Helping your dentist help you
Research
Presentations
Publications
The eviDent Foundation’s projects feature in the following publications:
- A five-year retrospective assay of implant treatments and complications in private practice: restorative treatment profiles of long-span, implant-supported fixed and removable dental prostheses – The International Journal of Prosthodontics
- Analysis of commonly reported medical conditions amongst patients receiving dental implant therapy in private practice – Australian Dental Journal
- Five-year retrospective assay of implant treatments and complications in private practice: restorative treatment profiles of single and short-span implant-supported fixed prostheses – The International Journal of Prosthodontics
- A 5-year retrospective assay of implant treatments and complications in private practice: the restorative complications of single and short-span implant-supported fixed prostheses – The International Journal of Prosthodontics
- A five-year retrospective assay of implant treatments and complications in private practice: the restorative complications of single and short-span implant-supported fixed prostheses– Victorian Dentist, Clinical Update
- Complications of augmentation procedures for dental implants in private practice, Victoria, Australia – Australian Dental Journal
- A five-year retrospective assay of implant treatments and complications in private practice: restorative treatment profiles of long-span, implant-supported fixed and removable dental prostheses – The International Journal of Prosthodontics
- A five-year retrospective assay of implant treatments and complications in private practice: restorative treatment profiles of long-span, implant-supported fixed and removable dental prostheses – The International Journal of Prosthodontics
- Distribution and severity of molar hypo-mineralisation: trial of a new severity index – Victorian Dentist, Clinical Update
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General practitioners’ knowledge and management of dry mouth – A qualitative study – Australian Family Physician
- Revisiting the value of school-based dental check-up programs – The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Dental and Oral Health Therapy
- Periodontal diagnosis in private dental practice: a case-based survey – Australian Dental Journal
- 016 – Body dysmorphic disorder: A practice-based study. – Journal of Dentistry
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Attitudes and opinions of oral healthcare professionals on screening for Type-2 diabetes
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Victorian Oral Health Professionals’ attitudes and barriers to diabetes screening
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Victorian Oral Health Professionals’ knowledge of Type-2 Diabetes
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Cost-Effectiveness of Screening to Identify Pre-Diabetes and Diabetes in the Oral Healthcare Setting
- Factors associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts by Australian dental practitioners – Wiley Online Library
- Mental health, psychological distress and burnout in Australian dental practitioners – Wiley Online Library
- Exploring the validity of the Sydney Burnout Measure – ScienceDirect
- Australian dental practitioners experience of burnout - Wiley Online Library
Submit a research proposal
Do you have a research idea or concept that you would like to explore further?
If so, please complete and submit the project proposal form.
Once the form has been submitted, the eviDent DPBRN® Committee will consider the proposal against the following criteria:
- Is the research idea or concept a researchable question?
- Does it fit within our aims and objectives?
- Is the study fundable?
If the proposal meets the criteria, interest will be invited from eviDent’s Chief Investigators and Associate Investigators.
Once the project team is established, you will be asked to complete a research protocol form for the eviDent DPBRN Committee to consider.
Learn more about eviDent's research project selection and approval process.
Research Project Proposal Form
Who should complete this form?
eviDent members or potential members are invited to submit their research idea or concept to the eviDent Committee.
What happens once you have lodged your research proposal?
Once the form has been submitted, the eviDent Committee will consider the proposal against the following criteria:
- Is the research idea or concept a researchable question?
- Does it fit within our aims and objectives?
- Is the study fundable?
If the proposal meets the criteria, interest will be invited from eviDent’s Chief Investigators and Associate Investigators. Once the project team is established, you will be asked to complete a research protocol form for the eviDent DPBRN Committee to consider.
Download the PDF form or complete the online form below.
Research opportunities
Introduction
We invite you to take part in a research study that aims to explore and understand the perceptions and practices of dental practitioners who provide oral implant treatments. Your expertise and insights are invaluable in shaping the future of dental implant treatment protocols.
Aim
To gather insights from dental practitioners regarding oral implant treatment protocols, complications, patient communication, and more.
Who can participate?
Dental practitioners who:
- are registered and practising in Australia;
- have at least five years’ experience in oral implant treatment;
- have the ability to read and write English; and
- have access to the internet to complete an online questionnaire.
What will you be asked to do?
Complete a 15-20-minute online questionnaire.
Why should you participate?
- Contribute to Best Practices: Your input will help shape nationally accepted guidelines for dental implant treatments, addressing the significant biological and financial burden of complications on patients and the community.
- Make a Difference: By sharing your insights, you'll contribute to improved patient-centred care and value-based health outcomes.
- Professional Development: Participation offers an opportunity to engage with peers, share your experiences, and contribute to the advancement of dental implant treatments.
How do you participate?
To join this vital research effort, simply click on the link here to access the survey:
Your participation is confidential, and your responses will be anonymised and securely stored. The findings of this study will be used to develop better practices and protocols that benefit both practitioners and patients.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to contribute to the advancement of dental implant treatments. Your expertise and insights are crucial to our research.
If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to contact us at .
Who are the researchers?
Dr Cecilia So, A/Prof Roy Judge, Dr Denise Bailey, Dr Roisin McGrath, and A/Prof Dale Howes
Ethics Approval
This project has human research ethics approval from The University of Melbourne (Reference number 2023-24786-42856-5).
This project is supported by the eviDent Foundation and is funded by the International Team for Implantology.
Introduction
Recent findings reported in the Australia Dental Journal found there is currently a lack of data about the use of radiology by Australian dentists. This project will assess Australian dentists’ current knowledge, confidence, attitudes, and beliefs regarding radiology of mandibular third molars using two dimensional and three-dimensional imaging techniques.
Aim
To explore Australian dental practitioners’ current attitudes, beliefs, confidence and knowledge about radiology of mandibular third molars using two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging techniques.
Who can participate?
General dentists and dental specialists who:
- Are registered with AHPRA in Australia; and
- have access to the internet.
What will you be asked to do?
Complete an online questionnaire that should take approximately 5-10 minutes of your time.
Why should you participate?
- Help to provide the researchers with an understanding of Australian dentists’ current knowledge, confidence, attitudes and beliefs about the use of CBCT compared to OPG for pre-operative assessment of mandibular third molars
- Help to provide evidence to inform the development of continued professional development for the Australian dental profession
- You and your practice may benefit from the outcomes of this study, leading to increased professional satisfaction and well-being;
- Be part of an eviDent project that will ultimately contribute to the practice of dentistry in Australia.
How do you participate?
Your participation is voluntary. If you don’t wish to take part, you don’t have to. If you begin participating, you can also stop at any time. In order to participate in the research project, click the following link (further information on the research project can be found at the link): https://sydney.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aazj4h62pmnVCD4
Who are the researchers?
Dr Alan Reid, Dr Stephen Cox, Dr Alan Mann
Ethics Approval
This project has human research ethics approval from The University of Sydney (HREC Approval No 2022/676).
Introduction
High levels of dental caries in children throughout the world is a significant cause of concern, as dental caries is a cumulative and progressive disease. In order to reduce the risk of tooth decay in adulthood, the best approach is to reduce the prevalence of dental caries in children. There is evidence that supports the relationship between the amount of sugars consumed and the development of dental caries when frequency of intake is controlled. There is currently insufficient literature about the attitudes of dental practitioners towards supporting their patients’ to reduce their intake of sugars, as well as potential barriers and facilitators that may influence the ability of dental practitioners in reducing their patients’ sugars intake.
Aim
- To explore the attitudes, practices and knowledge of dental teams in supporting adolescent patients to reduce free sugars intake within the context of a healthier diet
- To explore the barriers and facilitators influencing the ability of dental practitioners to support patients to reduce their free sugars intake
Who can participate?
Dental team members (dentists, dental therapists, dental hygienists, oral health therapists, dental assistants, dental receptionists and practice managers) who:
- are working in a public or private dental practice in Australia;
- have access to the internet.
What will you be asked to do?
Attend a focus group via Zoom for approximately one hour to discuss your thoughts on paediatric consumption of sugars, including barriers and facilitators that influence your how you support patients in reducing their sugars intake. You will also be invited to participate in one-on-one interviews with the research team.
Why should you participate?
- Help the researchers to understand how the dental team can support children to reduce their sugars intake
- You and your practice may benefit from the outcomes of this study, leading to increased professional satisfaction and well-being;
- Be part of an eviDent project that will ultimately contribute to the practice of dentistry in Australia.
How do you participate?
Your participation is voluntary. If you don’t wish to take part, you don’t have to. If you begin participating, you can also stop at any time. In order to participate in the research project, click the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/bG7KUwJ0xF
Who are the researchers?
Renya Nambi Subramaniyan (BDS student at the University of Adelaide), supervised by Prof Paula Moynihan and Dr Wendy Cheung.
Ethics Approval
This project has human research ethics approval from the University of Adelaide (Reference number 17227).
Introduction
Over the last 20 years, the use of orthodontic clear aligners appears to have been increasing. Acquiring robust data about the use of aligners among dentists and information about factors involved in the adoption of preferred aligner type, case selection, treatment protocols, digital treatment planning and adjunctive treatment modalities have not yet been addressed.
Aim
To investigate orthodontic clear aligner practices among general dentists.
Who can participate?
Registered general dentists who:
- are working in a public or private dental practice in Australia; and
- have access to the internet
What will you be asked to do?
Complete an online questionnaire that should take approximately 15 minutes of your time.
Why should you participate?
- Help to provide further evidence for dentists to evaluate their own aligner treatment practices and information for future research into orthodontic treatment.
- Help to provide evidence of the importance of direct clinical care in treatment with aligners.
- You and your practice may benefit from the outcomes of this study, leading to increased professional satisfaction and well-being.
- Be part of an eviDent project that will ultimately contribute to the practice of dentistry in Australia.
How do you participate?
Your participation is voluntary. If you don’t wish to take part, you don’t have to. If you begin participating, you can also stop at any time. In order to participate in the research project, click the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FDWGY3Q
Who are the researchers?
A/Prof Maurice Meade and Dr Tony Weir, Orthodontic Unit, Adelaide Dental School, University of Adelaide
Ethics Approval
This project has human research ethics approval from The University of Adelaide (Reference number H-2023-031).
Introduction
Around 10% of the Australian population have a reported penicillin allergy, but of the 10%, only 1% will be correct; the other 9% is in error. This is either because the person had a side effect (e.g. nausea), or the allergy has worn off; 50% of allergies wear off after 5 years. Most rashes reported in association with a penicillin antibiotic during childhood are also not true allergies.
In dentistry, patients who report a penicillin allergy and need an antibiotic, will usually be prescribed clindamycin. Clindamycin has a much higher side effect profile and is more toxic than amoxicillin. While dentists are encouraged to appropriately screen and refer patients for penicillin allergy testing, there is no direct pathway for dentists to do so.
Aims
- To determine the proportion of penicillin allergic patients with a low-risk penicillin allergy phenotype assessed by dentists.
- To determine the proportion of patients referred by dentists with a low-risk penicillin allergy that can have their penicillin allergy label removed by testing
- To assess this method for dentists to appropriately screen and refer patients for penicillin allergy de-labelling as there is no current method for dentists do to this.
Who can participate?
Dentists and dental specialists who:
- are practising in Victoria; and
- have access to the internet.
What will you be asked to do?
Screen and refer eligible patients using a simple online questionnaire that should take around 1-2 minutes per patient.
Why should you participate?
This study provides a wonderful and simple opportunity for you to screen and refer your patients directly for penicillin allergy testing to Austin Health.
While the normal wait list is usually around 2 years, your patients will be fast-tracked to the low-risk clinic that operates on a Friday at the Austin Hospital Centre for Antibiotic Allergy and Research, and the wait time will only be around 4 weeks.
It is anticipated that around 90% or more of the patients referred for testing will show that the patient is actually not allergic to penicillin. This will enable safer and more appropriate antibiotic prescribing for these patients.
How do you participate?
Use the following link: https://melbourneuni.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a5adlEwhzyrL0Ro
Who are the researchers?
Dr Leanne Teoh, Prof Michael McCullough, A/Prof Jason Trubiano
Introduction
Dental anxiety is common in the general population and has been identified as a barrier to people accessing timely and appropriate professional care. Listening to music during a dental procedure has been associated with a reduction in the experience of dental anxiety, accompanied by physiological changes such as reductions in heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rates, but there is a lack of research investigating the effect of music provide pre-treatment and/or during treatment.
Aims
To explore the effectiveness of pre-treatment music in the management of dental anxiety in general practice.
Who can participate?
General dentists who practice in metropolitan Melbourne.
What will you be asked to do?
- (With the help of your team) ask your patients who meet the inclusion criteria (over 18 years of age who have an appointment for dental fillings) if they would be willing to participate in the study by completing a questionnaire (Modified Dental Anxiety Scale) before treatment starts. Patients with a score of 11 or higher will be invited to participate by completing a further questionnaire on arrival for their appointment and wearing on-ear headphones and a pulse monitor while in the waiting room and surgery. They will be randomly assigned to one of three study groups:
- Music before and during dental treatment
- Music during dental treatment only
- No music (control group)
- Recruit up to 21 patients to participate in the study (7 patients will be randomly assigned to each study group).
- Become an eviDent member (membership is free) and complete the minimum training requirements as well as additional training for this project, for which CPD credit will be provided.
Why should you participate?
- You and your practice may benefit from the outcomes of this study, leading to increased professional satisfaction and wellbeing;
- Be part of an eviDent project that will ultimately contribute to the practice of dentistry in Australia.
How do you participate?
Please contact Ms Meaghan Quinn by calling 03 8825 4603 or email .
Who are the researchers?
Dr Roisin McGrath, Dr Chris Wenn, Dr Bob Cvetkovic and Dr Jodie Heap.
Our research findings
eviDent Foundation facilitates dental practice-based research for better oral and general health.
Preliminary findings:
A total of 187 responses were received from registered dental practitioners, the majority of whom were dentists (n=85) or either oral health therapists or dental therapists (n=91). Similar number of participants worked in the public and private sectors, with 35 working in both sectors. Most respondents (n=137, 83.5%) had used SDF in clinical practice. Lack of knowledge was the most common reason cited by those who did not use it but many of them were planning to use SDF in the future. Most respondents who currently use SDF were using it for treating children, but many were also using SDF in adult populations. The most frequently reported concern related to the use of SDF was tooth staining/aesthetics.
The project found a total of 262 people contracted SARS-CoV-2 between March 2020 and December 2021 working in a dental setting during their acquisition period – including 62 dentists and 175 dental assistants. Only four cases were likely to have been acquired from a patient during the provision of dental treatment. Crude prevalence of SARS-COV-2 infection was estimated to be 13.4 per 1,000 dentists, and for the general community 27.1 per 1,000 people.
The evidence from Victoria suggests no increased risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during dental treatment, with only four documented cases from patient to dentist between March 2020 and December 2021. Future outbreaks should focus on ensuring risk mitigation procedures but not deferral of dental care.
Preliminary findings show:
- Reduced access/suspended routine dental care is associated with an increase in the use of antibiotics
- Workplace factors, e.g. time limitations, restriction on procedures, patient expectations, all influence prescribing decisions
- In the context of antibiotic resistance, providing appropriate and timely dental care is critical to tackling the problem.
Dental practitioners were found to have a high burden of mental health concerns, with close to one-third reporting experiencing moderate to severe psychological distress, and about one in four were found likely to be experiencing burnout.
Key findings from the study:
- 17.6% reported thoughts of taking their own life in the preceding 12 months;
- 31.4% reported thoughts of taking their own life prior to the preceding 12 months;
- 5.6% reported ever having made an attempt to take their own life;
- 32% were rated as having moderate-severe psychological distress;
- 59.4% were rated as having minor-severe non-psychotic psychiatric morbidity;
- 24.8% were classified as likely to be experiencing burnout;
- 11.5% reported a current diagnosis of depression
- 12.9% reported a current diagnosis of anxiety disorder
- Younger practitioners (<30 years) were more than twice as likely to have had thoughts of suicide in the previous 12 months than older practitioners (61+ years);
- Male dental practitioners were twice as likely as females to have had thoughts of suicide in the previous 12 months.
Preliminary findings found:
- Several difficulties, such as financial implications, multidisciplinary care and clinical decision making, were barriers to effectively managing MIH by GDPs in primary care
- In the private sector in Australia, efficient and effective relationships between general dentists and specialists were reported seemingly stemming from clinician driven informal networks and mutually beneficial referral relationships
- In the public sector in Australia and NHS in the UK the more formal specialist referral process led to a sense of relinquishing care with an apparent disconnect between referral and outcome which was exacerbated by long waiting times.
The project found:
- Over the period of March to September, there were 881,454 fewer dental services provided in 2020 than 2019, with the largest decline seen in April. There was a greater decline in preventive and diagnostic services, and a smaller decline in endodontic and oral surgery services.
- A second wave of COVID-19 in Victoria saw 198,609 fewer dental services provided in that state from July to September 2020 than 2019. Dental service provision had still not returned to normal levels across Australia by September 2020.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the provision of dental services to children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds who already experience higher levels of dental disease and disadvantage in accessing dental care.
- Although the restriction of dental services was deemed necessary in order to minimize the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in the dental setting, the impact of these restrictions on oral health will be long lasting.
- Given the chronic and progressive nature of dental disease, the deferral of necessary dental care is likely to contribute to poorer oral health and long-term problems for many Australians.
The project found:
- Oral health service provision has not been significantly affected by COVID-19, although access to routine dental care was reduced due to country-specific temporary lockdown periods.
- While the dental profession has been identified at high-risk, the reported rates of COVID-19 for dental professionals were not significantly different to those reported for the general population in each country.
- These findings may help to better plan oral health care for future pandemic events.
The project found:
- Oral Health Professionals (OHPs) have an important role to in type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevention and identification
- T2D screening programs in an oral healthcare setting is well accepted and effective
- OHPs were found to have an overall fair knowledge about T2D and positive attitudes to screening
- Cost and effectiveness of the program could be improved if targeted populations with increased risk of T2D.
The project found:
- The group had a higher dental caries experience than the same age cohort in Australia generally, although there was no strong association between individual caries and HbA1c levels. A consistent multidisciplinary approach is recommended to improve the future cardiovascular health of young people with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM). Furthermore, many of the participants in the study cited cost of dental care as a major barrier. It is recommended that optimum oral health care be made available to those with T1DM.
- Findings showed that in SES matched young people that both those with and without T1DM had suboptimal dental care, with the consequences being much more critical in those with T1DM.
The project found:
- Women were more likely to present with high scores on the Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire (DCQ) as well as people with a history of mental health problems, including anxiety
- The cosmetic practice, implant clinic and prosthodontic practice received higher proportions of patients with high DCQ scores than the general family practice
- The DCQ seems to be a suitable tool to be used by dentists as part of history taking and patient examination due to its brevity, simplicity and the good sensitivity/specificity reported in the literature
The project found:
- General medical practitioners and dentists often feel uneasy when starting conversations with their patients about halitosis
- Most general medical practitioners, dentists and pharmacists find it challenging to manage patients with halitosis and are interested in working together
- Improving health professionals’ knowledge and training will contribute to comprehensive interprofessional halitosis management
- Prior to the training, the majority of dentists often provided dietary advice and agreed that they were confident to do so
- The majority of dentists found that the online training module had clear learning objectives, was easy to navigate and were satisfied with the module
- Following the training, dentists felt slightly more confident providing dietary advice
The project found:
- There is a need for additional education and professional training for oral health professionals
- Further training in oral cancer screening practice and patient advice-giving will be an important step in improving prevention and early detection of oral cancers
The project found:
- Health promotion was generally viewed positively by patients and practitioners, with both indicating that they preferred the specific health promotion advice be related to the type of practitioner involved in that discussion
- There are opportunities to increase practitioner confidence in delivering health promotion messages, through the provision of education and supporting resources
Results of this study indicate a high survival rate of anterior resin bonded bridges provided by a group of clinicians in Melbourne from 1990 to 2012. The simple and affordable ARBBs with two different modified tooth preparation designs performed well with a survival rate of 98% at five years. There was no significant difference in the survival of ARBBs between the two design preparations.
The project found:
- Preferred provider schemes impact on dentists’ decision-making autonomy and potentially influence the development of trust and rapport within the dentist-patient relationship
- A need to develop strategies to respond to altered work conditions
The project:
- Found that Victorian dentists who took part in this study are using the appropriate clinical parameters to diagnose periodontal disease
- Found that the diagnosis of periodontal disease by the practitioners that took part is generally accurate, but with a tendency to over-diagnose moderate periodontitis as severe
- Will help in understanding decision-making criteria used in practice regarding periodontal therapy
- Will aid the design of further studies looking at the effectiveness of the treatment of periodontal diseases
The project found that the targeted school dental check-up program was beneficial for increasing child dental access and retention for referred follow-up dental appointments and treatment. The second stage (project 10) has commenced.
The project successfully created and used a model that helped GMPs to identify patients at risk of dry mouth, diagnose dry mouth and implement a dry mouth management program that included improved communication between GMPs and dental professionals.
The project developed:
- An education program to show GMPs how to identify patients at risk of oral health problems caused by dry mouth, and improve patient oral and general health outcomes through enhanced knowledge
- Fact sheets for practitioners and patients: ‘What is dry mouth?’ and ‘Managing dry mouth’
The project:
- Provided a detailed description of six characteristics of hypomineralisation of first permanent molars (FPMs) and permanent incisors. The condition was found to conform to a spectrum of increasing severity from MH to MIH
- Produced an information sheet about MH
- Found that the trial of the MHSI was predictive of treatment undertaken for affected FPMs and the Index can guide clinical management of affected children
The project found that most complications appeared within the first year. Patient demographics showed that practitioners are treating an older seminal population than often reported in clinical trials. Their patients have a complex medical history and are taking multiple medications. Provision of single units was far greater than larger more complex restorations and the understanding of implant care needs to reflect the proportion of prescription of these. The findings will allow the development of practitioner guidelines for treatment planning, case management and complication management.
The project found that practitioners reported personal, practice and societal benefits of eviDent involvement and challenges to participation were few. A series of recommendations for improvements to eviDent were made to the DPBRN Committee, and were designed to encourage greater participation by the profession.
Our research
eviDent Foundation facilitates dental practice-based research for better oral health.
eviDent® aims to encourage relationships between practitioners and academic researchers. By building research capacity to produce and use evidence, eviDent facilitates and supports dental practices to produce and disseminate evidence that can translate into practice and inform policy.
Learn more:
