# Examining impacts of structural racism and discrimination on Hispanic treatment differences and oral health disparities; known internally as "Smiles of Hope - Proyecto Hispanico de Esperanza" (SoPHE)

> **NIH NIH R56** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2023 · $572,261

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract (30 lines of text): The Hispanic population is the largest (>18%)
and fastest growing non-majority ethnic group in the United States (US), about half of whom are
non-US born. Hispanic children are three times more likely to have dental caries experience
than White children, impacting quality of life and school learning and readiness. Current
knowledge around oral health in Hispanic populations examines individual factors such as
culture and acculturation, but research regarding the effect of structural racism and
discrimination (SRD) factors on oral health treatments and outcomes is lacking. Although
Hispanic children have higher rates of caries, initial research shows a discrepancy between
rates of preventive and dental treatments visits for White and Hispanic children. The objective of
this proposal is to evaluate area-level differences in oral health treatments provided to Hispanic
children compared to non-Hispanic White children as a measure of SRD on individual-level
subsequent caries incidence and increment through both quantitative (secondary data analysis)
and community-based qualitative methods (focus groups). Our research would be the first to
assess the impact of SRD on oral health using to-be-validated ZIP code-level measures
associated with racial/ethnic residential segregation. This project aims to examine differences in
oral health treatments provided (e.g., prevention, restoration, restraint, sedation, extraction) to
be used as an SRD measure, and impacts on oral health outcomes among Hispanic children
compared to White Children using multistate longitudinal oral health datasets. Researchers will
also assess ZIP code-level SRD variables (e.g., child opportunity index, racial/ethnic opportunity
gap, citizenship status, and limited English proficiency percentage) as potential effect modifiers
of the relationship between oral health treatments provided as an SRD measure and impacts on
oral health outcomes (caries incidence) among Hispanic children. Focus groups will be
conducted with Hispanic families (including immigrants, people with limited English proficiency,
and non-citizens) to gain a deeper understanding of how multi-level SRD factors are
experienced among adults for themselves and their children, especially relating to access to
dental care, treatment options, and oral health outcomes; and which family, organizational,
neighborhood, and community protective factors help people overcome SRD barriers to help
optimize their oral health. This research has significant implications, as it will provide a deeper
understanding of how SRD affects Hispanic oral health and identify potential protective factors
that could inform intervention development to address issues related to inequities in oral care.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10909478
- **Project number:** 1R56DE032675-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** STUART A GANSKY
- **Activity code:** R56 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $572,261
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-09-21 → 2025-09-20

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10909478

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10909478, Examining impacts of structural racism and discrimination on Hispanic treatment differences and oral health disparities; known internally as "Smiles of Hope - Proyecto Hispanico de Esperanza" (SoPHE) (1R56DE032675-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10909478. Licensed CC0.

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