Authors' objectives: This study will initially assess the feasibility and acceptability of a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of three dental recall strategies by assessing their impact on maintaining oral health. If the 18 month feasibility study is successful the trial will continue for 4 years, if feasibility is not shown, the full trial will not follow on. The first recall strategy is exactly that advocated by the recent NICE guidance: personalised variable intervals determined according to risk information derived from comprehensive oral health assessment and review. The second strategy will be the traditional six month intervals between routine check ups; the third strategy is 24 month recalls between routine check ups. The research will be carried out in general dental practices across the UK in both fluoridated and non fluoridated environments. Outcomes will be assessed in terms of specifically selected validated measures of quality of life; dental caries and periodontal disease. The clinical measures operate at a sufficiently early stage of disease to assess the impacts of preventive care and health maintenance. Additional appropriate information on patterns of dental care and related costs will also be collected. Ethical concerns over the use of a 24 monthly recall interval expressed by some dental practitioners have been addressed by randomisation within two strata. The study team is uniquely well placed to carry out this research as they have international reputations in health services research, primary care based clinical trials and include key players responsible for the development of both oral health assessments for UK Health Departments and the Guideline Development Group work for NICE. The study has been designed in the most efficient way possible under the full economic costs procedures to produce robust results; practice generated data is used initially whilst high quality clinical outcome results at Year 4 are obtained by trained, calibrated independent dental examiners.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/programmes/hta/063505/#/

Year Published: 2010

URL for published report: https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/programmes/hta/063505/#/documentation

Requestor: NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Full HTA

Country: England, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme

Contact Address: NIHR Journals Library, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre, Alpha House, University of Southampton Science Park, Southampton SO16 7NS, UK

Contact Name: journals.library@nihr.ac.uk

Contact Email: journals.library@nihr.ac.uk

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