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 –

Ceramic crowns: What type of finish line?

No Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_101805352

This review of the effect of finish lines on the marginal and internal fit of ceramic crowns included 16 small in-vitro studies suggesting wider marginal gaps with chamfer finish lines.

[read the full story...]

Easter Break

No Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_61752949

  The Dental Elf is taking a short Easter Break and with be back on the 29th April.                

Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS): Does SLS-free toothpaste use benefit patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis

No Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_89901511

This review of the effects of sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) free and SLS-containing toothpastes in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) included 4 small RCTs with the findings suggesting that patients with RAS may benefit from using SLS-free toothpaste. However the quality of teh availabel studies is very low.

[read the full story...]

Interdental cleaning devices for prevention and control of caries and periodontal disease

No Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_20598889-Floss

Thi Cochrane review evaluateingthe effectiveness of interdental cleaning devices used at home, in addition to toothbrushing, compared with toothbrushing alone, for preventing and controlling periodontal diseases, caries, and plaque includes 35 RCTs providing low to very low certainty evidence that floss or interdental brushes in addition to toothbrushing may reduce gingivitis or plaque, or both.

[read the full story...]

Aloe vera mouthwash: how does it compare with chlorhexidine?

No Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_12720943-mouthwash

This review of the efficacy of aloe vera mouthrinse on plaque and gingival inflammation includes 6 RCTS providing very low quality evidence that aloe vera mouthwash is comparable to chlorhexidine in reducing gingival inflammation.

[read the full story...]

Orthodontic treatment: Do vibrating devices accelerate tooth movement?

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

This review of the efficiency of the vibrating devices in accelerating orthodontic tooth movement identified 6 RCTs the majority being short term and at high risk of bias. The RCTs suggested no difference with the use of vibrational devices.

[read the full story...]

Fixed orthodontic appliances: What is the most effective debonding technique?

No Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_60699226

This review of different methods for reducing pain and discomfort during removal of fixed orthodontic appliances included 6 RCTs providing weak evidence for pre-debonding analgesia and other approaches.

[read the full story...]

Dental Implants: long or short?

No Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
shutterstock_34428667

This review compares survival rates between extra-short implants (≤6 mm) and ≥10 mm long implants. 18 studies were included suggesting little diference up to 3 years following prosthetic loading.

[read the full story...]

Oral mucosal disorders during pregnancy – How common are they?

No Responses »
Profile photo of Derek Richards
Posted by
Pregnant women taking antidepressants should be made of the benefits and risks of this treatment

This review of the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions during pregnancy included 15 observational studies from 9 countries. Gingival hyperplasia was most commonly report however the quality of the available evidence was assessed as very low.

[read the full story...]