Derek Richards

Profile photo of Derek Richards
Derek Richards is a specialist in dental public health, Director of the Centre for Evidence-Based Dentistry and Specialist Advisor to the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP) Development Team. A former editor of the Evidence-Based Dentistry Journal and chief blogger for the Dental Elf website until December 2023. Derek has been involved with a wide range of evidence-based initiatives both nationally and internationally since 1994. Derek retired from the NHS in 2019 remaining as a part-time senior lecturer at Dundee Dental School until the end of 2023.

Website

Follow me here –

Crowns more effective than fillings for decay in primary molar teeth

37 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
PMC 2

Five RCTs were included in this Cochrane review comparing crowns with fillings for the management of caries in primary molars. Moderate evidence found crowns reduced the risk of major failure or pain in the long term compared to fillings

[read the full story...]

Top Dental Elf Blogs of 2015

16 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_82012684

Derek Richards presents the top Dental Elf Blogs of 2015. Highlights include eating disorders and oral health, the long awaited Cochrane Review of water fluoridation and the update of the NICE guidance on infective endocarditis.

[read the full story...]

Atherosclerosis and periodontal disease is there an association?

8 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_76739923

This review looked at the evidence linking carotid atherosclerosis with periodontal disease 15 studies involving 17,330 patients were included. The overall pooled result showed periodontal disease was associated with carotid atherosclerosis, OR=1.27 (95% C; 1.14–1.41; P = 0.001). However, once adjusted for smoking and diabetes mellitus, this reduced to borderline significance OR=1.08 (95% CI; 1.00–1.18; P = 0.05).

[read the full story...]

Class II malocclusion- premolar extraction and soft tissue profile

11 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_147584807

This review looked at the impact of premolar extraction on soft tissue profile in class II division 1 malocclusions. 13 studies were included the majority being retrospective. There is some evidence to suggest an increase in the nasolabial angle but the quality is limited.

[read the full story...]

Class II malocclusion- what factors predict sagittal stability after treatment?


No Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_60699226

Factors affecting relapse after treatment of class II malocclusion was investigated in this review. Only 17 retrospected studies met the review criteria providing limited evidence to support the influence of factors predictive of sagittal stability following orthodontic treatment.

[read the full story...]

Endodontic treatment – no evidence to support or refute use of magnification to improve clinical outcomes

17 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_6236641 - operating microscope

This Cochrane review was looking for evidence to assess the the effect of magnification devices on the outcome of endodontic treatment. No trials were identified, so there is no evidence to support or refute the use of magnification to improve clinical outcomes.

[read the full story...]

Arginine in combination with calcium bases and fluoride in toothpaste may be better than fluoride alone

10 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_89901511

Ten trials were included in this review of arginine in toothpaste. It found that arginine in combination with calcium bases (either Dical or calcium carbonate) and fluoride provided a superior effect compared with fluoride alone. However, 9 out of 10 of the trials were sponsored by a single company and the overall quality of the evidence was considered to be low.

[read the full story...]

Class II malocclusion- fixed or removable functional appliances?

13 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
iStock_000002259334XSmall braces on teeth

This review looked at the efficacy of fixed and removable functional appliances for the treatment of class II malocclusion. Just 4 trials were identified 2 of which were randomised. Limited evidence found fixed and removable functional appliances are effective in reducing overjet in children but there is little evidence to differentiate the approaches.

[read the full story...]

Oral cancer- monoclonal antibodies combined with standard treatment may improve outcomes

7 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
radiotherapy

12 trials were included in this Cochrane review of molecularly targeted therapies and immunotherapies as adjuncts to standard treatments for oral cancer. Moderate evidence was found that standard therapy plus epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody (EGFR mAb) reduced mortality and locoregional failures.

[read the full story...]

Patient safety- few dental studies have been conducted

14 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
rubbing out risk with pencil

There is growing interest in patient safety in health care. This review sought to identify any dental research in this area, only a small number of studies were identified demonstrating the need for further research

[read the full story...]