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 –

Periodontal treatment and prevention in Down syndrome patients

46 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
Teeth_clean2

Only 9 small studies were identified for this review of the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease in patients with Down’s syndrome. More high quality studies are needed to help inform clinical practice

[read the full story...]

Periodontal disease – patient awareness levels low

18 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_129331361

Six cross sectional and community-based studies involving a total of 7945 patients were included in this review. While awareness and knowledge of periodontal disease was found to be low the quality of the available studies was not high.

[read the full story...]

Headgear treatment for Class II malocclusions?

17 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_127776467

Only 5 of the 18 trials included in this review of headgear for the treatment of class II malocclusions were randomised while a short-term reduction of the SNA angle was noted the quality of the studies was high.

[read the full story...]

Partial indirect restorations: survival rates

10 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_126711704

The aim of this review was to evaluate the survival rate of resin and ceramic inlays, onlays, and overlays and to identify the types of complications associated with the main clinical outcomes.

[read the full story...]

Trigeminal neuralgia: is botulinum toxin effective?

6 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
Behavioural signs such as grimacing, guarding, resistance to care, pacing/rocking etc will give clues to the fact that a person with dementia is in pain

Six small RCTs were included in this review. Findings suggest that botulinum toxin type A (BoTN-A) has a positive effect on post treatment pain. Hover the results should be interpreted cautiously as the quality of the evidence is limited and more high quality studies are needed.

[read the full story...]

Lingual orthodontic treatment has more adverse effects?

6 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_155175200

Only 6 studies were available for this review of the adverse effect of lingual and buccal orthodontic treatment. The available data suggests that lingual orthodontic techniques may induce higher levels of pain, speech difficulties, and oral hygiene problems but thes findings should be views with caution because of the limited quality of the evidence.

[read the full story...]

Dental implant treatment in elderly patients

20 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_67927216

6 studies were included in this review of dental implant treatment on patients aged 65 and over. The review suggests good outcomes up to 10 years although the findings should be interpreted cautiously.

[read the full story...]

Root canal obturation-hot or cold?

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

This randomised controlled trial compares root canal obturation with cold lateral condensation or thermafil after a period of two years. After that tiem no significant differences were demonstrated between the two approaches.

[read the full story...]

Digital impressions for fixed prosthodontics?

9 Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_31575166

This review of Intraoral digital impressions suggest they provide similar accuracy to conventional elastomeric impressions. However only 2 of the 11 studies included are clinical and these are both small, so the results should be interpreted cautiously.

[read the full story...]