DPOH Research 

ADVANCING POPULATION ORAL HEALTH THROUGH RESEARCH

The Division of Population Oral Health focuses their research and teachings on strengthening the dental safety net in the state of South Carolina. Since its inception at MUSC in 2014, the college’s Division of Population Oral Health has been awarded over $7 million for strengthening the oral health safety net, advancing evidence-based public policy and interprofessional training, research, and service from federal, philanthropic, and corporate partners. Funding supports a project portfolio that addresses rural oral health disparities.

Advancing Oral Health Equity in the Carolinas

A partnership between MUSC and The Duke Endowment to advance oral health equity in both North and South Carolina include the following deliverables: 

1.  Supporting TDE in the proliferation of school-based oral health programs that include prevention, treatment completion, and family empowerment

2.  Elevation of oral health as a priority for target populations through integrated delivery models

3.  A two-state research agenda that advances evidence-based oral health policies in care delivery and public health

Safety Net Dental Certificate Program

Key recommendations from student focus groups suggested that the James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine should offer a program that instills business and practice strategies unique to the safety net, medical-dental infrastructure, and public health approaches. As a student-informed learning priority, The Division of Population Oral Health, in partnership with the DentaQuest Institute have developed an 18-credit hour, online, certificate degree in Safety Net Dental Practice (SNDP) including, experiential learning with our local community partners. With a total of four elective courses, each course is embedded within the SNDP certificate program has been designed as an online, asynchronous course.

Safety Net Dental Research Club (SNDRC)

The SNDRC began to cultivate opportunities to better understand safety net dental opportunities, discuss evidence-based research in oral health, explore, and develop dental research opportunities of interest for students. This group is a diverse group of dental students from each year of training. We aim to support student research interest and mentorship around underserved populations.