The West Virginia University School of Dentistry, which is conducting the study along with researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, announced the grant Friday.
The study, which has spanned seven years, involves families in Webster and Nicholas counties in West Virginia and the towns of Bradford and Burgettstown in Pennsylvania.
With the additional money, the total study population will be almost 700 families.
Richard Crout, associate dean for research at WVU’s School of Dentistry, says the study has already provided the first scientific evidence of how psychological factors, like fear of the dentist, affect oral health in Appalachia.
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