The Colgate-Palmolive Dental Health Unit (DHU) is a leading centre for oral health research based at The University of Manchester. Established over 50 years ago in partnership with the Colgate-Palmolive Company, the DHU continues to advance oral health through our innovative, multidisciplinary research streams.
Most oral health conditions are preventable, yet oral diseases continue to burden almost half of the world’s population.
This enduring reality drives us to fulfil our core objectives:
- Improve oral health across global populations;
- Advance oral care by developing new methods and creating new research capabilities;
- Discover and translate new knowledge to improve best practice, clinical care, and oral health policy.
Over the past 50 years, we have met these objectives by delivering numerous large-scale oral health epidemiological studies and clinical trials of new oral health interventions and products.
We have also developed and tested new diagnostic technologies which continue to be employed globally across observational and interventional research projects.
Our research
Our diverse team of clinicians, behavioural scientists and dental public health specialists work closely together on transformative research programmes. We seek to better understand and improve oral health and overall well-being at both the individual and population level.
To ensure that we continue to meet the oral health needs of the populations we serve in a rapidly changing world, our research focus evolves over time. Our current research centres on four main domains:
- Connected oral health
- Diagnostic technologies
- Behaviour change
- Dental public health
These interconnected domains use the dental public health expertise and commercial scalability offered by the DHU partnership to maximise the impact of our research projects.
Research domains
Connected oral health
Advances in ‘smart’ oral health technologies continue to positively disrupt patient-led prevention and management of oral diseases. In addition, these new devices present novel opportunities for researchers to track oral health behaviours at home at a population level.
Key projects
Exploring tooth brushing behaviours through connected brushes
Using data collected remotely from users of connected toothbrush devices, we are exploring population-level brushing behaviours to develop a real-world understanding of the benefits of these innovative devices.
Advancing dental care models through tele-dentistry
The COVID pandemic has accelerated the adoption of ‘tele-dentistry’ models across global populations. We are actively evaluating novel imaging approaches involving deep learning for the delivery of tele-dentistry services to individuals.
Diagnostic technologies
The DHU has a long history of developing and testing diagnostic technologies for the detection of oral conditions. With increasing technological capacity, and reduced barriers to entry, diagnostic oral care devices are being increasingly integrated into clinical practice, research, and even by individuals at home.
Key projects
Evaluating next-generation imaging methods for detecting and monitoring oral disease
Imaging devices, such as intraoral cameras and scanners, are increasingly adopted by dental care professionals. Recent advancements in these technologies have greatly increased their diagnostic potential. This has led to a need for robust evaluation of the diagnostic utility of these devices in the research setting for a variety of conditions.
Our team are actively exploring the use of these devices for various applications. The ability to combine these devices with machine learning methods stands to revolutionise the approach to routine dental examinations.
We are also exploring the translation of diagnostic imaging capabilities into the hands of individuals through new devices for use outside of the professional environment, driving the evidence base towards true ‘precision oral health’.
Behaviour change
Considering the largely preventable nature of oral diseases when optimal oral hygiene practices are followed, behaviour change plays a crucial role in preventing disease and promoting oral health for all.
Key projects
Bedtime routines
Our research explores how bedtime routines form in families with young children, how they can affect children’s development and wellbeing and how we can support parents to achieve better routines with the use of technology.
Text messages
Our work explores how text messages, as a cheap and easy to use technology, can be used for data collection and intervention delivery to instil change, capture data and manage studies more effectively.
Patient-reported outcomes
We are interested in how to effectively capture and quantify patient experiences and patient-reported outcomes to inform and complement our work and clinical studies relating to oral health.
Behaviour Change in Dentistry (BeCinD) network
The DHU and Dr George Kitsaras lead a research network on oral health behaviour change. BeCinD aims to improve oral health through the application of evidence-based behaviour change science. For more information visit our X paper BECINDNetwork.
Dental public health
While dental public health principles are regularly integrated into many of our projects, our team also lead multiple grant-funded dental public health projects focused on population-level outcomes and interventions.
Key projects
Impact of water fluoridation on childhood decay (CATFISH)
This landmark 7-year study uses a ‘natural experiment’ design to evaluate the impact of artificial water fluoridation on caries levels in children.
Postal distribution of oral care products to reduce paediatric general anaesthetics for tooth extractions (TIGER Teeth)
This family-level interventional study delivers toothpaste and toothbrushes for 24 months to families with children who are at increased risk of experiencing a general anaesthetic to have teeth extracted. The study will evaluate whether the incidence of repeat general anaesthetics is reduced.
Exploring the impact of water fluoridation on dental treatment experience in adults (LOTUS Study)
This retrospective cohort study will review over 30 million dental treatment records of adults alongside water fluoridation data to explore the effects of water fluoridation on dental treatment experiences of UK adults.
Symposia
With the support of Colgate-Palmolive, the DHU has delivered multiple symposia on oral health topics in previous years, bringing together leading experts to present key research in the field and hosting dynamic workshops to advance discussion on key issues. The proceedings of these symposia are published in leading journals as special issues and are available on an open access basis via the links below.
- Developing Pathways for Oral Care in Elders (The Seattle Care Pathway), Seattle (2013)
- Prevention in Practice, Cape Town (2014)
- Beyond 1,000 ppm: High Fluorides and Boosters, Boston (2015)
- Digital Technologies in Oral and Dental Research, San Francisco (2017)
Our team combines leading experts from academic and commercial research to power improvements in oral health.
The University of Manchester
Professor Tanya Walsh
DHU Co-Director (University), Professor of Healthcare Evaluation
Read Tanya’s research profile
Dr Michaela Goodwin
Lecturer in dental public health
Read Michaela’s research profile
Dr George Kitsaras
Lecturer in Behavioural Science & Chartered Psychologist
Read George’s research profile
Nicola Boothman
DHU Trials Manager
Moyosore Davies
Research assistant
Colgate-Palmolive
Dr Juliana Gomez
DHU Co-Director (Colgate) and Clinical Research Manager
Dr. Juliana Gomez holds a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree specializing in Pediatric Dentistry and a PhD in Dental Public Health from the University of Manchester. She manages a cross-organisational team, supervises human clinical testing programs and leads strategic collaborations with academic and commercial partners to enhance Colgate’s R&D capabilities and to bring new oral care products/experiences to market. Dr. Gomez’s expertise lies in a wide range of areas, including cariology, advanced diagnostic methods, public health initiatives, paediatric dentistry, and innovation in dentistry.
Dr Zilson Malheiros
Dr. Zilson Malheiros holds a degree in Dentistry from the University of São Paulo, a master’s degree in Dental Sciences, as well as an MBA in Business Management. Dr. Malheiros led studies in different countries and played a pivotal role in establishing the Latam Dental Health Unit, collaborating with Regional Dental Associations and research organizations. Recently, Dr. Malheiros joined the team at the Dental Health Unit in Manchester, dedicating himself to advancing innovative studies and actively collaborating in the identification and development of new regional leaders. Additionally, he is focused on expanding the research network in the region.
PhD Students
Momina Muzammil
PhD student on oral health inequalities
Alison Edisbury
PhD student on professionals’ behaviour change for periodontal disease
Tanzeelah Azam
Phd student on young adults’ oral health behaviours
Areej Alsiwat (with King Saud University in Saudi Arabia)
PhD student on school-based food policy and dental health
Our students and researchers have unique opportunities to work at the interface of academia and industry in the oral health space.
Beyond our research projects, the DHU is proud to have supported the early careers of many individuals over the past 50 years through our PhD and post-doctoral programmes. Our ‘DHU Alumni’ have gone on to forge successful careers in academia, industry and public organisations.
We continue to support new and early career researchers with PhD student and postdoc positions. Please take a look at the ‘Opportunities’ section of the individual research profiles of our team if you are interested in PhD opportunities with us.
For more information on the DHU’s activities, please visit our Twitter page.
Follow us on Twitter: @DHUManchester
If you have any questions or would like to collaborate with the DHU on joint research projects, please contact a member of our team.
Prof Tanya Walsh
tanya.walsh@manchester.ac.uk
Address
Colgate-Palmolive Dental Health Unit
Williams House, Lloyd Street North
Manchester
M15 6SE
Tel: +44 (0)161 226 1211
Contact Us
+44 (0) 161 306 6000
