American Indian (AI) youth experience the greatest burden of dental decay among all racial groups, with rates of untreated caries four times higher than those of white children. The Great Beginnings for Healthy Native Smiles project (NIDCR U01DE028508), a community-driven oral health initiative, integrated culturally relevant educational tools with adapted motivational interviewing (MI) strategies to encourage at-home oral health practices.mLocal staff members from two collaborating Indigenous Nations delivered the program. Drawing on formative data—semi-structured interviews with caregivers and providers, session transcripts, and post-intervention debrief interviews—the study aimed to assess how culturally adapted oral health education influenced behavior change in each community. Findings indicate that conversations with community health representatives using modified MI methods and tailored educational resources were linked to self-reported improvements in oral health behaviors. The outcomes underscore the critical role of trusted community health personnel in sharing culturally grounded oral health guidance with mothers and young children as part of efforts to lower ECC rates.
