Our Theme
To understand, prevent, and reduce oral health disparities among young children

Primary Focus
Preventing Early Childhood Caries (ECC)*
*ECC is tooth decay in young children, also known as "baby bottle tooth decay" or "nursing caries".

Our Research Mission
• To identify cultural, environmental, workforce, behavioral, and biologic factors associated with health disparities among ethnic/racial groups in the very diverse California environment;

• To enhance our ability to target children likely to be at risk for dental caries;

• To provide successful interdisciplinary interventions to prevent disease and reduce oral health disparities.

Our Center Provides
• Support for primarily patient and population-oriented research related to reducing oral health disparities in children;

• Core facilities to provide technical services and resources to Center-affiliated projects;

• An enriched environment for training future health-care professionals and scientists, especially those from underrepresented groups;

• Mechanisms to increase collaboration among investigators in Center-Supported projects, across health professions and affiliated collaborating public and private institutions on the west coast

Description of the Problem:

• 1993-94 California Oral Health Needs Assessment Survey found that the prevalence of ECC to be 14% among all preschool children, but 44% among Asians and 39% among Latino children from low income families enrolled in Head Start programs. (Pollick et al.)

• In a recent study of >2000 young children near the CA-Mexican border, the ECC prevalence was 58%. (Ramos-Gomez)

Comprehensive Approach: