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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Dental restorations: repair or replace?

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10 studies were included in this review of the effectiveness of minimally invasive repair or replacement of dental restorations. The reviewers suggest that seal and refurbishment techniques did not present a significant difference in clinical longevity in comparison to the replacement technique in permanent teeth. However, both the amount and the quality of the available evidence is limited.

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Sjögren’s syndrome: treatments for dry mouth and hyposalivation

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36 studies were included in this review of treatment options for xerostomia, hyposalivation and quality of life in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome provinding evidence to support pilocarpine use. However the number of studies were limited and adverse effects were common.

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Musculoskeletal disorders in dental care providers: limited evidence for preventive interventions

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Just two RCTs were identified for this Cochrane review of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in dental care providers providing very-low quality evidence for physical ergonomic interventions.

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Orthodontic management and orofacial muscle training protocols in the developing dentition

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15 studies were included in this review of early orthodontic management and orofacial muscle training protocols in the developing dentition. All the included studies were at high risk of bias so high-quality evidence for early orthodontic management and myofunctional treatment in the developing dentition is lacking.

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Implant overdentures: effectiveness of attachment systems

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6 RCTs were included in this Cochrane review of attachment systems for implant overdentures. The included studies provide insufficient evidence of relative effectiveness of prosthodontic success, prosthodontic maintenance, patient satisfaction, patient preference or costs.

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Gingival recession: which surgical treatment technique?

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This Cochrane review of the efficacy of different root coverage procedures for gingival recession included 48 RCTs describing a range of procedures. Most procedures led to a reduction in gingival recession.

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Bone augmentation in atrophic mandibles; autogenous bone or biomaterial?

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This review of bone augmentation with biomaterials or autogenous bone in the posterior mandible outcomes included 4 small split-mouth studies demonstrating similar were outcomes with both materials.

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Oral care for nursing home residents

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This Cochrane review of the effects of oral care on prevention of nursing home acquired pneumonia included 4 RCTs providing low quality evidence that oral care may reduce mortality.

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Antibiotics and toothache

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Only 2 RCTs are included in this Cochrane review update of the effects of systemic antibiotics on adults with symptomatic apical periodontitis or acute apical abscess providing insufficient evidence of effectiveness.

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Third molars: Regenerative techniques for preventing periodontal defects

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This review of the effectiveness of regenerative periodontal treatment for preventing periodontal defects following third molar surgery included 21 RCTs and suggested that these approaches were effective. However a majority of the included studies were at high risk of bias so the findings should be interpreted cautiously.

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