Derek Richards

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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.

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Motivational interview as a prelude to periodontal treatment had limited impact on oral health

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There is much interest in the use of the motivational interview, a directive patient centered style of counselling in dentistry to promote behaviour change.  This trial looked at a single session of motivational interviewing (MI) on self-performed periodontal infection control. Patients with chronic periodontitis referred to a specialist clinic in Gothenburg, Sweden. Patients randomised to [read the full story…]

Is there a relationship between dental crowding and caries?

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The crowing of teeth disrupts the normal proximal and occlusal contacts and creates area for potential plaque and food accumulation. As a consequence it has been considered a risk factor for dental caries. However, studies looking at a relationship between crowding and caries have been contradictory. The aim of this review was therefore to assess [read the full story…]

Bupivacaine may reduce post-operative pain in patients having single visit root canal treatment

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Elimination of pain during and after root canal treatment is an important element of patient care and modern endodontic practice.  The aim of this study was to compare the postoperative pain and analgesic use after single-visit root canal treatment of acute irreversible pulpitis with either bupivacaine (a long-acting anaesthetic) or lidocaine. Patients with a first [read the full story…]

Evidence suggests that grafts are effective in preventing Freys syndrome after parotidectomy

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Freys syndrome (gustatory sweating) is frequently noted as complication of surgery to the parotid gland. It is characterized by sweating while eating and facial flushing.  It was first reported by Lucie Frey in 1923.  The aim of this review was to determine the effect and safety of different types of grafts for the prevention of [read the full story…]

Side effects of local anaesthetics

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Local anaesthetic use is widespread in dentistry and while lidocaine has been in use for more than 50 years an increasing number of agents are now available. The aim of this study was to analyze adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with local anesthetics (LAs) and to characterize the safety profile of LAs in clinical application. [read the full story…]

Elf Break

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The Dental Elf is taking a short break and will be back on the 1st October

Review suggests good reductions in plaque levels and gingivitis with chlorhexidine mouthwash in addition to oral hygiene measures

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Chlorhexidine (CHX) has been used as a mouthwash for many years. The aim of this review was to assess, the effectiveness of Chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthrinse against plaque growth, gingival inflammation as well as the degree of staining. Three databases were searched Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Central), reference lists of [read the full story…]

Measures of Children’s dental anxiety

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Dental anxiety is still a relatively common problem. It usually develops in childhood an early adolescence. The aim of this review was to identify and evaluate self-report measures of dental anxiety that have been used to assess children’s dental anxiety since the 1998 review by Newton and Buck. The authors were planning to Provide:- a [read the full story…]

Maternal counselling using a motivational-interviewing approach reduced caries in indigenous children

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The aim of this trial was to test the use of motivational interviewing (MI) as an approach to control caries in indigenous children. This cluster-randomised trial was conducted in Cree communities in Quebec. Cree women who recently had given birth or were between the 12th and 34th weeks of pregnancy were recruited. Mothers allocated to [read the full story…]

New Cochrane Protocols for September 2012

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There are three new Cochrane review protocols on the September  issue of the Cochrane Library. Chi CC, Wang SH, Peters MC, Kanjirath PP, Delamere FM, Wojnarowska F. Interventions for prevention of herpes simplex labialis (cold sores on the lips). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2012, Issue 9. Art. No.: CD010095. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010095. The main aim [read the full story…]