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 –

Digital versus film radiography

No Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_82183270-taking x-ray

This critical summary of a systematic review published in 2010 was prepared under the auspices of the American Dental Association Center for Evidence-Based Dentistry . The aim of this review was to assess how film-based radiography compared with digital radiography. The commentator highlights the fact that the review only searched one database ( PubMed) and [read the full story…]

Treatment under general anaesthesia improved quality of life for children with early childhood caries

1 Response »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
An operating theatre.

Despite improvements in oral health in many countries early childhood caries (ECC) remains the most common reason for hospital admissions for paediatric patients.  Children with ECC have a lower oral-health-related quality of  life (OHRQoL).  The aim of this study was to see whether dental treatment of young Auckland children under GA improved oral-health-related quality of [read the full story…]

Prenatal education reduced mutans streptococci levels and sugar intake

No Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_14313976- bacteria

Mutans streptococci (mutans)  have an important role in dental caries. Individuals having high levels of these organisms being considered to be a higher risk of  disease.  The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a prenatal nutrition intervention to reduce sugar intake and mutans in  low-income women. Pregnant women ≥18 years of [read the full story…]

Motivational interviewing showed greater short-term improvement in plaque control

2 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
iStock_000016834391XSmall couple finger pointing at computer screen square

Good oral hygiene is important for the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease. The aim of the study was to assess whether a motivational interview addressing the five dimensions of Leventhal’s theory performed better than conventional basic instruction on improving compliance with plaque control among patients with periodontitis. Patients were randomised to receive either a [read the full story…]

Ibuprofen and ibuprofen/acetaminophen have similar effect on postoperative endodontic pain

2 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_70416955-root canal treatment

The aim of this study was to determine whether  in patients diagnosed with pulpal necrosis and associated periapical radiolucency with moderate to severe preoperative pain ibuprofen or ibuprofen/acetaminophen was more effective for postoperative endodontic pain. 71 patients with a  symptomatic tooth with a pulpal diagnosis of necrosis and moderate to severe pain at the time [read the full story…]

Tagged with: , ,

Fluoride varnish application in school setting did not reduce caries in first permanent molars

1 Response »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
Photograph of carious teeth

The aim of this cluster randomised controlled trial was to measure the effectiveness of fluoride varnish as a public health intervention to prevent caries in the first permanent molars of 7- and 8-year-old children when delivered in the school setting. Schools that agreed to participate were randomized into test and reference groups by the study [read the full story…]

Ability of existing tests to distinguish between temporomandibular disorders questioned

1 Response »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_51359269 dentist and patient looking at x-ray

The aim of this review was to summarize the research on accuracy of individual clinical diagnostic signs and tests for the presence of temporomandibular disorder (TMD), , and for the subclassifications affiliated with TMD. The authors conducted  hand and computerised  searches  to identify articles on the diagnostic accuracy of clinical tests and signs.  The sources [read the full story…]

Oral health advice for people with serious mental illness

No Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_77733628-powered toothbrush

The aim of this review from the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group was to assess the effectiveness of oral health advice in reducing morbidity, mortality and preserving the quality of life in people with serious mental illness. A number of studies have found links between mental health problems and poor oral health and we have higlighted some [read the full story…]

New Cochrane Protocols

No Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
Logo of The Cochrane Collaboration

The November issue of the Cochrane Library sees  the publication a  number of new oral health related protocols. This indicates research in progress, of course, and we would not expect results to be published for some time.  However, people who are investigating these topic areas may like to know that a review is under way. [read the full story…]

School-based use of xylitol/maltitol or erythritol/maltitol lozenges in low caries area had no additional caries preventive effect

No Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
Photograph of carious teeth

The aim of the study was to investigate whether, in a school-based setting in a low caries prevalence population xylitol/maltitol  or erythritol/maltitol conferred any additional caries preventive effect. Xylitol is a non-fermentable sugar alcohol Erythritol is a noncaloric tetritol (tetrahydroxy alcohols) with about  70% of the sweetness of  sucrose. Maltitol is generally considered an inert [read the full story…]

Tagged with: , , ,