A Dental Health Program through Tobacco/Vaping Prevention
and Sugar Reduction
Dental caries, or tooth decay, is a widespread chronic disease affecting many in the U.S., including youth and adults. Adolescence is a critical time to adopt healthy habits that can be sustained into adulthood, but there is a shortage of effective dental health programs targeting at-risk adolescents. Research highlights that key oral health strategies during adolescence include avoiding tobacco and vaping and reducing sugar intake. We are using an iterative development process to create an online dental program for adolescents, focusing on two behavior domains: Vaping prevention and reducing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
This digital program uses theory-driven mechanisms to promote oral health, with engaging videos and interactive games. The program targets lower-income Black/African American, Latinx, and non-Hispanic white 7th and 8th grade students.
We are currently developing the entire digital program in both English and Spanish.
For more information about the program or for questions about participating, please contact:
Irin Pimentel-Mannan, PhD
Oregon Research Institute
Student Focus Groups and User Tests Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is Smile Quest?
An online program for 7th and 8th grade students, designed to prevent vaping, tobacco/nicotine use, and to reduce consumption of sugary beverages. It will be available in English and Spanish.
- How does the Smile Quest program work?
Students proceed through the digital online program, doing various activities and games to learn about how smoking, vaping, and sugary drinks can impact their dental health. - Is Smile Quest a computer program?
Yes. Smile Quest is a digital intervention. Students learn about dental health through engaging videos, activities, and games that are all done on a computer. - Who can participate in the focus groups and user tests?
Only 7th and 8th graders are eligible to participate. - Do I have to live in Oregon to participate?
No. We are accepting 7th and 8th graders from all over the country. Please share our flier and information with friends and family, even if they do not live in Oregon. - Are the focus groups and user tests in person?
No. You can participate in our focus groups and user tests from your home or anywhere with a reliable internet connection. We do all of our focus groups and user tests on Zoom. - What happens during a focus group?
A focus group usually has four to five 7th and 8th graders per session. During the focus group session, we show you videos and games from the program over Zoom and ask you questions about it. Questions like, “Did you like it? What didn’t you like? Any thoughts or opinions about how we can improve this program?” - What happens during a user test?
During a user test session, you will meet with one of our research assistants on Zoom who will guide through the program. You will go through the program from beginning to end, then tell us your thoughts and opinions about your experience as a user. - Do I get anything for participating?
Yes! You can earn $50 dollars just for participating and sharing your thoughts and opinions about our program. We can pay you the $50 dollars through Venmo, Amazon gift card, or mail a check directly to your home. - How long are the focus groups or user tests? How much time is required of me?
Minimum 1 hour, maximum 1.5 hours on Zoom.
Lead Researchers:
Erika Westling, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Ed Feil, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Irin Pimentel-Mannan, Ph.D., Postdoctoral scholar and Project Coordinator
Funding information:
The research is funded by the National Institutes for Health (NIH) / National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (1R01DA059401-01) and is being conducted at the Oregon Research Institute (1UG3DE033198-01)