Dentists invite most people for dental check-ups every six months. Despite being common practice in the UK and many other countries, this interval is based on low quality evidence.  The results of a large trial across the UK (INTERVAL) did not support such frequent dental appointments.   It found that the 30% people at low risk ...

Sealing in decay, improving tooth hygiene and using conventional fillings all work to prevent future dental pain and infection for children with decay in baby teeth. The approaches are equally acceptable to children and parents. Researchers tested three methods of managing decay in the primary molars of children aged three to seven: best practice prevention ...

Nine ways research could save the NHS money In this highlight, we have carefully selected nine NIHR Signals that show how research could help to save the NHS money. This collection covers a range of treatments and initiatives that are cost effective for the NHS. You can find out more about Signals or read the latest on the Discover Portal. ...

Cartoons delivered on laptops, projectors or 3D goggles with sound can help distract anxious children who fear dental procedures. Dental anxiety can prevent children from attending the dentist for care, and this type of distraction could offer a useful tool to help them. This review looked at a range of audiovisual approaches tested in trials ...

An electronic referral system including consultant-led triage and an advanced oral surgery service in primary care results in fewer people requiring oral surgery in hospital. It comes at a lower overall cost than the previous arrangement. About two-thirds of patients could be treated safely in enhanced primary settings rather than hospital. This NIHR-funded study implemented ...

Fluoride varnish and fissure sealant are equally good at preventing tooth decay on children’s first permanent back teeth when applied to six or seven year olds in South Wales. Six applications of fluoride varnish were less expensive, by about £68 per child, for the NHS at 36 months compared to applying the more expensive fissure ...

In people with mild gum disease chlorhexidine mouthwash, in addition to tooth brushing, reduces plaque build-up in the first weeks or months of use. However, when used for longer than four weeks chlorhexidine mouthwash can lead to tooth staining and a build-up of chalky deposits on the teeth, called tartar. There is insufficient evidence to ...

Providing a set of additional fluoride-based treatments at dental appointments for children aged two to three years was no better than health education at preventing tooth decay. A range of public health measures to reduce sugar consumption are also needed. The treatment involved providing fluoride toothpaste and applying a fluoride varnish to the teeth at ...

A reduction in tooth decay of about 27% can be expected from the supervised regular use of fluoride mouthrinsing by school children. Tooth decay has a significant impact on health and wellbeing. It is more common in disadvantaged communities and can be prevented by good oral hygiene and diet with reduced sugar intake. Children and young ...

This review found that new surface and shallow dental procedures, called micro-invasive treatments, reduce tooth decay by about three quarters. The treatments for adults were applied to the surfaces of teeth that touch or are next to each other. Four types of treatment were compared with non-invasive strategies such as advice on flossing or the ...