Dental Researcher Tackles Oral Health Disparities Among Older Adults

In the state of Ohio, low-income older adults experience increased rates of oral disease and face significant barriers to professional dental services. Assistant Dean of Clinical and Translational Research at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, Suchitra Nelson, PhD, is launching a new study to find solutions to these issues. Nelson and her colleagues will be educating physicians and nurse practitioners who work with this patient population on oral health assessment and patient education regarding the oral-systemic link. The project received a $656,000 grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research over 2 years. If the outcomes are positive, a 5-year clinical trial with $6.4 million in funding is possible. Click here to read more.