Research · Evidence
Research and evidence
Using AI to support better community dental care.
A place to store and share up-to-date evidence on the issues that matter for dental care in the community — helping carers, dental professionals and the public find reliable information to improve oral health for everyone.
As an outsider, it’s not always easy to get quick feedback from academics or care homes. So, to the best of my ability, I’m using AI tools to gather up-to-date evidence and research on the many issues relevant to dental care in the community. This page collects those resources in one place.
How these summaries are made
Exploring research with AI and systematic reviews
In the past, I have relied on the Cochrane Library, an excellent source of systematic reviews — rigorous, structured analyses of all the available evidence on a specific question. As with most review papers, the conclusion is often the same: “further research is required.”
With the arrival of artificial intelligence, I’ve begun exploring new tools to help summarise and interpret dental research more efficiently. One is STORM, developed by Stanford University — Synthesis of Topic Outlines through Retrieval and Multi-perspective Question Asking. You can recognise its consistent, structured output in the examples below. To create concise summaries I use another tool, ChatGPT‑5, to process full-text PDFs.
For instance, I recently used it to summarise an article on teledentistry. There are far fewer resources on that topic than on silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for tooth decay. My aim is to promote preventive approaches — especially in care homes. SDF is safe to use, and even where its effect is limited, the associated toothbrushing and oral-care routines significantly improve gum health. It reminds me of when Pepsodent toothpaste was first used — fluoride wasn’t added until about ten years later, yet the brushing itself already made a noticeable difference.
The evidence library
Summaries you can download
Each is a short PDF summary of the current research on a single question. Download, read and share.
Is SDF safe? A summary of the Japanese evidence
Where silver diamine fluoride has been used longest, what the safety record shows.
DownloadSDF versus fluoride gel — which works better? (2025)
Comparing two preventive treatments for stopping tooth decay in its tracks.
DownloadCan SDF reduce gum disease and pneumonia risk in older people?
What the evidence says, and which long-term studies are under way.
DownloadDry versus wet toothbrushing in care homes and schools
Whether brushing without water can still protect teeth where facilities are limited.
DownloadA trial of the triple-bristle toothbrush
Can a brush that cleans several tooth surfaces at once make care easier?
DownloadThe value of teledentistry, explained
How remote assessment can widen access to dental advice — and where its limits are.
DownloadOral health and general health in care homes (2025)
Why the mouth matters for the whole body — and what that means for care.
DownloadA dental-treatment protocol for frail and dementia patients
Adapting care for people who find treatment difficult to tolerate.
DownloadHow common is dental pain in care homes, by age group?
What the evidence tells us about untreated pain in older residents.
DownloadTime to put your money where your mouth is
Addressing inequalities in oral health — a summary of the EFP / Economist Impact report.
DownloadPut the evidence into practice
See how these preventive approaches are being used in care homes, and the wider work behind them.