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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Oral Mucositis: can honey reduce its severity?

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This review of the use of honey to educe the severity of radio/chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis identified 7 low quality RCTs that suggest that use of honey may reduce the severity of oral mucositis.

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Third molar removal: flap design and periodontal outcomes

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8 small RCTs were identified for this review of the effect of flap design on periodontal outcomes following third molar removal. The available evidence did not favour any particular flap design.

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Anti-plaque agents: do they help reduce plaque levels?

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63 RCTs contributed to this network meta-analysis of the effectiveness of anti-plaque agents. Results suggested that toothpastes containing triclosan-copolymer or chlorhexidine and mouthrinses containing essential oils or chlorhexidine had the most effect on plaque indicies at 6 months.

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Toothpaste and plaque removal

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Plaque off, Fluoride on. Brushing your teeth really is that simple. Image: Adam Drewes (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

This review of the efficacy of brushing with and without a toothpaste for plaque removal identified 10 trials involving a total of 444 patients. While the results suggest no differences other reviews have demonstrated clear oral health benefits from brushing with toothpaste.

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Orthodontic retainers: impact on periodontal health

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While 24 studies were included in this review of the impact of orthodontic retainers on periodontal health there was a lack of high quality evidence to support any particular retainer on this or a range of other parameters. More well-designed and long terms studies are required.

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Obstructive sleep apnoea: insufficient evidence for oral appliances in children

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What other effects do nightmares and parasomnias have on sleep that could explain the association with future psychotic symptoms?

This Cochrane review to assess the effects of oral appliances or functional orthopaedic appliances for obstructive sleep apnoea in children only identified a single small trial which provided insufficient evidence to assess effectiveness.

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Distraction osteogenesis or orthognathic surgery for hypoplastic maxilla in cleft lip and palate

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This Cochrane review of maxillary distraction osteogenesis compared to orthognathic surgery for the treatment of hypoplastic maxilla in people with cleft lip and palate only identified a single small trial providing very low quality evidence. Further high quality research is needed.

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Oral Health in nursing homes: education for staff and residents

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All the evidence relates to care homes and there is hardly any evidence for any other setting.

9 trials were included in this Cochrane review of oral health education & training for care home residents & staff . These trials provided insufficient evidence from which to draw evidence about the effects of the interventions so more high quality studies are needed.

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Keratocystic odontogenic tumors: which treatment approach?

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This review of the management of keratocystic odontogenic tumors included 14 mainly retrospective studies ans suggests that initial cystectomy, with or without adjuvant therapy, is associated with the least chance of recurrence.

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Essential oils mouthwash reduced plaque and gingival inflammation

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This review of essential oils mouthwashes included 16 RCTs and found them to be more effective for the reduction of plaque and gingival inflammation than mechanical plaque control either alone (placebo) or in combination with mouthwashes with CPC.

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