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 –

Calcium hydroxide cavity lining in primary teeth

10 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_72680830 - erupting incisors & caries

This review looks at the benefits and harms of cavity lining. However, only 3 very low quality studies comparing calcium hydroxide lining in primary teeth were identified. Restoration without lining did not significantly affect the risk of failure.

[read the full story...]

Antibacterial effects of cavity lining: limited evidence available

10 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_123309112

This review of cavity liners retrieved 14 trials (11 RCTs). The available evidence was limited but some liners seem more suitable to achieve sterile cavities or reduce bacterial numbers than others.

[read the full story...]

Guidance on management of dental patients taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs

26 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
SDCEP-Anticoagulants & antiplatelets

This new guidance from the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP) provides recommendations for dental patients taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs

[read the full story...]

Periodontitis and obesity: review suggests an association

29 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_129331361

This review looks at the association between periodontitis and obesity. It included 13 studies (8 cohorts; 5 clinical trials) and suggests that overweight, obesity, and weight gain, may be a risk factors for developing periodontitis.

[read the full story...]

Periodontal disease and coronary disease risk

26 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_113989924 - periodontitis

15 prospective studies were included in this review of periodontal disease (PD) & coronary disease risk. PD was associated with an increased risk of coronary disease RR=1.19; (95% CI; 1.13–1.26).

[read the full story...]

Anterior composite restorations had good clinical performance

12 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_129331394

17 pro- and retrospective studies were included in this anterior composite restoration performance. While low annual failure rates from 0 – 4.1% were found, there is a need for well-designed clinical trials to evaluate the longevity of anterior composite restorations and investigate the specific factors associated with failure.

[read the full story...]

Fluoridated milk: low quality evidence of benefit

18 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_124896361

The updated Cochrane review only included 1 low quality RCT. A substantive reduction in decay for primary teeth was seen equivalent to a prevented fraction of 31% but further research is likely to have an important impact on this estimate.

[read the full story...]

Amelogenesis imperfecta: study suggests good outcomes from crown therapy

12 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_101805355

This small trial found no difference between either Procera or IPS e.max Press crown in amelogenesis imperfecta patients in the short term. The survival rate at 2 years was 97% with only 3% of teeth suffering with endodontic complications.

[read the full story...]