Dr Diep Ha
Senior Research Fellow
School of Dentistry
+61 7 334 64728
Researcher biography
Diep Ha is a dentist and a mid-career researcher at the UQ School of Dentistry. She completed her PhD in Oral Epidemiology at the University of Adelaide. Relative to opportunities, Diep Ha has made exceptional contributions to the national population-based research programs in child oral health. Her contribution was evidenced in research leadership as a Chief Investigator in three successful NHMRC projects, in intellectual input to development of new data collection instruments such as questionnaires, oral epidemiological examination protocols.
Diep Ha is interested in conducting population-based research investigating complex interactions between multilevel determinants of oral health. Her current focus is on effects of fluoride use, dietary patterns on oral health, improve oral health that lead to better health, quality of life and reducing inequality among vulnerable populations.
Diep Ha is currently supervising several PhD, Master by research and Honours students. She currently mentors a team of ECRs in conducting the two projects, of which she is a Chief Investigator.
Book Chapters
Ha, D. H., Roberts-Thomson, K. F., Arrow, P., Peres, K. G. and Do, L. G. (2016). Children’s oral health status in Australia, 2012–14. Oral health of Australian children: The National Child Oral Health Study 2012–14. (pp. 86-149) edited by Loc G. Do and A. John Spencer. Adelaide, SA Australia: University of Adelaide Press. doi: 10.20851/ncohs-05
Do, L.G., Harford, J.E., Ha, D.H. and Spencer, A.J. (2016). Australian children’s general health behaviours. Oral health of Australian children. (pp. 212-236) edited by L.G. Do and A.J. Spencer . Adelaide, SA, Australia: University of Adelaide Press. doi: 10.20851/ncohs
Roberts-Thomson, K. F., Kapellas, K., Ha, D. H., Jamieson, L. M., Arrow, P. and Do, L. G. (2016). Oral health status and behaviours of Indigenous Australian children. Oral health of Australian children: the National Child Oral Health Study 2012–14. (pp. 264-287) edited by Loc G. Do and A. John Spencer. Adelaide, SA Australia: University of Adelaide Press. doi: 10.20851/ncohs-10
Luzzi, L., Ha, D. H., Ellershaw, A., Koster, C., Brennan, D. S. and Chrisopoulos, S. (2016). Measuring representativeness of the study participants. Oral health of Australian children: the National Child Oral Health Study 2012–14. (pp. 48-85) edited by Loc G. Do and A. John Spencer. Adelaide, SA Australia: University of Adelaide Press. doi: 10.20851/ncohs-04
Do, L. G., Luzzi, L., Ha, D. H., Roberts-Thomson, K. F., Chrisopoulos, S., Armfield, J. M. and Spencer, A. J. (2016). Trends in child oral health in Australia. Oral health of Australian children: the National Child Oral Health Study 2012–14. (pp. 288-305) edited by Loc G. Do and A. John Spencer. Adelaide, SA Australia: University of Adelaide Press. doi: 10.20851/ncohs-11
Journal Articles
Ha, Diep H, Nguyen, Huy V, Bell, Lucinda K, Devenish-Coleman, Gemma, Golley, Rebecca K, Thomson, W. Murray, Manton, David J., Leary, Sam D, Scott, Jane A, Spencer, John and Do, Loc G (2023). Trajectories of child free sugars intake and dental caries - a population-based birth cohort study. Journal of Dentistry, 134 104559, 104559. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2023.104559
Dhanapriyanka, Manori, Kanthi, R. D. F. C., Jayasekara, Prasanna and Ha, Diep Hong (2022). Tobacco chewing and associated factors among a vulnerable youth population in Sri Lanka. BMC Public Health, 22 (1) 2209, 1-7. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-14704-6
Bastani, Peivand, Izadi, Reyhane, Manchery, Nithin, Ha, Diep, Calache, Hanny, George, Ajesh and Do, Loc (2022). How does the dental benefits act encourage Australian families to seek and utilise oral health services?. PLOS ONE, 17 (11) e0277152, e0277152. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277152
Do, Loc G., Song, Young Ha, Du, Mi, Spencer, A. John and Ha, Diep H. (2022). Socioecological determinants of child oral health—A scoping review. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 51 (5), 1024-1036. doi: 10.1111/cdoe.12819
Do, L. G., Spencer, A. J., Sawyer, A., Jones, A., Leary, S., Roberts, R. and Ha, D. H. (2022). Early childhood exposures to fluorides and child behavioral development and executive function: a population-based longitudinal study. Journal of Dental Research, 102 (1), 28-36. doi: 10.1177/00220345221119431
Bastani, Peivand, Manchery, Nithin, Samadbeik, Mahnaz, Ha, Diep Hong and Do, Loc Giang (2022). Digital health in children’s oral and dental health: an overview and a bibliometric analysis. Children, 9 (7) 1039, 1-14. doi: 10.3390/children9071039
Nguyen, Huy Van, Ha, Diep Hong, Dao, An Thi Minh, Golley, Rebecca K., Scott, Jane A., Spencer, John, Bell, Lucinda, Devenish‐Coleman, Gemma and Do, Loc Giang (2022). Pairwise approach for analysis and reporting of child's free sugars intake from a birth cohort study. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology. doi: 10.1111/cdoe.12770
Ha, D.H., Arora, A., Harford, J., Luzzi, L., Chrisopoulos, S. and Do, L.G. (2022). Population impact of sugar-sweetened beverages on dental caries and overweight/obesity in Australian children. JDR Clinical and Translational Research, 8 (3), 23800844221091701-233. doi: 10.1177/23800844221091701
Fernando, C., Ha, D.H., Do, L.G. and Tadakamadla, S.K. (2022). Socioeconomic status and toothbrushing in Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian children. JDR Clinical and Translational Research, 8 (2), 23800844221086205-147. doi: 10.1177/23800844221086205
Ha, Diep H, Nguyen, Huy, Dao, An, Golley, Rebecca K, Thomson, W Murray, Manton, David J., Leary, Sam, Scott, Jane, Spencer, A. John and Do, Loc G (2022). Group-based trajectories of maternal intake of sugar-sweetened beverage and offspring oral health from a prospective birth cohort study. Journal of Dentistry, 122 104113, 104113. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2022.104113
Trinh, Van Anh, Tarbit, Emiri, Do, Loc, Ha, Diep and Tadakamadla, Santosh Kumar (2021). The influence of family socioeconomic status on toothbrushing practices in Australian children. Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 81 (4), 308-315. doi: 10.1111/jphd.12477
Haag, D., Schuch, H., Ha, D., Do, L. and Jamieson, L. (2021). Oral health inequalities among Indigenous and non-Indigenous children. JDR Clinical and Translational Research, 6 (3), 317-323. doi: 10.1177/2380084420939040
Ha, D. H., Spencer, A. J., Moynihan, P., Thomson, W. M. and Do, L. G. (2021). Excess risk of dental caries from higher free sugars intake combined with low exposure to water fluoridation. Journal of Dental Research, 100 (11), 1-8. doi: 10.1177/00220345211007747
Hassan, Amira, Devenish, Gemma, Golley, Rebecca K., Ha, Diep, Do, Loc G. and Scott, Jane A. (2020). Sources and determinants of wholegrain intake in a cohort of Australian children aged 12–14 months. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (24) 9229, 1-13. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17249229
Ha, Diep H., Crocombe, Leonard A., Khan, Shahrukh and Do, Loc G. (2020). The impact of different determinants on the dental caries experience of children living in Australia rural and urban areas. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 49 (4), 337-345. doi: 10.1111/cdoe.12606
Hariyani, Ninuk, Do, Loc G., Spencer, A. John, Thomson, W. Murray, Scott, Jane A. and Ha, Diep H. (2020). Maternal caries experience influences offspring’s early childhood caries — a birth cohort study. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 48 (6), 561-569. doi: 10.1111/cdoe.12568
Irvine, Vanessa, John, James Rufus, Scott, Jane A, Hayen, Andrew, Do, Loc Giang, Bhole, Sameer, Ha, Diep, Kolt, Gregory S. and Arora, Amit (2020). Factors influencing the early introduction of sugar sweetened beverages among infants: findings from the HSHK Birth Cohort Study. Nutrients, 12 (11) 3343, 3343-16. doi: 10.3390/nu12113343
Do, Loc G, Ha, Diep H, Bell, Lucinda K, Devenish, Gemma, Golley, Rebecca K, Leary, Sam D., Manton, David J., Thomson, W. Murray, Scott, Jane A and Spencer, A. John (2020). Study of mothers’ and infants’ life events affecting oral health (SMILE) birth cohort study: cohort profile. BMJ Open, 10 (10) e041185, e041185. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041185
Do, Loc G., Ha, Diep H., Roberts-Thomson, Kaye F. and Spencer, A. John (2020). Dental fluorosis in the Australian adult population. Australian Dental Journal, 65 (S1), S47-S51. doi: 10.1111/adj.12764
Ha, Diep H., Spencer, A. John, Ju, Xiangqun and Do, Loc G. (2020). Periodontal diseases in the Australian adult population. Australian Dental Journal, 65 (S1), S52-S58. doi: 10.1111/adj.12765
Peres, Karen G., Ha, Diep H. and Christofis, Sofia (2020). Trend and distribution of coronal dental caries in Australians adults. Australian Dental Journal, 65 (S1), S32-S39. doi: 10.1111/adj.12762
Do, Loc G., Peres, Karen G., Ha, Diep H. and Roberts-Thomson, Kaye F. (2020). Oral epidemiological examination – protocol: the National Study of Adult Oral Health 2017–18. Australian Dental Journal, 65 (S1), S18-S22. doi: 10.1111/adj.12760
Devenish, Gemma, Mukhtar, Aqif, Begley, Andrea, Spencer, A. John, Thomson, W. Murray, Ha, Diep, Do, Loc and Scott, Jane A. (2020). Early childhood feeding practices and dental caries among Australian preschoolers. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 111 (4), 821-828. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqaa012
Coxon, Claire, Devenish, Gemma, Ha, Diep, Do, Loc and Scott, Jane A. (2019). Sources and determinants of discretionary food intake in a cohort of Australian children aged 12–14 months. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (1) 80, 1-17. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17010080
Bell, Lucinda K., Schammer, Celeste, Devenish, Gemma, Ha, Diep, Thomson, Murray W., Spencer, John A., Do, Loc G., Scott, Jane A. and Golley, Rebecca K. (2019). Dietary patterns and risk of obesity and early childhood caries in Australian toddlers: findings from an Australian cohort study. Nutrients, 11 (11) 2828. doi: 10.3390/nu11112828
Jamieson, Lisa, Smithers, Lisa, Hedges, Joanne, Mills, Helen, Kapellas, Kostas, Ha, Diep, Do, Loc and Ju, Xiangqun (2019). Follow-up of Intervention to Prevent Dental Caries Among Indigenous Children in Australia: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Network Open, 2 (11) e1915611. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.15611
Scott, Jane, Ahwong, Ellen, Devenish, Gemma, Ha, Diep and Do, Loc (2019). Determinants of continued breastfeeding at 12 and 24 months: results of an Australian cohort study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16 (20) 3980, 3980. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16203980
Ha, D. H., Spencer, A. J., Peres, K. G., Rugg-Gunn, A. J., Scott, J. A. and Do, L. G. (2019). Fluoridated water modifies the effect of breastfeeding on dental caries. Journal of Dental Research, 98 (7), 755-762. doi: 10.1177/0022034519843487
Roberts-Thomson, K. F., Ha, D. H., Wooley, S., Meihubers, S. and Do, L. G. (2019). Community trial of silver fluoride treatment for deciduous dentition caries in remote Indigenous communities. Australian Dental Journal, 64 (2), 175-180. doi: 10.1111/adj.12689
Ju, Xiangqun, Do, Loc, Ha, Diep and Jamieson, Lisa (2019). Association of Modifiable Risk Factors With Dental Caries Among Indigenous and Nonindigenous Children in Australia. JAMA Network Open, 2 (5) e193466. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.3466
Ha, Diep Hong, Do, Loc Giang, Roberts‐Thomson, Kaye and Jamieson, Lisa (2019). Risk indicators for untreated dental decay among Indigenous Australian children. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 47 (4), 316-323. doi: 10.1111/cdoe.12460
Devenish, Gemma, Golley, Rebecca, Mukhtar, Aqif, Begley, Andrea, Ha, Diep, Do, Loc and Scott, Jane (2019). Free sugars intake, sources and determinants of high consumption among Australian 2-year-olds in the SMILE cohort. Nutrients, 11 (1) 161. doi: 10.3390/nu11010161
Scott, Jane A., Gee, Georgina, Devenish, Gemma, Ha, Diep and Do, Loc (2019). Determinants and sources of iron intakes of Australian toddlers: findings from the SMILE Cohort Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16 (2) 181, 1-15. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16020181
Ha, Diep and Do, Loc (2018). Early life professional and layperson support reduce poor oral hygiene habits in toddlers — a prospective birth cohort study. Dentistry Journal, 6 (4) 56. doi: 10.3390/dj6040056
Spencer, A. John, Do, Loc G. and Ha, Diep H. (2018). Contemporary evidence on the effectiveness of water fluoridation in the prevention of childhood caries. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 46 (4), 407-415. doi: 10.1111/cdoe.12384
Do, L. G., Ha, D. H., Roberts-Thomson, K. F., Jamieson, L., Peres, M. A. and Spencer, A. J. (2018). Race- and income-related inequalities in oral health in Australian children by fluoridation status. JDR Clinical and Translational Research, 3 (2), 170-179. doi: 10.1177/2380084417751350
Ha, Diep H., Spencer, A. John, Thomson, W. Murray, Scott, Jane A. and Do, Loc G. (2018). Commonality of Risk Factors for Mothers’ Poor Oral Health and General Health: Baseline Analysis of a Population-Based Birth Cohort Study. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 22 (4), 617-625. doi: 10.1007/s10995-018-2431-3
Bell, Sarah, Yew, Sarah, Devenish, Gemma, Ha, Diep, Do, Loc and Scott, Jane (2018). Duration of breastfeeding, but not timing of solid food, reduces the risk of overweight and obesity in children aged 24 to 36 months: findings from an Australian cohort study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15 (4) 599, 1-14. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15040599
Ha, Diep H., Do, Loc G., Spencer, Andrew John, Thomson, William Murray, Golley, Rebecca K., Rugg-Gunn, Andrew J., Levy, Steven M. and Scott, Jane A. (2017). Factors influencing early feeding of foods and drinks containing free sugars—a birth cohort study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14 (10) 1270. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14101270
Do, Loc, Ha, Diep, Peres, Marco A., Skinner, John, Byun, Roy and Spencer, A. John (2017). Effectiveness of water fluoridation in the prevention of dental caries across adult age groups. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 45 (3), 225-232. doi: 10.1111/cdoe.12280
Ha, Diep Hong, Xiangqun, Ju, Cecilia, Mejia Gloria, Jason, Armfield, Do, Loc G. and Jamieson, Lisa M (2016). Social inequality in dental caries and changes over time among Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian children. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 40 (6), 542-547. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12566
Scott, Jane, Davey, Kristina, Ahwong, Ellen, Devenish, Gemma, Ha, Diep and Do, Loc (2016). A comparison by milk feeding method of the nutrient intake of a cohort of Australian toddlers. Nutrients, 8 (8) 501, 501. doi: 10.3390/nu8080501
Lalloo, Ratilal, Jamieson, Lisa M., Ha, Diep and Luzzi, Liana (2016). Inequalities in tooth decay in Australian children by neighbourhood characteristics and indigenous status. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 27 (1), 161-177. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2016.0045
Ha, Diep H., Do, Loc G., Luzzi, Liana, Mejia, Gloria C. and Jamieson, Lisa (2016). Changes in area-level socioeconomic status and oral health of Indigenous Australian children. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 27 (1), 110-124. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2016.0034
Do, Loc G., Ha, Diep H. and Spencer, A. John (2016). Natural history and long-term impact of dental fluorosis: a prospective cohort study. Medical Journal of Australia, 204 (1), 25.e1-25.e7. doi: 10.5694/mja15.00703
Ha, Diep Hong, Lalloo, Ratilal, Jamieson, Lisa M. and Giang, Do Loc (2016). Trends in caries experience and associated contextual factors among indigenous children. Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 76 (3), 184-191. doi: 10.1111/jphd.12134
Do, Loc Giang, Ha, Diep Hong and Spencer, A. John (2015). Factors attributable for the prevalence of dental caries in Queensland children. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 43 (5), 397-405. doi: 10.1111/cdoe.12162
Lalloo, R., Jamieson, L. M., Ha, D., Ellershaw, A. and Luzzi, L. (2015). Does fluoride in the water close the dental caries gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children?. Australian Dental Journal, 60 (3), 390-396. doi: 10.1111/adj.12239
Ha, Diep Hong, Crocombe, Leonard A. and Mejia, Gloria C. (2014). Clinical oral health of Australia's rural children in a sample attending school dental services. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 22 (6), 316-322. doi: 10.1111/ajr.12107
Do, Loc G., Scott, Jane A., Thomson, W. Murray, Stamm, John W., Rugg-Gunn, Andrew J., Levy, Steven M., Wong, Ching, Devenish, Gemma, Ha, Diep H. and Spencer, A. John (2014). Common risk factor approach to address socioeconomic inequality in the oral health of preschool children - a prospective cohort study. BMC Public Health, 14 (1) 429. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-429
Ha, Diep H., Spencer, A. John, Slade, Gary D. and Chartier, Andrew D. (2014). The accuracy of caries risk assessment in children attending South Australian School Dental Service: A longitudinal study. BMJ Open, 4 (1) e004311. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2013-004311
Mejia, G., Jamieson, L. M., Ha, D. and Spencer, A. J. (2014). Greater inequalities in dental treatment than in disease experience. Journal of Dental Research, 93 (10), 966-971. doi: 10.1177/0022034514545516
Ha, Diep H. (2014). Oral health of Australian Indigenous children compared to non-Indigenous children enrolled in school dental services. Australian Dental Journal, 59 (3), 395-400. doi: 10.1111/adj.12205
Mejia, Gloria C. and Ha, Diep H. (2011). Dental caries trends in Australian school children. Australian Dental Journal, 56 (2), 227-230. doi: 10.1111/j.1834-7819.2011.01332.x
Do, L. G., Spencer, A. J., Slade, G. D., Ha, D. H., Roberts-Thomson, K. F. and Liu, P. (2010). Trend of income-related inequality of child oral health in Australia. Journal of Dental Research, 89 (9), 959-964. doi: 10.1177/0022034510371280
Do, L. G., Spencer, A. J. and Ha, D. H. (2009). Association between dental caries and fluorosis among South Australian children. Caries Research, 43 (5), 366-373. doi: 10.1159/000235580
Do, Loc G, Spencer, John A, Roberts-Thomson, Kaye, Ha, Diep H, Tran, Truong V and Trinh, Hai D (2003). Periodontal disease among the middle-aged Vietnamese population. Journal of the International Academy of Periodontology, 5 (3), 77-84.
McIntyre, J., Williams, P., Ha, H. D., Najee, S., Anh, V. T., Ivanow, G., Ngo, H. and Fraser, M. (2001). Rice as a vehicle for dietary fluoride uptake. General Dentistry, 49 (6), 604-607.