Steven M. Levy, DDS, MPH
Wright-Bush-Shreves Endowed Professor of Research,
Department of Prosthodontics
Education:
- DDS, University of North Carolina, 1982
- MPH, University of North Carolina, 1984
- Certificate, Dental Public Health, North Carolina Department of Human Resources, 1984
- Diplomate, American Board of Dental Public Health
Brief Professional Resume:
Dr. Levy joined the College of Dentistry in 1984. He is professor and asssociate director of the graduate program
in the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry and has an appointment in the Department of Epidemiology, College
of Public Health.
Teaching Responsibilities:
Dr. Levy participates in predoctoral teaching in preventive dentistry and
community dentistry. His graduate program teaching responsibilities include research design, protocol development,
oral epidemiology, and disease prevention.
Research Activities:
Dr. Levy's research includes various aspects of oral epidemiology. His research with
an extensive team of collaborators on the Iowa Fluoride Study (IFS) is investigating the epidemiology of fluoride intake
and dental fluorosis; fluoride intake, dietary patterns, and dental caries; esthetic perceptions of dental fluorosis and
other conditions; the relationship between infants' and young children's feeding and sucking patterns and dental growth
as well as development and malocclusion. Genetic aspects are now being studied concerning dental fluorosis and caries,
with expansion to malocclusion about to begin. The bone growth portion of the IFS is called the Iowa Bone Development Study
and it also looks at dietary, genetic and physical activity as determinants of bone development in adolescents. Dr. Levy is
also part of the interdisciplinary collegiate team involved in early childhood caries prevention. A major study of early
childhood caries (ECC) risk assessment will be initiated soon. Other current and recent research projects include health
services research concerning the use of water fluoride assay and dietary fluoride supplements, the use of dentifrice by
preschool children and the effect of dentifrice flavor, and the validity of, and change in, patient medical histories.
His past research projects also include the importance of medication use in dentistry, the measurement and prevention of
incipient root surface caries, Alzheimer's disease and oral health, and the epidemiology of oral disease among the elderly,
including periodontal disease and factors related to tooth loss.
National or International Professional Appointments and Activities:
Dr. Levy is a director and vice
president of the examining board of the American Board of Dental Public Health. He is a reviewer for
Community
Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology,
Caries Research;
Journal of the American Dental Association;
Pediatric Dentistry;
Advances in Dental Research;
Special Care in Dentistry,
General
Dentistry;
Journal of Public Health Dentistry;
American Journal of Public Health; and
Journal of Dental Research. He is a past member of the editorial review panel for
Journal of Public
Health Dentistry;
Special Care in Dentistry; and
Journal of Dentistry for Children. Dr.
Levy is past secretary/treasurer of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Behavioral Sciences
and Health Services Research Group. He received the H. Trendley Dean Award from the IADR in 2004 and the Iowa
Board of Regents Faculty Excellence Award in 2003. He has been a grant reviewer for the National Institute of
Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) and other agencies, as well as a consultant to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Levy is a member of the American Dental Association and currently serves on three
ADA committees; the Iowa Dental Association; the American Dental Education Association; the International
Association for Dental Research; the American Public Health Association; and the American Association of Public Health
Dentistry.