Active Research and Sponsored Projects
Current research and sponsored projects are listed below.
Provider-Patient-Caregiver Interactions in Pediatric Dentistry
Sponsor: West Virginia University (Prime funding via NIH – NIDCR)
Co-Investigators: Kelly Hickey, Dr. Masahiro Heima (Lead PI: , West Virginia University)
Period of Performance: 09/05/2017 – 08/31/2020
Summary: The public health relevance of the project is related to providing the best possible professional dental care to young children from the ages of 1 through 6. Evidence is needed about which specific behaviors of oral health care providers in the dental setting are associated with better or worse outcomes for these pediatric dental patients. Moreover, information about the impact of triadic interactions among providers-child patients-parents/caregivers presently is unavailable and would inform best practices about how to achieve positive, acceptable, and comfortable dental visits for young children.