# Statewide implementation and evaluation of a rural, school-based, caries prevention program

> **NIH NIH R01** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $714,645

## Abstract

SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Our long term goal is to reduce oral health disparities in rural school children.
 Our immediate goal is to test two new evidence-based, school-based, cavity prevention programs.
 We will compare two preventions: (1) A newer, simpler, less expensive, efficient treatment using
fluoride varnish + silver diamine fluoride; and (2) A more traditional, complex, expensive, time-intensive
treatment that includes simple + sealants + interim therapeutic restorations. The simpler method takes 6
minutes to deliver, compared to the more complex method that takes 20 minutes. Therefore, if the simpler,
less expensive is as effective as the more complex, more expensive method, the data could support clinical
and policy change.
 To compare the two methods we will use a cluster randomized control trial design. We will implement
this program in rural New Hampshire schools. All children in a school with informed consent will receive the
same treatment (either simple or complex). We will provide preventive care twice per year for the 5 year grant
period.
 We will follow all children longitudinally for five years to determine the effectiveness of each preventive
method. The primary outcome to make this determination will be the percentage of children with untreated
decay. This is one of the U.S. Healthy People oral health goals. We will also examine the cost and cost-
effectiveness. This will allow us to determine the balance between effectiveness and cost.
 Assessing effectiveness and costs is particularly important for reducing disparities. If an intervention is
quick, inexpensive, and 100% effective, that is a relatively simple choice. Most interventions are not 100%
effective. Therefore, information on time, expense, and effectiveness will allow us to make better informed
clinical and policy decisions. Specifically, this will help us answer the question: How much of which preventive
intervention will increase access, improve health, and reduce costs?

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9960573
- **Project number:** 5R01MD011526-04
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** RICHARD NIEDERMAN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $714,645
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-20 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9960573

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9960573, Statewide implementation and evaluation of a rural, school-based, caries prevention program (5R01MD011526-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9960573. Licensed CC0.

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