[Photo: Dr. Steven Levy (left), and Dr. Joseph Cavanaugh]

The principal investigator is Dr. Steven Levy, Wright-Bush-Shreves Endowed Professor of Research, preventive and community dentistry, and professor, epidemiology, College of Public Health. Co-investigators include Drs. John Warren, and Dr. Teresa Marshall, preventive and community dentistry, and Dr. Joseph Cavanaugh, department of biostatistics, College of Public Health.

The Iowa Fluoride Study cohort has been followed and studied since their birth through recruitment of the mothers in 1992-95; the young adults are now aged 19-22. Several previous NIDCR grants have supported this unique longitudinal study. The age 17 dental examinations and related questionnaire data collection recently were supported by grants from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust and Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation, without whose support this NIDCR grant award would not have been possible.