Skip to main content

QI and research

Print this page

Quality improvement (QI)

Quality improvement activity in dental practice is a requirement of NHS Scotland terms and conditions of service. There are various forms of quality improvement activity, which will be of most value if based on a real need for improvement that has been identified through appraisal of day-to-day work.110 

Topics for quality improvement activities relevant to this guidance include:

  • the accuracy and completeness of records (e.g. recording of caries risk assessment, taking of radiographs); 
  • for children under regular care, relating causes of attending with pain and infection with treatment previously provided;
  • compliance with guidance on provision of fluoride varnish and preventive fissure sealants;
  • outcomes of treatment provided, including adhesive restorations in primary molars, Hall Technique, and pulp therapies; 
  • effectiveness of minimally invasive methods of caries management for the primary dentition, including fissure sealing over caries, selective caries removal and restoration and non-restorative cavity control, including silver diamine fluoride application.

Research

Clinically important aspects of caries prevention and management in children, for which research is required to improve the evidence base include:

  • factors that increase parental and child compliance with brushing advice;
  • effectiveness of behaviour change strategies, for example improving diet;
  • effectiveness of behaviour management strategies such as cognitive behaviour therapy;
  • the role of ehealth/mhealth in supporting improvements in children’s oral health;
  • effectiveness of combining preventive strategies;
  • cost effectiveness of preventive strategies;
  • cost effectiveness of management strategies, including general anaesthesia;
  • effectiveness of caries risk assessment;
  • children’s perceptions of dental treatment, including extractions, sedation and general anaesthesia;
  • effectiveness of sealing moderate carious lesions in occlusal and proximal surfaces;
  • effectiveness of silver diamine fluoride application for caries arrest;
  • effectiveness of pulp therapies for caries management in primary and permanent teeth;
  • effectiveness of interventions to treat extensive/advanced carious lesions.