Precision Prevention and Management of Adult Dental Caries
Project: Precision Prevention and Management of Adult Dental Caries: Distributional Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Using Individual Participant Data from Randomised Clinical Trials
Supervisors
Dr Beatriz Goulao, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow
Prof Jim Lewsey, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow
Dr Dwayne Boyers, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen
Summary
Dental caries remains one of the most prevalent chronic conditions worldwide and is responsible for substantial healthcare and societal (lost productivity) costs, dental pain, tooth loss and inequalities in oral health. Although several preventive and minimally invasive treatment strategies have been evaluated in randomised clinical trials, most analyses focus on average treatment effects and do not address whether some patients benefit more than others. This PhD will use individual participant data from major UK adult caries trials to investigate variation in treatment effectiveness across patient groups and evaluate the distributional cost-effectiveness of targeted treatment strategies. Using advanced statistical, causal inference and health economic methods, the project will identify patient characteristics associated with differential benefit from preventive and restorative interventions, including high-dose fluoride toothpaste and minimally invasive caries management approaches. Findings will be translated into decision models that assess trade-offs between maximising overall oral health gain and reducing oral health inequalities. The project will generate evidence on how preventive and treatment interventions can be targeted according to patient risk, clinical need and socioeconomic circumstances. By combining precision prevention, comparative effectiveness research and distributional cost-effectiveness analysis, the project aims to support more equitable and efficient allocation of oral healthcare resources within publicly funded healthcare systems.
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