Primary Dental Care Research

Professor Trevor Burke, 
Dr Deborah White,
Dr John Morris,
Dr Kirsty Hill,
Mr Dominic Stewardson 

Key involvement in national epidemiological oral health surveys and analysis of disease trends and healthcare needs have been fundamental to providing a robust evidence-base (White, Morris, Hill) forming the basis for further research, such as the PDS Pilot Project which has been central to informing government policy on primary dental care delivery in the UK (Morris, White, Burke, Hill).

Research on the prevalence of dental erosion and tooth wear and the factors influencing disease presentation (Rock, Smith, White) has been important in highlighting the changing trends in restorative treatment needs and the opportunities for disease prevention.

Implementation of the orthodontic index of treatment needs (Rock) is providing a valuable tool at the primary care interface and will potentially inform national policy.

The need to target specific sectors of the population is demonstrated through our research on healthcare provision and delivery within the ever expanding UK Prison Service (Morris). Assessment of the effectiveness of healthcare delivery is also important and a collaboration between Burke and staff at the NHSBSA Dental Practice Division (DPB) has enabled the establishment of the world’s largest database for restoration longevity and has yielded important information on the survival of dental restorations.

Interrogation and analysis of this database has identified the survival trends for a variety of restorations placed within the NHS (Burke), which will help to inform future policy on treatment decisions and identify factors influencing material performance impacting on their future development.

An innovative development has been the introduction of a practice-based primary care research network (BRIDGE) in the West Midlands facilitating translational research (Burke, Stewardson). This has allowed assessment of the performance of various restorative procedures within the primary care setting to date, but clearly provides scope for much broader translational research in the future.

Notably, a similar initiative has since been adopted by NIH in the US with some $70 million of support. The practice-based research network is also complemented by national and European networks of practitioners (Product Research and Evaluation by Practitioners – PREP Panel and more recently, EuroPREP) led by Burke allowing the assessment and translation of newly developed restorative materials in the primary care setting.

  

Join the Research Teams at Birmingham
We are happy to consider EU and international scientists wishing to join our research force at the School of Dentistry through the of Marie Curie EIF or IIF programmes (funded for up to two years). Please contact us to discuss the possibilities available.