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 –

The impact of temporomandibular disorders on oral health-related quality of life

1 Response »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
Depression

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 original review authors were looking at the relationship between oral health-related quality of life (OHQOL) and temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). The critical summary noted that the review question could have been [read the full story…]

Conventional or self-ligating bracket use not an important predictor of mandibular intermolar width in non-extractions orthodontic cases

No Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_81157801-orthodontic appliance

The aim of this study was to compare intermolar widths after alignment of crowded mandibular dental arches in non-extraction adolescent patients between conventional and self-ligating brackets. The trial included patients requiring non-extraction treatment in both arches, having all mandibular teeth erupted with no spaces in the mandibular arch, mandibular irregularity index from canine to canine [read the full story…]

Tagged with: ,

Early orthodontic treatment did not affect the incidence of incisor injury.

No Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
iStock_000002551343XSmall colourful braces on teeth

Prominent anterior teeth are considered to be a risk factor for trauma. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and incidence of incisor trauma in subjects who participated in a randomized clinical trial designed to investigate early growth modifications in the treatment of Class II malocclusion. In this trial patients were randomised [read the full story…]

Tagged with: ,

Implant overdentures may not improve the nutritional state of elderly edentate individuals

No Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_70163050 dental implants

The aim of this study was to see whether the provision of simple mandibular implant overdentures (IODs) to elderly individuals would give them a significantly better nutritional profile than those who receive complete dentures (CDs). The authors randomised two hundred fifty-five edentate patients over 65 yrs were to receive maxillary CDs and mandibular IODs (n [read the full story…]

Improvements in dry mouth seen with night guard and/or BET containing mouthwash

1 Response »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_12720943-mouthwash

Xerostomia is a common condition that affects many adults. It is frequently caused by autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren’s syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis or as a result of drug-related side effects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an intraoral device and a Betaine (BET) containing mouthwash in [read the full story…]

Limited evidence that extraction of deciduous canines prevents impaction of palatally displaced permanent canines

No Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_8524240-unerupted canines

This ADA Centre for Evidence-based Dentistry critical summary of  a systematic review  published in 2011. The original review was asked whether interceptive treatment involving the early extraction of the deciduous canine prevents impaction of palatally displaced canines (PDC) [ see Dental Elf 28th July ]. The ADA noted that while the review was generally well [read the full story…]

Bacteraemia due to everyday oral activities

2 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_26227375 toothbrushes and toothpaste

The aim of this review was to investigate the robustness of the observations on the influence of oral hygiene, gingival and periodontal status on the development of bacteraemia from everyday oral activities (B-EOA), analysing its prevalence, duration, magnitude and bacterial diversity. The authors searched MEDLINE-PubMed, the Cochrane Library and Embase for studies on B-EOA. They [read the full story…]

Repair as an alternative to replacement of dental restorations

No Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_58678612

Replacement of  defective restorations is the commonest procedure carried out in general dental practice.  Replacement generally means some further loss of tooth substance and enlargement of the restoration.  Alternatives to full replacement have improved restorations and increased longevity. The aim of this study was to estimate the median survival time (MST) of marginal sealing, repair [read the full story…]

No evidence that periodontal treatment during pregnancy prevents adverse pregnancy outcomes

No Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_48486751 stomatologist shows x-ray

The latest critical summary from the ADA Centre for Evidence-based dentistry looks at  a systematic review and meta-analysis of obstetric outcomes after periodontal treatment  that was first published in  2010 in the British Medical Journal. A number of studies have associated periodontal disease with adverse obstetric outcomes ( pre term, low birth weight,etc)  The aim [read the full story…]

Sectional or circumferential matrix systems for direct composite restorations?

1 Response »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_54092779 open mouth during dental treatment

When restoring teeth establishing good contact points between adjacent teeth is important to minimise food packing. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of cavity preparation (MO/DO/MOD) and type of matrix system on proximal contact tightness of direct posterior composite restorations. 85 patients requiring either a two- or three surface Class II [read the full story…]

Tagged with: ,