Brenda Heaton

Brenda Heaton, PhD, MPH

Languages spoken: English

Associate Dean for Research, School of Dentistry

Associate Professor of Epidemiology & Health Services Research, School of Dentistry

Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine

Education History

Undergraduate Brigham Young University
 BS
Graduate Training Boston University School of Public Health
 MPH
Doctoral Training Boston University School of Public Health
 PhD

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Heaton B, Gondal N (2023). Health-based homophily in public housing developments. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 238.
  2. Heaton B, Baker SR (2023). Methods to madness: The utility of complex systems science in a mad, mad world. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol, 51(1), 79-84.
  3. Bond JC, McDonough R, Alshihayb TS, Kaye EK, Garcia RI, Heaton B (2023). Periodontitis is associated with an increased hazard of mortality in a longitudinal cohort study over 50¿years. J Clin Periodontol, 50(1), 71-79.
  4. Heaton B, Bond JC, Bae J, Cozier Y (2022). Perceived experiences of racism linked to dental fear and anxiety among Black women.(Epub ahead of print). Community Dent Oral Epidemiol.
  5. Alshihayb TS, Sharma P, Dietrich T, Heaton B (2022). Exploring periodontitis misclassification mechanisms under partial-mouth protocols. J Clin Periodontol, 49(5), 448-457.
  6. Bond JC, McDonough R, Alshihayb TS, Kaye EA, Garcia RI, Heaton B (2022). Edentulism is associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality in adult men. J Am Dent Assoc, 153(7), 625-634.e3.
  7. Alshihayb TS, Kaye EA, Zhao Y, Leone CW, Heaton B (2021). A quantitative bias analysis to assess the impact of unmeasured confounding on associations between diabetes and periodontitis. J Clin Periodontol, 48(1), 51-60.
  8. Alshihayb TS, Heaton B (2022). Simulation of Random Differential Periodontitis Outcome Misclassification with Perfect Specificity. JDR Clin Trans Res, 7(2), 174-181.
  9. Bond JC, Wise LA, Willis SK, Yland JJ, Hatch EE, Rothman KJ, Heaton B (2021). Self-reported periodontitis and fecundability in a population of pregnancy planners. Hum Reprod, 36(8), 2298-2308.
  10. Kaye E, Heaton B, Aljoghaiman EA, Singhal A, Sohn W, Garcia RI (2021). Third-Molar Status and Risk of Loss of Adjacent Second Molars. J Dent Res, 100(7), 700-705.
  11. Wright CD, Heaton B, McNeil DW (2021). Development and validation of a latent, multidimensional, self-report periodontal disease measure. J Periodontol, 92(11), 1554-1563.
  12. Heaton B, Wright JA, Bond JC, Quintiliani LM (2021). A measure development study of sugar-sweetened beverage-related knowledge, self-efficacy, and intention among urban, low-income adults. BMC Public Health, 21(1), 69.
  13. Sharma P, Fenton A, Dias IHK, Heaton B, Brown CLR, Sidhu A, Rahman M, Griffiths HR, Cockwell P, Ferro CJ, Chapple IL, Dietrich T (2021). Oxidative stress links periodontal inflammation and renal function. J Clin Periodontol, 48(3), 357-367.
  14. Wang ML, Minyé HM, Egan KA, Heaton B (2021). Community-based sugar-sweetened beverage intervention associated with short-term improvements in self-rated oral health. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol, 49(4), 362-368.
  15. Alshihayb TS, Kaye EA, Zhao Y, Leone CW, Heaton B (2020). The impact of periodontitis exposure misclassification bias from partial-mouth measurements on association with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. J Clin Periodontol, 47(12), 1457-1465.
  16. Heaton B, Cherng ST, Sohn W, Garcia RI, Galea S (2020). Complex Systems Model of Dynamic Mechanisms of Early Childhood Caries Development. J Dent Res, 99(5), 537-543.
  17. Heaton B, Streszoff D, Fox CH, Kaye EA, Gebel CM, Quintiliani LM, Garcia RI (2020). Survey of Dental Researchers' Perceptions of Sexual Harassment at AADR Conferences: 2015 to 2018. J Dent Res, 99(5), 488-497.
  18. Cozier YC, Heaton B, Bethea TN, Freudenheim JL, Garcia RI, Rosenberg L (2020). Predictors of self-reported oral health in the Black Women's Health Study. J Public Health Dent, 80(1), 70-78.
  19. Heaton B, Crawford AJ, Wimsatt MA, Henshaw M, Riedy CA, Barker JC, Garcia RI (2019). A storytelling intervention reduces childhood caries risk behaviors among American Indian and Alaska Native mothers in Northern California. J Public Health Dent, 79(3), 183-187.
  20. Henshaw MM, Borrelli B, Gregorich SE, Heaton B, Tooley EM, Santo W, Cheng NF, Rasmussen M, Helman S, Shain S, Garcia RI (2018). Randomized Trial of Motivational Interviewing to Prevent Early Childhood Caries in Public Housing. JDR Clin Trans Res, 3(4), 353-365.
  21. Heaton B, Garcia RI, Dietrich T (2018). Simulation study of misclassification bias in association studies employing partial-mouth protocols. J Clin Periodontol, 45(9), 1034-1044.
  22. Heaton B, Gebel C, Crawford A, Barker JC, Henshaw M, Garcia RI, Riedy C, Wimsatt MA (2018). Using Storytelling to Address Oral Health Knowledge in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities. Prev Chronic Dis, 15, E63.
  23. Heaton B, Sharma P, Garcia RI, Dietrich T (2018). Evaluating periodontal disease misclassification mechanisms under partial-mouth recording protocols. J Clin Periodontol, 45(4), 422-430.
  24. Garcia RI, Tiwari T, Ramos-Gomez F, Heaton B, Orozco M, Rasmussen M, Braun P, Henshaw M, Borrelli B, Albino J, Diamond C, Gebel C, Batliner TS, Barker JC, Gregorich S, Gansky SA (2017). Retention strategies for health disparities preventive trials: findings from the Early Childhood Caries Collaborating Centers. J Public Health Dent, 77(1), 63-77.
  25. Heaton B, Crawford A, Garcia RI, Henshaw M, Riedy CA, Barker JC, Wimsatt MA, Native Oral Health Project (2017). Oral health beliefs, knowledge, and behaviors in Northern California American Indian and Alaska Native mothers regarding early childhood caries. J Public Health Dent, 77(4), 350-359.
  26. Heaton B, Gordon NB, Garcia RI, Rosenberg L, Rich S, Fox MP, Cozier YC (2017). A Clinical Validation of Self-Reported Periodontitis Among Participants in the Black Women's Health Study. J Periodontol, 88(6), 582-592.
  27. Albino J, Tiwari T, Gansky SA, Henshaw MM, Barker JC, Brega AG, Gregorich SE, Heaton B, Batliner TS, Borrelli B, Geltman P, Kressin NR, Weintraub JA, Finlayson TL, Garcia RI, Early Childhood Caries Collaborating Centers (2017). The basic research factors questionnaire for studying early childhood caries. BMC Oral Health, 17(1), 83.
  28. Kaye EK, Heaton B, Sohn W, Rich SE, Spiro A 3rd, Garcia RI (2015). The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Diet and New and Recurrent Root Caries Events in Men. J Am Geriatr Soc, 63(9), 1812-9.
  29. Heaton B, Applebaum KM, Rothman KJ, Brooks DR, Heeren T, Dietrich T, Garcia RI (2014). The influence of prevalent cohort bias in the association between periodontal disease progression and incident coronary heart disease. Ann Epidemiol, 24(10), 741-6.
  30. Halpern LR, Kaste LM, Briggs C, DiPietro LA, Erwin K, Frantsve-Hawley J, Gordon S, Heaton B, Henshaw MM, Joskow R, Reisine ST, Sinkford JC (2013). Women's oral health: growing evidence for enhancing perspectives. Dent Clin North Am, 57(2), xv-xxviii.
  31. Cozier YC, Heaton B, Robles Y, C Bond J, I Garcia R, Coogan P, Rosenberg L (2023). Perceived racism associated with declines in self-rated oral health among U.S. Black women.(Epub ahead of print) Ann Epidemiol, 84, 54-59.
  32. Bond JC, Wise LA, Fox MP, Garcia RI, Murray EJ, White KO, Rothman KJ, Hatch EE, Heaton B (2023). Preconception periodontitis and risk of spontaneous abortion in a prospective cohort study.(Epub ahead of print). Am J Epidemiol.
  33. Heaton B, Muzzi A, Gebel C, Bernstein J, Garcia RI (2023). Recruitment and Enrollment of Low-income, Minority Residents of Urban Public Housing into Research.(Epub ahead of print) J Community Health, 1-11.
  34. Velez M, Quintiliani LM, Fuertes Y, Román A, Heaton B (2023). Photo-Enhanced Health Promotion Messages to Target Reduction in Dietary Sugar among Residents of Public Housing. Nutrients, 15(11).
  35. Wright CD, Heaton B, Garcia RI, Leonard MM, Fasano A, McNeil DW (2023). Gastrointestinal distress as a potential mediator between stress and periodontal inflammation.(Epub ahead of print). Community Dent Oral Epidemiol.
  36. Bond JC, Heaton B, White KO, Abrams JA, Kuohung W, Fisher RR, Wesselink AK, Fox MP, Wise L (2024). Female sexual function and distress and time-to-pregnancy in a prospective preconception cohort. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology,
  37. Bond JC, Heaton B, Garcia RI, Rothman KJ, Wise LA, Fox MP, Murray E (2024). Specifying a target trial protocol to estimate the effect of preconception treatment of periodontitis on time-to-pregnancy: A commentary and applied example. Community dentistry and oral epidemiology,
  38. Bond JC, Casey SM, McDonough R, McLone SG, Velez M, Heaton (2024). Validity of individual self-report oral health measures in assessing periodontitis for causal research applications. Journal of periodontology, 95(9), 892-906.
  39. Williams JC, Singhal A, Gates P, Jura M, Mertz E, Heaton (2025). Relationship between Safety-net Oral Health Care Practices and Income among American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, and Hispanic/Latino Dentists. Journal of health care for the poor and underserved, 36(1), 144-166.
  40. Casey SM, Velez M, McDonough R, Bond JC, Garcia R, Gondal N, Heaton (2025). Modelling Predictors of Homophily on Perceived Oral Health Status Among Social Network Ties in a Population of Public Housing Residents. Community dentistry and oral epidemiology,
  41. Heaton B, Bond JC, Bae J, Pullen (2024). Modeling Social Network Influences on Oral Health Outcomes among Women Living in Public Housing. JDR clinical and translational research, 9(1), 42-51.
  42. Bond JC, Velez M, McDonough R, Casey SM, Wise LA, Cozier YC, Fox MP, Garcia RI, Heaton (2025). Multi-cohort evaluation of "Don't know" responders to self-report oral health questions: Implications for etiologic research. Journal of periodontology,
  43. Wright CD, Salman A, Garcia RI, McNeil DW, Heaton (2025). Cross-Sectional Clinical Validation of the Periodontal Disease Self-Report Measure. Community dentistry and oral epidemiology, 53(4), 373-381.
  44. Bond JC, Simancas-Pallares MA, Divaris K, Garcia RI, Fox MP, Wise LA, Heaton (2025). Preconception Oral Health Is Associated with Modifiable Health Behaviors. Journal of dental research, 104(9), 936-946.
  45. Velez M, Heaton B, Solar C, Fuertes Y, Borrelli B, Garcia RI, Quintiliani L (2025). Perceptions of dietary sugar consumption among public housing residents using a modified qualitative photovoice methodology. BMC public health, 25(1), 1313.

Review

  1. Heaton B, Dietrich T (2012). Analytic epidemiology and periodontal diseases. [Review]. Periodontol 2000, 58, (1), 112-20.
  2. Heaton B, Dietrich T (2012). Causal theory and the etiology of periodontal diseases. [Review]. Periodontol 2000, 58, (1), 26-36.
  3. Bond JC, Fox MP, Wise LA, Heaton (2023). Quantitative Assessment of Systematic Bias: A Guide for Researchers. Journal of dental research, 102(12), 1288-1292.

Letter

  1. Alshihayb TS, Heaton B (2022). Response to Letter to the editor: "A quantitative bias analysis to assess the impact of unmeasured confounding on associations between diabetes and periodontitis". [Letter to the editor]. J Clin Periodontol, 49(1), 86-87.