Research opportunities
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
Our retrospective study on implant treatment profiles and complications in Victoria between 2005-2008 highlighted the common medical conditions of implant patients, complications of augmentation procedures prior to implant placement, restorative profiles of single and short span implant prostheses, complications of single and short span implant prostheses, and treatment profiles of long-span, fixed and removable prostheses.
Aim
The aim of the study is to determine dentists’ perspectives of dental implant treatment protocols in view of minimising complications about:
- Treatment planning
- Dental implant surgery
- Dental implant restoration
- Maintenance
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 40-minute survey in the first instance, review feedback from the results of the survey questions where consensus was not reached and complete a second iteration of the survey.
Why should you participate?
- Indicate your preference on various statements about oral implant treatments toward a consensus among your peers
- Help the researchers to obtain a consensus about the current treatment protocols for dental implant treatments to minimise complications and determine key points of treatment planning and treatment to discuss with patients prior to and during treatment
- 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, please email or phone 03 8825 4603.
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 2023-24786-37184-3).
Introduction
There is currently no published research about the usage of dental materials as orifice barriers amongst Australian dental practitioners. The failure of root canal treatment and the associated development of apical periodontitis normally requires extraction of the tooth and costly replacement procedures, or complex and expensive specialist-managed non-surgical retreatment and/or apical surgery for resolution. Such poor outcomes can impose significant costs on patients, health insurance or healthcare providers through restorative or replacement treatments.
Aim
The aim of the study is to investigate the attitudes, knowledge and usage of dental materials as orifice barriers in the restoration of endodontically treated teeth, by general and specialist dental practitioners in Australia.
Who can participate?
Dental practitioners who:
- are practising 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 the researchers to understand how and why dental materials are used by general and specialist dental practitioners in the restoration of root filled teeth so that more effective and efficient restorative protocols may be developed to improve outcomes for endodontically treated teeth
- 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://redcap.healthinformatics.unimelb.edu.au/surveys/?s=8KC7FNYPE3D3AHXL
Who are the researchers?
Dr James Fernando, Dr Michael Wylie, Prof Alastair Sloan, Prof Peter Parashos and A/Prof Joseph Palamara
Ethics Approval
This project has human research ethics approval from The University of Melbourne (Reference number 2023-25433-36854-3).
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.
