Overview
Background
Professor Loc Do is a dentist and an oral epidemiologist with special interest in social and clinical oral epidemiology. He completed his PhD in Oral Epidemiology at the University of Adelaide. He was a lead investigator in the National Child Oral Health Study 2012-14 and the National Study of Adult Oral Health 2017-19.
Loc is currently Director of Research at the School of Dentistry, University of Queensland.
Research funding: Currently, he is the Chief Investigator A of four major NHMRC- and MRFF-funded research projects: a population-based birth cohort study investigating impact of socioeconomic inequality on child oral health, a longitudinal study investigating effect of early life exposure to fluoride, a study to investigate effectiveness of water fluoridation in Queensland, and a study to develop and implement a package to improve oral health in residents of Aged Care Facilities in Queensland and NSW.
Qualifications: BDS, MScDent, PhD
Research Interests: Oral epidemiological measurement of dental diseases Quantitative analysis of oral epidemiological data including multilevel analysis Risk and benefit trade-off in the use of fluorides in children Natural history of dental fluorosis Socio-economic inequality in oral health Oral health-related quality of life Smoking as a risk factor for periodontal diseases Effectiveness and safety of water fluoridation in children Complex systems science in dental research.
Awards and Honours: In 2025, Loc is the recipient of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Distinguished Scientist John Greenspan Global Oral Health Research Award. In 2022, Loc is the recipient of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Distinguished Scientist H Trendley Dean Award 2022. In 2023, his paper in Journal of Dental Research was awarded the IADR Abrey Sheiham Award for Distringuished Research in Dental Public Health.
Availability
- Professor Loc Do is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Masters (Coursework), University of Adelaide
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Adelaide
Research interests
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Oral epidemiology
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Dental public health
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Risk and benefit of fluoride
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Determinants of oral health
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Socioeconomic inequalities in oral health
Works
Search Professor Loc Do’s works on UQ eSpace
2021
Journal Article
Oral health inequalities among Indigenous and non-Indigenous children
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) 2380084420939040, 317-323. doi: 10.1177/2380084420939040
2021
Journal Article
Impact of dietary trajectories on obesity and dental caries in preschool children: findings from the Healthy Smiles Healthy Kids study
Manohar, Narendar, Hayen, Andrew, Scott, Jane A., Do, Loc G., Bhole, Sameer and Arora, Amit (2021). Impact of dietary trajectories on obesity and dental caries in preschool children: findings from the Healthy Smiles Healthy Kids study. Nutrients, 13 (7) 2240, 2240. doi: 10.3390/nu13072240
2021
Journal Article
Self-rated oral health and associated factors among a population in rural India—an epidemiological study
Bhat, Meghashyam, Bhat, Sreevidya, Roberts-Thomson, Kaye Frances and Do, Loc Giang (2021). Self-rated oral health and associated factors among a population in rural India—an epidemiological study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (12) 6414, 6414. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18126414
2021
Journal Article
Oral health changes among Indigenous and non‐Indigenous Australians: findings from two national oral health surveys
Jamieson, L, Do, L, Kapellas, K, Chrisopoulos, S, Luzzi, L, Brennan, D and Ju, X (2021). Oral health changes among Indigenous and non‐Indigenous Australians: findings from two national oral health surveys. Australian Dental Journal, 66 (S1) adj.12849, S48-S55. doi: 10.1111/adj.12849
2021
Journal Article
Excess risk of dental caries from higher free sugars intake combined with low exposure to water fluoridation
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) 00220345211007747, 1-8. doi: 10.1177/00220345211007747
2021
Journal Article
Global concerns of dental and oral health workers during COVID-19 outbreak: a scope study on the concerns and the coping strategies
Bastani, Peivand, Mohammadpour, Mohammadtaghi, Ghanbarzadegan, Arash, Kapellas, Kostas and Do, Loc Giang (2021). Global concerns of dental and oral health workers during COVID-19 outbreak: a scope study on the concerns and the coping strategies. Systematic Reviews, 10 (1) 45, 1-9. doi: 10.1186/s13643-020-01574-5
2020
Journal Article
Sources and determinants of wholegrain intake in a cohort of Australian children aged 12–14 months
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
2020
Journal Article
Maternal caries experience influences offspring’s early childhood caries — a birth cohort study
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
2020
Journal Article
The impact of different determinants on the dental caries experience of children living in Australia rural and urban areas
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
2020
Journal Article
Oral health birth cohort studies: achievements, challenges, and potential
Peres, K. G., Thomson, W. M., Chaffee, B. W., Peres, M. A., Birungi, N., Do, L. G., Feldens, C. A., Fontana, M., Marshall, T. A., Pitiphat, W., Seow, W. K., Wagner, Y., Wong, H. M. and Rugg-Gunn, A. J. (2020). Oral health birth cohort studies: achievements, challenges, and potential. Journal of Dental Research, 99 (12), 1321-1331. doi: 10.1177/0022034520942208
2020
Journal Article
Factors influencing the early introduction of sugar sweetened beverages among infants: findings from the HSHK Birth Cohort Study
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
2020
Journal Article
Study of mothers’ and infants’ life events affecting oral health (SMILE) birth cohort study: cohort profile
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
2020
Journal Article
Validation of a 4-item child perception questionnaire in Australian children
Ju, Xiangqun, Ribeiro Santiago, Pedro Henrique, Do, Loc and Jamieson, Lisa (2020). Validation of a 4-item child perception questionnaire in Australian children. PLoS One, 15 (9) e0239449, e0239449. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239449
2020
Journal Article
Geographic variation in tobacco use in India: a population-based multilevel cross-sectional study
Singh, Ankur, Arora, Monika, Bentley, Rebecca, Spittal, Matthew J., Do, Loc G., Grills, Nathan and English, Dallas R. (2020). Geographic variation in tobacco use in India: a population-based multilevel cross-sectional study. BMJ open, 10 (6) e033178, 1-7. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033178
2020
Journal Article
Prevalence, extent, and severity of oral health impacts among adults in rural Karnataka, India
Bhat, M., Bhat, S., Brondani, M., Mejia, G. C., Pradhan, A., Roberts-Thomson, K. and Do, L. G. (2020). Prevalence, extent, and severity of oral health impacts among adults in rural Karnataka, India. JDR Clinical and Translational Research, 6 (2), 2380084420932163-250. doi: 10.1177/2380084420932163
2020
Journal Article
Oral epidemiological examination – protocol: the National Study of Adult Oral Health 2017–18
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
2020
Journal Article
Outcomes of a co-designed, community-led oral health promotion program for Aboriginal children in rural and remote communities in New South Wales, Australia
Dimitropoulos, Yvonne, Holden, Alexander, Gwynne, Kylie, Do, Loc, Byun, Roy and Sohn, Woosung (2020). Outcomes of a co-designed, community-led oral health promotion program for Aboriginal children in rural and remote communities in New South Wales, Australia. Community Dental Health, 37 (2), 132-137. doi: 10.1922/CDH_00005Dimitropoulos06
2020
Journal Article
Dental fluorosis in the Australian adult population
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
2020
Journal Article
Periodontal diseases in the Australian adult population
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
2020
Journal Article
A causative approach to demographic and socioeconomic factors affecting parental ratings of child oral health
Foley, M. A., Spencer, A. J., Lalloo, R. and Do, L. G. (2020). A causative approach to demographic and socioeconomic factors affecting parental ratings of child oral health. JDR Clinical and Translational Research, 6 (1), 1-9. doi: 10.1177/2380084420914248
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Loc Do is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
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Queensland Child Oral Health Study 2020–2024
A population-based study of child oral health in Queensland. Funded by a NHMRC Ideas Grant. Investigates effectiveness and safety of water fluoridation using a before-and-after study design.
An UQ Earmarked scholarship for PhD candidates is available. See https://graduate-school.uq.edu.au/phd-scholarships-health
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SMILE birth cohort study 2013-22
A long-term population-based birth cohort study of children born in 2013-14. Funded by two consecutive NHMRC Project Grants. Investigates determinants of child oral health and overweight/obesity.
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Tooth for Health study 2019–2021
A follow-up study of 24,000 children who participated in the National Child Oral Health Study 2012-14. Funded by a NHMRC Project Grant. Investigates effects of early life fluoride exposures and dental caries experience on child general health and wellbeing.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Socioeconomic inequalities in child oral health and related factors over a decade in Queensland
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Diep Ha
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Doctor Philosophy
Population oral health interventions and water fluoridation for the prevention of dental caries
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Ratilal Lalloo, Associate Professor Federica Barzi
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Doctor Philosophy
Impact of Water Fluoridation as A Marker for Social Inequalities, possible Perceived Safety, Benefit and risks With Relation to Parental Support in Queensland, Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Ratilal Lalloo, Dr Diep Ha
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Doctor Philosophy
Referral processes and best clinical practice in special needs dentistry, including aged care
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Laurence Walsh, Dr Diep Ha, Dr Helena Schuch
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Doctor Philosophy
Oral Health in Aged Care: Addressing Oral Health Inequity and Unmet Dental Care Needs in Vulnerable Populations
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kristiana Ludlow, Dr Lori Delaney
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of utilisation of dental health services by preschool children in Australia through Child Dental Benefit Scheme (CDBS) and examine the barriers/enablers associated with the level of uptake in Queensland
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Diep Ha, Dr Helena Schuch
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Doctor Philosophy
Healthy Smiles for Healthy Ageing: Integrated Care for Older Adults to Enhance the Quality of Life
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Diep Ha, Dr Helena Schuch
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Doctor Philosophy
Improving the Oral Health for Older Australians
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicole Stormon
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Doctor Philosophy
The evolution of the oral health workforce
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicole Stormon
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Doctor Philosophy
Predictors of Early Childhood Caries in South Australian Children
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicole Stormon, Dr Diep Ha
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Contextual and compositional factors associated with clinical and subjective oral health in Australian children
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Ratilal Lalloo
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Loc Do directly for media enquiries about:
- Dental service
- Oral health
- Social determinants of oral health
- Use of fluoride
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