Dental resources
Watch the video here to learn more about Research in Dental Practices from Anesha Chauhan from the West Midlands team and their journey so far.
Learn more about the West Midlands Dental Leaflet and how the West Midlands are building relationships with Dentists. You can also learn more about the Dental Research Network microsite which the West Midlands Network have created here.
dentist qr-720p-231030.mp4In this video Anesha Chauhan talks about why research in dental practices is vital and some specific examples of types of research which you may come across when supporting research in this setting.
Research in a Dental Practice:
Anesha Chauhan: Clinical Research Practitioner Integrated Care Delivery Team West Midlands Network
The NIHR Page on research into oral and dental health has information about dental research.
To better understand this setting here is a report from the NHS on Dental Statistics for England 2022-2023
Where could research happen in a dental setting;
Dental hospital
Community Dental Services (Dental school could create the study, may have a university attached)
Private dental practice
High street dental practice (NHS and also private)
Services delivered in Dentistry;
General dentistry
• Emergency treatment
• Band 1 (prevention)
• Band 2 (treatment)
• Band 3 (complex treatment)
Specialised services
• Hospital dentistry
• Community dentistry including domiciliary care
To help what dental research can look like the NIHR have written an article to look at the role dentists can play in reducing obesity in the UK. There is also a full article you can read - Time to get our teeth into reducing obesity: should dentists screen and deliver interventions to reduce obesity in the population?
To find out more about research which is a priority in dental practices you can visit the Evidence-Based Dentistry sites https://www.nature.com/ebd/ and Dental Elf https://www.nationalelfservice.net/dentistry/
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have a job to monitor and inspect health and social care services such as your local dental. The CQC website has information regarding the regulation of dental practices.
In the document 'A new strategy for the changing world of health and social care' - CQC strategy 2021, you will find information regarding the CQC's commitment to research.
Top tip - By using the CQC website you can search for dental practices and find the names of those to contact. You can use this information to search through NHS email.
Also the webpage of the dental practice will share information on the dental practice lead contact.
Top tips for ways to engage with dentists;
The team is multi disciplinary and includes dentists, dental nurses, hygienists, therapists and technicians.
Evidence-based dentistry (EBD) is vital for delivering high standards of care to patients of the dental practice.
Dental graduates and foundation trainees are likely to have knowledge and experience of basic research skills such as searching literature, critical reading and clinical audit due to their education.
The practice principle/ manager can be the owner of the dental practice. This is who gives permission for a research study to take place in the dental setting.
The Dental Practice will need to ensure they are covered for research activity by there indemnity provider.
Dental practices are extremely busy environments.
Many dental practices are research naive unless they are linked to a dental hospital.
Top tips for engaging: Why should a Dental Practice do research?
Research is an amazing way to retain staff and train
Job satisfaction
Professional development opportunities
Improving patient health care
To help share findings of research to improve policies
Its a great way to improve standards in NHS
Offers remuneration
Rewarding
Dental practices are CQC regulated
To support a practice to do their own research in the future
There are further resources in the awesome table
This page has been created with the help and support of contributors including;
Anesha Patel, Clinical Research Practitioner West Midlands Core Team.