Iain Pretty

Overview

I am the co-director of the Colgate Palmolive Dental Health Unit at the School of Dentistry and an honarary consultant in Dental Public Health.  I also have an interest in forensic dentistry and in particular the evidence base supporting the use of bitemark analyses in court proceedings.

Biography

I am a Professor Public Health Dentistry and former NIHR Clinician Scientist.  I joined the School of Dentistry at the University of Manchester in 2002 as a clinical teacher and then spent a year as a Research Fellow at the Dental health Unit. My research interests lie in the assessment of diagnostic methodologies in dentistry, the provision and services of primary care dentistry and the interface with secondary care. I have attracted over $1.5 million in research funding for these projects.

Our diagnostic team is currently examining the following aspects of oral diagnosis:

• Caries
  Assessment of optical and electronic methods of early caries detection including the assessment of QLF, ECM and other novel devices.
• Gingivitis
  We are examining the possibility of using laser doppler, thermal imaging and 3D laser scanning to assess gingival inflammation and assess novel means of objectively measuring this condition.
• Fluorosis
  Using fluorescent imaging we can develop more objective and quantative measures of enamel fluorosis; this is a key target of the MRC and Department of Health. We are also working with the CDC in the United States to incorporate this technology in the NHANES survey

I am also interested in the following aspects of health services research:

• Demand Management

I am interested in referral patterns and practice from primary care to secondary care.  We have undertaken work in developing indicators of need (such as the IOSN for dental sedation) and well as referal management systems using the latest web based technologies. Our research explores the need, demand and provider structure interfaces.  Such work aims to improve access for patients, reduce wait times and ensures that services provide value for money while developing quality

• End of life & start of life care

Our research group is currently exploring the nature of populations who access care at the start and end of life.  For children we are keen to explore the reason why so many indivdiuals in the North West continue to access general anaesthetic extraction services.  For those adults in residential and nursing homes we are keen to explore their needs and what dental services need to do in order to secure health and well being.

Our research team is based at the Dental Health Unit - a co-funded organization with Colgate-Palmolive.