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COHRA Home     Center for Oral Health Research in Appalachia

Specific Research Objectives

Our research contains six specific objectives.  They are in relation to the following:

  1. Oral Health
  2. Genes
  3. Microbes
  4. Behavior
  5. Family Interactions
  6. Community Characteristics

Oral Health

Understanding oral health in Appalachia is the major focus of our study.  We measure oral health with a comprehensive dental assessment.  Our team of dental professionals conducts extensive oral health history interviews and examines participants for caries, papillary bleeding, malocclusion, and trauma.   Additionally, we take plaque samples for microbial analysis and measure stimulated saliva secretion rates.

Objectives

With respect to oral health, we plan to:

  1. Characterize families clinically and compare these findings to demographic, general health, oral microbiology, and genetic findings.
  2. Identify about 80 “high-risk” families out of the original 500 who have at least one family member in the top 10% of the decayed, missing, and filled surfaces index (DMFS).  The 80 high-risk families will be expanded to include about 500 additional family members.

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Genes

Objectives

With respect to genes, we plan to:

  1. Examine the genetic transmission of outcomes (e.g., caries).
  2. Identify etiologic genes.
  3. Identify gene by environment interactions.
  4. Begin the development of a DNA chip to include several hundred genes known or hypothesized to play a role in oral health outcomes.

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Microbes

Objectives

With respect to microbes, we plan to:

  1. Determine their transmissibility.
  2. Identify pathological patterns of microbial infection.
  3. Investigate microbial diversity in the individual and at the family level.

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Behavior

Objectives

With respect to behavior, we plan to:

  1. Examine the role of health attitudes and behavior in oral health outcomes.
  2. Investigate the impact of dental fear in respect to oral health outcomes.

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Family Interactions

Objectives

With respect to the family and community, we plan to:

  1. Examine the roles of the social network, social support, socioeconomic status, community standards, and health knowledge dispersion.
  2. Determine the transmissibility of health attitudes and behaviors.

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Community Characteristics

Objectives

With respect to the family and community, we plan to:

  1. Examine the roles of the social network, social support, socioeconomic status, community standards, and health knowledge dispersion.
  2. Determine the transmissibility of health attitudes and behaviors.

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