Breaking the Cycle: Real-Time Family Oral Microbial Transmission Patterns as Intervention Targets
Starting soon · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Dental Caries, Periodontitis, Oral Microbiome, Bacterial Transmission
In brief
This study aims to understand how oral bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease spread among family members and whether treating multiple family members can reduce the return of these bacteria after dental treatment. Families with children aged 5-12 years will be recruited from university dental clinics. Participants will be assigned to one of three treatment groups: treatment for the child only, treatment for the child and parents, or treatment for all family members. Researchers will collect oral bacterial samples from family members before and after treatment and will monitor close-contact interactions within the household using wearable proximity-tracking devices. The study will also collect information about oral health habits, family interactions, and environmental factors that may influence bacterial transmission. By combining bacterial DNA analysis with information about family contact patterns, researchers hope to better understand how oral bacteria are shared within households and whether family-based treatment approaches can reduce bacterial recolonization after dental therapy. The results of this study may help improve strategies for preventing childhood tooth decay and gum disease by addressing family-level sources of bacterial transmission.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT07674888
- Run by
- University of Alberta
- People needed
- 225
- Starts
- 2026-09-30
- Expected to finish
- 2028-06-30
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-06-30
Who can join
Age: 5 and older, up to 5. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Families with at least two children aged 5-12 years living in the same household.
- least one parent or guardian diagnosed with Stage II or III periodontitis requiring non-surgical periodontal therapy.
- At least one child who has undergone caries treatment and is considered at high risk for disease recurrence.
- Willingness of all participating household members to provide oral samples and participate in study procedures.
- Ability of participants or their legal guardians to provide informed consent, and assent from children where applicable.
You may not qualify if…
- Children living in multiple households or shared-custody arrangements during the study period.
- Households unable to complete study visits or follow-up procedures.
- Individuals unwilling or unable to comply with study procedures.
- Individuals who do not provide informed consent or assent, where applicable.
- Medical or behavioral conditions that, in the opinion of the investigators, would preclude safe participation in the study.
Where it is running
- Kaye Edmonton Clinic - University of Alberta School of Dentistry — Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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