Study of Mothers’ and Infants’ Life Events Affecting Oral Health (SMILE)

Thank you for your contribution to the SMILE Study 2013-17.

SMILE is one of the largest and most comprehensive birth cohort studies in child oral health, worldwide. This achievement would not have been possible without the participation of our SMILE families.

If you would like to receive the findings of this research, please contact us.

Phase two: SMILE for SCHOOL 2018-22

We are proud to announce that the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has approved our proposal to continue the SMILE study for another five years.

The scientific community needs quality research–such as the SMILE study– to inform relevant policies and practices. The continuation of our study is an outstanding achievement that recognises the importance of child oral health.

Reflecting the new stage of life of the SMILE children, the next phase of our study is named SMILE for SCHOOL. We invite you to take part. Please visit About the Study below to learn more.

About the study

'Many things can wait. Children cannot. Today their bones are being formed, their blood is being made, their senses are being developed. To them we cannot say "tomorrow." Their name is today.'
Gabriella Mistral, Nobel Prize Winner in Literature 1945

A little bit of your time can change a child’s SMILE!

Child dental health is an important part of overall health, and is the result of a dynamic interaction between many factors. Understanding these factors at different life stages ensures children have good health later in life.

Information collected in SMILE 2013-17 (phase one) and now in SMILE for SCHOOL (phase two), will inform policies and programs developed by Government and the health profession to ensure children have good dental health for life.

Your participation in SMILE 2013-17 was greatly appreciated. We wish to extend an invitation for you and your family to be a part of SMILE for SCHOOL.

Participation

Participation in SMILE for SCHOOL involves:

completion of a questionnaire, either online or in hard copy
attendance by you and your child at a free dental examination.

For further information, please visit our Participation page and download the participant information sheet (PDF, 224.2 KB).

Why should I help?

Your contribution to SMILE 2013–17 has already made significant impact. By taking part in SMILE for SCHOOL, you and your family will help us to understand the impact of early life factors on child dental health at school age.

Privacy

It is natural for you to be concerned about how your privacy will be protected.

All information collected will be kept strictly confidential and is protected by strict guidelines as required by law (Privacy Act 1988), and the Australian Code of Responsible Conduct of Research (NHMRC 2018).

The study has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee at the University of Adelaide (approval number H-2018-017) and the University of Queensland (approval number HE000661)..

If you have any questions or problems associated with the practical aspects of your participation in the project, or you wish to raise a concern or complaint about the project, please contact:

Principal Investigator, Professor Loc Do
Email: l .do@uq.edu.au

Human Research Ethics Committee’s Secretariat

Phone: +61 7 3365 3924/+61 7 3443 1656

Email: humanethics@research.uq.edu.au

Our commitment to you

Taking part in the project is voluntary and you are free to withdraw at any time. Personal details that could identify you or your family will be removed from the research data prior to use by researchers.

Participation

We appreciate your contribution and understand that your time is valuable. Your assistance will make a valuable contribution towards improved child dental health in Australia.

When your child turns five years old, we will send you a letter to invite you to participate in SMILE for SCHOOL. You may choose to complete the questionnaire online or in hard copy.

To complete the questionnaire online, you will need to login. Please use the ID number provided in your invitation letter, and your child’s date of birth.

To fill in a paper copy of the questionnaire, please contact us. A hard copy will be posted to you. Please remember to update your postal address.

If you have any questions about the study or the questionnaire, please contact us.

Contact us

Phone: 07 3346 5287

SMS: 046 0416 428

Email: smile@uq.edu.au