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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Children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities: oral health status

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This review of oral health status in people with intellectual disabilities included 39 studies. Higher level of dental plaque, worse gingival status, and fewer decayed and filled permanent teeth were seen than in patients without intellectual disabilities.

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Scaling and root planing: Do adjunctive statins improve effectiveness?

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10 randomised trials were included in this review of he adjunctive use of statins with scaling and root planing for treatment of chronic periodontitis . The findings suggest additional benefits with their use regardless of health or smoking status.

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Fluoride supplements for pregnant women to prevent caries in their children

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Pregnancy is a major life changing event for all women, but this study shows that women who are depressed during pregnancy are also at risk of reduced breastfeeding initiation and premature delivery

This Cochrane review of fluoride supplements during pregnancy for the prevention of caries in their children identified only a single trial which provided no evidence of caries prevention in their offspring.

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Periodontal disease and pregnancy outcomes

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Routine specialist pregnancy care involved an initial meeting to discuss quitting smoking and set a quit date, followed by 4 weekly telephone calls, and free nicotine replacement therapy for 10 weeks.

Twenty three systematic reviews were included in this overview of reviews reviews assessing the link between periodontal disease and adverse periodontal outcomes. While a majority of the available reviews suggest an association there are concerns regarding the quality of the primary studies.

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Supervised toothbrushing for children and adolescents

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Four studies were included in this review of supervised toothbrushing in children and adolescents. The evidence identified provides no conclusive evidence. However previous Cochrane reviews have suggested benefits on caries from supervised brushing.

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Potentially malignant disorders of the oral cavity: Evaluation guideline

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This new clinical practice guideline from the American Dental Association (ADA) updates the 2010 guideline on “Evidence-based Clinical Recommendations Regarding Screening for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas

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Titanium or resorbable plates for orthognathic surgery

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This Cochrane review compared titanium & bioresorbable fixation systems for orthognathic surgery. Only 2 RCTS were identified providing insufficient evidence to determine if titanium plates or resorbable plates are superior.

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Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ): treatment and prevention

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This Cochrane review of interventions for the prevention and treatment of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) identified 5 trials. Three were related to prevention and two to treatment providing limited evidence to support interventions. More high quality studies are needed.

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Orthodontic treatment for Class II division 2 malocclusion: No randomised trial evidence

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This Cochrane review of orthodontic treatment for class II div 2 malocclusion updates the previous 2006 version. No RCTs or CCTs were identified so It is not possible to provide any evidence-based guidance to recommend or discourage any type of orthodontic treatment to correct Class II division 2 malocclusion in children.

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Fissure sealants: performance not affected by tooth characteristics

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16 studies affect of were included in this review of tooth characteristics on sealant performance. With the exception of lower sealant failure rate on premolars sealants were not affected negatively by mouth side, jaw, or tooth type.

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