Astha Singhal, B.D.S., M.P.H., Ph.D., an associate professor in the University of Florida Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science, and assistant director for the Center for Oral Health Outcomes: Research, Training and Service, or COHORTS, received a five-year, $2,243,996 NIH R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.
The project, Oral Cancer Diagnosis and Outcomes: Role of Medicaid Dental Coverage and Dental Utilization, will examine how Medicaid adult dental coverage and preventive dental visits influence diagnosis and survival outcomes for individuals with oral and pharyngeal cancers. By leveraging Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Medicaid, or SEER-Medicaid, and Electronic Health Record linked data, or EHR-linked data, the study is expected to generate critical insights into how access to dental care impacts cancer disparities.
“Oral and pharyngeal cancers are highly treatable when detected early, yet far too often underserved patients face late diagnoses and poor survival,” Singhal said. “By studying how Medicaid dental coverage and preventive utilization shape these outcomes, we hope to provide evidence that can guide policies to save lives.”
Singhal’s research program is focused on oral health policy, Medicaid, and oral health disparities, with a strong emphasis on how state and national policies affect access to care for vulnerable populations. Her work highlights the intersection of oral health and broader health outcomes, particularly for underserved communities.
This project reflects a shift toward understanding how policy-level decisions about dental coverage can shape cancer prevention and survival. Singhal’s research seeks to identify structural barriers to timely diagnosis and also inform Medicaid policy in ways that could improve oral cancer outcomes for all Americans.
The findings from this study have the potential to transform how policymakers, providers, and health systems view the role of dental care in cancer prevention and control.