Center for Oral Disease Prevention
and Population Health Research (COPPR)

The Center for Oral Disease Prevention and Population Health Research (COPPR) supports collaborative interprofessional education, research, and clinical programs to improve oral health for vulnerable populations.

COPPR brings together nationally recognized experts in prevention, wellness, and population health research, which includes faculty from the University of Colorado Schools of Dental Medicine and Medicine on the Anschutz Campus, the Colorado School of Public Health, the University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs and other US universities.

This collaboration is the first of its kind in the nation and COPPR’s efforts are consistent with the goals and objectives of the CU School of Dental Medicine’s interprofessional education and health & wellness initiatives to support new and innovative strategies across health disciplines on campus. Pre-doctoral dental students have very little exposure to public health principles, pediatric oral health interventions, and working interprofessionally to improve patient health outcomes. COPPR serves as the focal point for this increase in exposure for students and informs dental and other health care provider communities across the nation regarding evidence-based strategies for the prevention of oral disease.

Goals

  • ​Increase oral disease prevention education in each year of pre-doctoral education and other professional education programs
  • Support faculty with rationale and effectiveness of population-based and individual prevention strategies
  • Demonstrate to the community at-large the expertise of the School of Dental Medicine in prevention research and service to
    the community
  • Provide technical assistance at the local, state, and national level in incorporating prevention, pediatric, and public health
    curriculum into professional health education. 

COPPR Connects

Check out some of COPPR's community and educational events.

BigMouth Webinar (October 2020)

Using Big Data to Understand Dental Care in the Primary Care Setting. (Webinar starts at 2:30)