Reader in Dental Public Health
Post-graduate Research Associate
Dean for International Affairs
Senior Lecturer in Dental Public Health
Social Epidemiology
Our work in this area focuses on understanding the social determinants of oral health inequalities and trying to disentangle the biological, behavioural, psychosocial and structural processes that operate across an individual’s life course, and across generations, to influence the risk of oral diseases. Elucidating the mechanisms linking social and structural factors to oral health provides policymakers with the evidence base to inform social and health policy to reduce oral health inequalities. We carry out this research work by using life course epidemiology methods, advanced statistical modelling and data from longitudinal studies and multi-national surveys. Working with our international collaborators, we have evaluated the role of contextual factors; psychosocial factors; social mobility; and ethnicity, migration and discrimination on population oral health.
Ageing and oral health: care of vulnerable groups
For more information please see below link to FInCH Trial
FInCH Trial
Oral Health Workforce
The global oral and dental workforce is inequitably distributed. Whilst the UK has the most professionalised oral and dental workforce in the world, with seven different members of the dental team and 13 dental specialties, registered with the General Dental Council, many parts of the world particularly low-income countries struggle to educate, train and retain a minimal workforce. Developing a future workforce involves considering how the needs of the population may be best served and the workforce required to deliver accessible high quality contemporary care in a professional manner. Workforce considerations include professional careers, development of extended or specialist skills and professionalism.
Global Oral Health
Despite some improvements in the oral health of populations globally, major problems remain all over the planet. In addition, essential oral health care has been a privilege, instead of a right, for most individuals. Our work in this area focuses on quantifying the burden and financial impact of oral conditions on individuals, national healthcare systems and societies as well as evaluating the impact of policies, oral health programmes and basic oral healthcare packages using clinical trials, quasi-experimental designs and cutting-edge data modelling. This evidence informs action from governmental and non-governmental organisations to address disease burden and strengthen oral healthcare systems around the world, but especially in low-and-middle-income countries.
Key publications:
Gallagher JE, Johnson I, Verbeek JH, Clarkson JE, Innes N. Relevance and paucity of evidence: a dental perspective on personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Br Dent J. 2020;229(2):121-4.
Gallagher JE, K CS, Johnson IG, Al-Yaseen W, Jones R, McGregor S, et al. A systematic review of contamination (aerosol, splatter and droplet generation) associated with oral surgery and its relevance to COVID-19. BDJ Open. 2020;6(1):25.
Innes N, Johnson IG, Al-Yaseen W, Harris R, Jones R, Kc S, et al. A systematic review of droplet and aerosol generation in dentistry. J Dent. 2020;105:103556.
Johnson I, Gallagher JE, Verbeek JH, Innes NPT. Personal protective equipment: a commentary for the dental and oral health care team 2020 [Available from: https://oralhealth.cochrane.org/news/personal-protective-equipment-commentary-dental-and-oral-health-care-team.
Sergis A, Wade WG, Gallagher JE, Morrell AP, Patel S, Dickinson CM, et al. Mechanisms of Atomization from Rotary Dental Instruments and Its Mitigation. Journal of Dental Research.0(0):0022034520979644.
Other publications:
-
Al-yaseen, W., Jones, R., McGregor, S., Wade, W., Gallagher, J., Harris, R., Johnson, I., Kc, S., Robertson, M. & Innes, N., Dec 2022, In: BDJ Open. 8, 1, 26. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review. DOIs: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41405-022-00118-4
-
Sipiyaruk, K., Hatzipanagos, S., Vichayanrat, T., Reynolds, P. A. & Gallagher, J. E., Aug 2022, In: Education Sciences. 12, 8, 517. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review. DOIs: https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci12080517
-
Kaki, L., Kc, S. & Gallagher, J. E., 1 Jun 2022, In: Primary Dental Journal. 11, 2, p. 40-50 11 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review. DOIs: https://doi.org/10.1177/20501684221101663
-
Ghotane, S. G., Challacombe, S. J., Don-Davis, P., Kamara, D. & Gallagher, J. E., Dec 2022, In: BDJ Open. 8, 1, 16. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review. DOIs: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41405-022-00107-7
-
Tran, C., Ghahreman, K., Huppa, C. & Gallagher, J. E., Sep 2022, In: International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 51, 9, p. 1211-1225 15 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review. DOIs: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijom.2021.11.009
-
Scambler, S. & Gallagher, J. E., 30 Mar 2022, ICDigest, p. 20 23 p. Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article
-
Niven, V., Cabot, L. B., Scambler, S. & Gallagher, J. E., 25 Mar 2022, In: British Dental Journal. 232, 6, p. 396-406 11 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review. DOIs: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-4044-x
-
Choong, E. K. M., Gallagher, J. E. & Patel, R., 4 Mar 2022, (E-pub ahead of print) In: GERODONTOLOGY. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review. DOIs: https://doi.org/10.1111/ger.12622
-
Trathen, A., Scambler, S. & Gallagher, J. E., 17 Jan 2022, (Accepted/In press) In: BMJ Open. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
-
Davda, L. S., Radford, D. R., Scambler, S. & Gallagher, J. E., Dec 2022, In: Human Resources For Health. 20, 1, 7. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review. DOIs: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-021-00703-y
The Global Burden of Oral Conditions
The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study is a multi-institutional collaborative project led by the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. We lead the GBD Oral Disorders Collaborators group of over 80 academics around the world, providing expertise on the epidemiology of oral conditions, availability and validity of data sources, and supervision and interpretation of model estimation.
This project provides up-to-date, reliable and comparable estimates on the burden of untreated dental caries, severe periodontitis and total tooth loss, using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and social inequalities in the burden of these conditions over time.
Burden estimation provides a unique perspective in shaping public health policy as it offers governments and non-governmental agencies with the evidence-based data from which to set up priorities for research, development, policies and funding.
Delivering Better Oral Health
Preventive care in dental settings, and beyond, has the potential to make a real difference to general and oral health. The aim of ‘Delivering Better Oral Health’, now in its fourth edition, is to support front line dental teams to deliver effective prevention advice and interventions for patients, based on contemporary evidence.
This revised edition was led by the former Public Health England and involved multiple stakeholders across the UK including Cochrane Oral Health and Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme.
This document is an important resource for busy dental professionals on the front line, bringing together the existing body of evidence in one place, to promote health and prevent disease in support of making every contact count for health.
It is now more accessible in a contemporary digital format. The core guidance, located in chapter 2, will be available shortly in key languages.
Delivering better oral health: an evidence-based toolkit for prevention
Cochrane Oral health
Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme
Health Protection: The implications of COVID for Dentistry
The COVID pandemic has required dentistry to re-examine aerosols and splatter in dental surgeries and consider how care may be delivered safely to patients by dental teams. A collaborative group involving Cardiff, Dundee, Liverpool Universities and King’s worked to build the evidence on the potential for SARS-COV-2 virus to be spread in dental clinics. And the importance of PPE.
A further collaboration with Imperial College examined how risks may be mitigated
King’s College London is an ideal place for training in dental public health. Our team is dedicated to train the new cadre of dental care professionals in the UK and abroad. We recruit the most promising candidates for postgraduate training at master and doctoral level as well as strong visiting academics seeking postdoctoral training opportunities. We also provide specialty training in dental public health for GDC-registered dentists, in liaison with Public Health England and local authorities in London and South East England.
The Headquarters of Dental Public Health is based at Denmark Hill. The postgraduate taught and research programmes in Dental Public Health are taught at Denmark Hill Campus, although students will attend sessions at and access resources from other campuses.
MSc in Dental Public Health: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught-courses/dental-public-health-msc
PhD programme: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-courses/dental-and-health-sciences-research-mphil-phd