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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Erosive toothwear: Is it associated with gastro-oesophageal reflux- related symptoms and disease?

Estogeny & nekarioznye porazenia zubob. Monografia.

This review of the association between erosive toothwear and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease or symptoms (GERD/S) included 27 observational studies with 19 contributing to the meta-analyses. Findings suggest patients with GERD/S have 2–4 fold increased odds of erosive toothwear.

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Micro-osteoperforation and the rate of orthodontic tooth movement

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This review of the effect of micro-osteoperforations (MOPs) on orthodontic tooth movement included 8 small RCTs of short duration providing low quality evidence.

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Orthodontic retainers: Effects on periodontal health

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This review of the effects of fixed orthodontic retainers on periodontal health includes 29 manily observational studies. While the findings suggest that fixed rettainers are compatibile with periodontal health the quality of the included studies is very low so the findings should be interpreted cautiously.

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Cracked teeth: Outcomes after endodontic treatment

shutterstock_2296216-root canal xray

This review of the success and survival rate of endodontically treated cracked posterior teeth included 7 retrospective studies suggesting a 1 year survival rate of 88% (95%CI; 81% – 94%).

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Antifungal drugs for oral candidiasis

Candida Albicans

This network meta-analysis of the efficacy of antifungal drugs on oral candidiasis included 31 RCTs of overal low quality suggesting that fluconazole may be the most effective.

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Oral leukoplakia: Malignant transformation rate

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

This review of the rate of malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia included 34 many retrospective observational studies. The estimated mean malignant transformation rate was 9.7% (95%CI; 7.8% to 11.7%).

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Dental implants: Short or standard for single-crown restoration in posterior jaw?

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This review comparing whether implant supported crowns on short or standard implants have similar clinical outcomes in the posterior alveolar bone included 5 RCTs. the findings suggested no differences at one year but that shorter implants performed less well at 5 years.

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Oral candidiasis: Are probiotics effective?

Candida albicans

This review of the the efficacy of probiotics on oral Candida spp. includes 12 RCTs and suggests a possible benefit. However the quality of the evidence is limited so the findings should be intepreted cautiously.

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Third molars: Envelope or triangular flap for mandibular third molar surgery?

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This review comparing the effects of envelope and triangular flaps for mandibular third molar surgery included 20 RCTs involving 770 patients. A majority of the studies were of cross-over design with the findings suggesting no differences in teh outcomes between the two flap designs.

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Oral lichen planus: malignant transformation rate

Lichen_planusWickham's

This review of the malignant transformation rate of oral lichen planus and associated risk factors included 33 studies. Using a strict definition the authors found a malignant transformation rate of 0.44%.

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