Staff Profile

Introduction

I am a dentist, Specialist and Senior Lecturer in Dental Public Health. I hold an Hon. Public Health Consultant Clinical Academic contract with the Office for Health Improvement & Disparities (formerly Public Health England). My research interests include health services research, priority setting, resource allocation and health policy in relation to dentistry.

After several years working in primary dental care I began as a NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow in Dental Public Health at Newcastle University before being awarded a 3-year national NIHR Doctoral Research Fellowship (2009-2012) to research priority setting and the use of health economic tools in NHS dental commissioning.

After gaining my PhD at Newcastle University I became an NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer in Dental Public Health and completed my academic Specialty Registrar training. I passed the Intercollegiate Specialty Fellowship Examination (ISFE) in April 2014 and began in my current role as a Senior Lecturer / Hon. Consultant in Dental Public Health in November 2014.

A significant proportion of my work involves consultancy linked to national oral epidemiology. Findings from the most recent clinical Adult Oral Health Survey 2023 (England) - commissioned by the Office for Health Improvement & Disparities (OHID) can be found here, along with a brief overview here.

Qualifications & Awards

• BMedSci (Hons) - Bachelor of Medical Science, First Class (Newcastle University, 2001)
• BDS (Hons) - Bachelor of Dental Surgery with Honours (Newcastle University, 2002)
• MFDS RCS - Membership Examination, Faculty of Dental Surgery (2005)
• MPH - Master of Public Health (Manchester University, 2009)
• PhD - Doctor of Philosophy (Newcastle University, 2012)
• FDS (DPH) RCPSG - Fellowship (Dental Public Health), The Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow (2016)
• SFHEA - Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2021)
• FDTFEd - Fellow of the Faculty of Dental Trainers, The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (2024)

Previous Positions

• General Dental Practitioner / Community Dental Officer (2002-2005)
• Clinical Fellow, Newcastle University (2005-2006)
• NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow / Specialist Registrar in Dental Public Health (2006-2009)
• NIHR Doctoral Research Fellow, Newcastle University (2009-2012)
• NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer / Specialty Registrar in Dental Public Health (2012-2014)

Memberships

• International Association for Dental Research (IADR)
• British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry (BASCD)
• The North of England Odontological Society (NEOS) (Past-President 2013-14)
• Fellow (Dental), The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (RCPSG)

Regional Role

• Training Programme Director, specialty training in Dental Public Health (2024-present) - NHS England North East

National Roles

• NIHR Predoctoral Primary Care Funding Committee (2025 - present)
• NIHR In-Practice Fellowship Scheme - Expert Selection Committee (2018-2024)
• Former role: British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry - BASCD Council, Research Lead (2016-2019)

Past & Present Funding

• Personal Award: NIHR Doctoral Research Fellowship (2009-2012)
• Health Education England
• Australian Bicentennial Fellowship 2018 - Menzies Centre for Australian Studies, King's College London

I am the lead academic for dental public health based in the School of Dental Sciences.

Other School, teaching and University roles include:

• Co-Chair, Board of Studies (BDS & BSc)     
• Degree Programme Director, BSc (Hons) in Dental Therapy
• Senior Tutor
• Personal Tutor (BDS)
• Lead for Dental Public Health/Evidence-Based Practice assessments (BDS & BSc degree programmes)
• Member, Stage 5 BDS Board of Examiners Sub-committee
• Member, Stage 3 Part II BDS Board of Examiners Sub-committee
• Interviewer, BDS and BSc Admissions Panels
• Former member, Faculty of Medical Sciences Undergraduate Admissions and Student Recruitment Sub-Group
• Former co-lead for Newcastle University-Indiana University (USA) initiative in dental education (2016-2020)
• FMS (Faculty of Medical Sciences) Representative, Learning & Teaching Reviews / Programme Approval Panels
• Former Director of Undergraduate Admissions (BDS and BSc), School of Dental Sciences (2018-2022)

Undergraduate Teaching

1. BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery)

• Academic teaching input into Stages 1, 2, 3 & 5 BDS
• Course Lead, 'Dentistry, the Dentist & Public Health' Stages 2, 3 & 5 BDS

2. BSc (Hons) in Dental Therapy

• Course Lead, 'Evidence-Based Practice and Public Health', Stage 1 BSc
• Course Lead, 'Critical Appraisal & Academic Writing', Stage 2, BSc

Postgraduate Teaching & Examining

- Research & Epidemiology study days (Foundation Dentists) commissioned by Health Education England North East

-MRes (Oral & Dental Sciences) - Oral Epidemiology (lectures/seminars, assessment & dissertation supervision)

-International Association for Paediatric Dentistry (IAPD) Fellowship Examination - DPH assessments contributor

Current External Examining

-External Examiner (BDS & BSc), University of Plymouth (August 2025-October 2029)

-External Examiner, BSc (Hons) Dental Therapy & BSc (Hons) Clinical Dental Technology, University of Lancashire (October 2025-2030)

-PhD examinations - Dental Public Health & related subjects (invited by HEIs)

Former External Examining roles (taught programmes)

-External Examiner, MSc in Dental Public Health, King's College London (2019-2023)

-External Examiner, BSc (Hons) in Oral Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh (2018-2022)

Research Interests

Oral epidemiology: I led Newcastle University's contribution to the Adult Oral Health Survey (2021) and the clinical Adult Oral Health Survey (2023) in England - the first nationally-representative clinical survey of adult oral health since 2009. The survey was led by NatCen and involved colleagues at Birmingham, KCL, UCL and the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The AOHS 2023 report (England) can be found here with a local summary here. I was a clinical examiner in the national Adult Dental Health Survey (2009) and I co-authored several reports arising from data generated by the national Children's Dental Health Survey (2013).

Health services research: My PhD research focused upon decision-making and priority setting tools in NHS dentistry with respect to a need for the rational use of scarce resources at local levels. I have been involved in work relating to the evaluation of, and findings from, the current dental contract reform programme in England. I have a particular interest in how original research can influence health policy at a national level.

Qualitative research: I have experience with a variety of qualitative research techniques involving a diverse range of groups in the population. Past research has included patient groups, clinicians and NHS commissioners using approaches including participatory action research.

Dental/medical education: I am interested in dental/medical educational research linked to the widening participation agenda in higher education, the training and assessment of dental students, therapists and hygienists, and developing internationalisation and collaborative educational opportunities within the undergraduate curriculum.

Reviewer (when requested) for:

• NIHR Predoctoral Primary Care Funding Committee (from 2025)
• NIHR In-Practice Fellowship Scheme - Expert Selection Committee for 7 years (2018 to 2024)
• NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Programme Grants (various)
• BMC Health Services Research
• BMJ Open
• BDJ Open
• BMC Oral Health 
• BMC Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
• British Dental Journal
• Community Dental Health
• Community Dentistry & Oral Epidemiology
• European Journal of Dental Education
• Evidence-Based Dentistry (invited commentaries)
• Health & Care Research Wales (Research for Patient & Public Benefit) Programme
• JDR Clinical & Translational Research
• New Zealand Dental Journal
• Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand

Postgraduate Academic Supervision:

Various PhD / MSc / MPH students, taught research post-graduate dentists, 2x NHS dental public health StRs.

Postgraduate Academic Examination:

MRes (Newcastle) / PhD (External Examiner (viva) - invited by HEIs in the discipline of Dental Public Health)

Newcastle University - Research Ethics:

Member of Faculty of Medical Sciences - Research Ethics Committee (FMS REC)

• Articles

  • Freeman Z, Waterhouse PJ, Ramsay SE, Holmes RD. Social accountability in undergraduate dental education: a narrative review. Community Dental Health 2025, 42(1), 5-14.
  • Holliday R, Wilson N, Ryan V, Butcher C, Homer T, Watts P, Kareithi D, Blaylock P, Ternent L, Finch R, Bissett S, Todd A, Hancock H, Ellwood F, Conway D, Jakubovics N, Kist R, Holmes R, Bauld L, Preshaw P. Protocol for a pragmatic, 3-arm, randomised controlled trial comparing the impact of enhanced smoking cessation interventions to very brief advice for adult smokers in dental care settings. Trials 2025, 26, 261.
  • Taylor GD, Gallichan N, Haq T, Sumner O, Albadri S, Holmes RD, Waterhouse PJ. Specialists' management of permanent dentition traumatic dental injuries in 7–16-year-olds: A qualitative study. Dental Traumatology 2024, 40(5), 557-566.
  • Weke A, Holmes RD, McColl E, Finch R, Butcher C, Holliday R. Delivering smoking cessation interventions in NHS primary dental care - lessons from the ENHANCE-D trial. British Dental Journal 2024, epub ahead of print.
  • Bowes C, Breckons M, Holmes RD, Durham J, Bareham BK. Barriers to Accessing Primary Dental Care in Adults with Alcohol Dependence: A Qualitative Study. JDR Clinical & Translational Research 2024, 9(4), 325-336.
  • Vernazza CR, Carr K, Holmes RD, Wildman J, Gray J, Exley C, Smith RA, Donaldson C. Resource Allocation in a National Dental Service Using Program Budgeting Marginal Analysis. JDR Clinical and Translational Research 2023, 8(1), 56-65.
  • Mullan F, Holmes R, Bateman H. Evaluation of student-perceived competence of interprofessional working in Gerodontology. Gerodontology 2023, 40(4), 463-471.
  • Taylor GD, Sumner O, Holmes RD, Waterhouse PJ. Primary Care Dentists’ management of permanent dentition traumatic dental injuries in 7-16-year-olds: a sequential mixed-methods study. Dental Traumatology 2021, 37(4), 608-616.
  • Waterhouse PJ, Kowolik JE, Schrader SM, Howe D, Holmes RD. Trans-Atlantic Engagement: A Novel Dental Educational Exchange. British Dental Journal 2020, 228, 637–642.
  • Bradley J, Gardner G, Rowland MK, Fay M, Mann K, Holmes R, Foster E, Exley C, Don Bosco A, Hugueniot O, Moynihan P. Impact of a health marketing campaign on sugars intake by children aged 5–11 years and parental views on reducing children’s consumption. BMC Public Health 2020, 20, 331.
  • Holmes RD, Burford B, Vance G. Development and retention of the dental workforce: Findings from a regional workforce survey and symposium in England. BMC Health Services Research 2020, 20, 255.
  • Marshman Z, Kettle J, Holmes RD, Freeman R, Gibson BJ, McColl E, Maguire A, Douglas GVA, Clarkson JE, Innes N. Dental professionals’ experiences of managing children with carious lesions in their primary teeth – a qualitative study within the FiCTION randomised controlled trial. BMC Oral Health 2020, 20, 64.
  • El-Yousfi S, Innes NPT, Holmes RD, Freeman R, Cunningham KB, McColl E, Maguire A, Douglas GVA, Clarkson JE, Marshman Z. Children and parents’ perspectives on the acceptability of three management strategies for dental caries in primary teeth within the ‘Filling Children’s Teeth: Indicated Or Not’ Randomised Controlled Trial – a qualitative study. BMC Oral Health 2020, 20, 69.
  • Innes NP, Clarkson JE, Douglas GVA, Ryan V, Wilson N, Homer T, Marshman Z, McColl E, Vale L, Robertson M, Abouhajar A, Holmes RD, Freeman R, Chadwick B, Deery C, Wong F, Maguire A. Child caries management: a randomized controlled trial in dental practice. Journal of Dental Research 2020, 99(1), 36-43.
  • Maguire A, Clarkson JE, Douglas GVA, Ryan V, Homer T, Marshman Z, McColl E, Wilson N, Vale L, Robertson M, Abouhajar A, Holmes RD, Freeman R, Chadwick B, Deery C, Wong F, Innes NPT. Best-practice prevention alone or with conventional or biological caries management for 3- to 7-year-olds: the FiCTION three-arm RCT. Health Technology Assessment 2020, 24(1), 1-174.
  • Moynihan P, Tanner LM, Holmes RD, Hillier-Brown F, Mashayekhi A, Kelly SAM, Craig D. Systematic Review of Evidence Pertaining to Factors That Modify Risk of Early Childhood Caries. JDR Clinical & Translational Research 2019, 4(3), 202-216.
  • Freeman Z, Ellis JS, Holmes RD, Rolland SL, Waterhouse PJ. Obtaining patient feedback for quality assurance of undergraduate dental teaching. British Dental Journal 2019, 226(4), 287-291.
  • Wilson KE, Dunn K, Holmes RD, Delgaty L. Meeting the needs of patients with disabilities. How can we better prepare the new dental graduate?. British Dental Journal 2019, 227, 43-48.
  • Vernazza CR, Taylor GD, Donaldson C, Gray J, Holmes RD, Carr K, Exley C. How does priority setting for resource allocation happen in commissioning dental services in a nationally-led, regionally-delivered system? A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with NHS England dental commissioner. BMJ Open 2019, 9, e024995.
  • Lewney J, Holmes RD, Rankin J, Exley C. Health visitors’ views on promoting oral health and supporting clients with dental health problems: a qualitative study. Journal of Public Health 2019, 41(1), e103-e108.
  • Bateman H, Smith M, Melvin C, Holmes RD, Valentine RA. A pilot study to assess feasibility of lay representation in Dental School Admissions Interviews. Journal of Dental Education 2019, 83(6), 706-713.
  • Holmes RD, Steele JG, Exley C, Vernazza CR, Donaldson C. Use of programme budgeting and marginal analysis to set priorities for local NHS dental services: learning from the north east of England. Journal of Public Health 2018, 40(4), e578-e585.
  • Vernazza CR, Carr K, Wildman J, Gray J, Holmes RD, Exley C, Smith RA, Donaldson C. Resource allocation in NHS dentistry: Recognition of societal preferences (RAINDROP): Study protocol. BMC Health Services Research 2018, 18(1), 487.
  • Rolland SL, Treasure E, Burden DJ, Fuller E, Vernazza CR. The orthodontic condition of children in England, Wales and Northern Ireland 2013. British Dental Journal 2016, 221(7), 415-419.
  • Ravaghi V, Holmes RD, Steele JG, Tsakos G. The impact of oral conditions on children in England, Wales and Northern Ireland 2013. British Dental Journal 2016, 221(4), 173-178.
  • Holmes RD, Porter J, Devapal L, White DA. Patterns of care and service use amongst children in England, Wales and Northern Ireland 2013. British Dental Journal 2016, 221(8), 509-514.
  • Holmes RD, Steele JG, Donaldson C, Exley C. Learning from contract change in primary care dentistry: A qualitative study of stakeholders in the north of England. Health Policy 2015, 119(9), 1218-1225.
  • Stone SJ, Holmes RD, Heasman PA, McCracken GI. Continuing professional development and application of knowledge from research findings: a qualitative study of general dental practitioners. British Dental Journal 2014, 216(11), E23.
  • Wilson K, Bouchiba M, Vithlani G, Holmes R. Patient satisfaction with oral urgent treatment (OUT) in North West Tanzania. British Dental Journal 2013, 215(3), 131-134.
  • Holmes R, Howe D, Landes DP. Dental Public Health in Action - Oral health education and disease prevention in primary dental care: Insight from a pilot intervention targeting children aged 0-7 years in northeast England. Community Dental Health 2013, 30, 134-137.
  • Wilson KE, Wilson I, Holmes RD. Oral Urgent Treatment (OUT) - A Volunteer led Training Programme in North West Tanzania. British Dental Journal 2012, 212(9), 443-448.
  • Landes DP, Holmes RD. Dental Practice Populations: The effect of distance on the most socially deprived communities accessing dental care in the north east of England. Public Health 2012, 126(5), 424-426.
  • Holmes RD, Steele J, Exley C, Donaldson C. Managing resources in NHS dentistry: using health economics to inform commissioning decisions. BMC Health Services Research 2011, 11, 138.
  • Holmes RD, Waterhouse PJ, Maguire A, Hind V, Lloyd J, Tabari D, Lowry R. Developing an assessment in dental public health for clinical undergraduates attending a primary dental care outreach programme. European Journal of Dental Education 2011, 15(1), 19-25.
  • Holmes RD, Bate A, Steele JG, Donaldson C. Commissioning NHS dentistry in England: Issues for decision-makers managing the new contract with finite resources. Health Policy 2009, 91(1), 79-88.
  • Holmes RD, Donaldson C, Exley C, Steele JG. Managing resources in NHS dentistry: the views of decision-makers in primary care organisations. British Dental Journal 2008, 205(6), -.
  • Holmes RD, Girdler NM. A study to assess the validity of clinical judgement in determining paediatric dental anxiety and related outcomes of management. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2005, 15(3), 169-176.
  • Holmes RD, Girdler NM. Dental Anxiety in Children: Subjective versus objective assessment. Journal of Dental Research 2003, 82(Special Issue C), 2003.

• Book Chapters

  • Holmes RD, Tsakos G. Teaching oral epidemiology. In: Marco A. Peres, Jose L.F. Antunes and Richard G. Watt, ed. Oral Epidemiology. A textbook on Oral Health Conditions, Research Topics and Methods. Springer Nature, 2021, pp.453-462.
  • Holmes RD, Exley C. Findings - Dentists, the clinical pathway and I.T. decision support. In: Steele JG, ed. NHS dental contract pilots - Learning after first two years of piloting. London: Department of Health, 2014, pp.41-50.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • Bernstein R, Holmes RD, Landes D. A benchmarking tool to support quality assurance in NHS dental practices. In: BASCD Spring Scientific Meeting 2024. 2024, Greenwich: Sage Publications Ltd.
  • Mullan F, Holmes R, Bateman H. Evaluation of Student Perceived Competence of Interprofessional Working in Gerodontology. In: IADR/AADR/CADR General Session. 2021, Virtual: International Association for Dental Research.
  • Holmes RD, Vance G, Burford B. Dental Graduates' Transition into Practice: A Mixed-Methods Study. In: 2020 IADR/AADR/CADR General Session. 2020, Washington DC, USA: International Association for Dental Research.
  • O'Neill G, Holmes RD, Waterhouse PJ. Exploring knowledge and attitudes of dental trauma first aid in schools. In: 2019 IADR/AADR/CADR General Session. 2019, Vancouver BC Canada: Sage Publications.
  • Freeman Z, Ellis JS, Holmes RD, Rolland SL, Waterhouse PJ. Obtaining patient feedback for quality assurance of undergraduate dental teaching. In: 2018 IADR/AADR/CADR General Session. 2018, London UK.
  • Stamp AJ, Tzemou E, Holmes RD, Rolland SL. Enhancing Communication and Professionalism: Aligning Learner and Patient Feedback Priorities. In: IADR/PER General Session. 2018, London, UK.
  • Holmes RD, Kowolik JE, Schrader SM, Waterhouse PJ. The Newcastle-Indiana Experience: A Transatlantic Educational Initiative for Dental Students. In: IADR/AADR/CADR General Session. 2017, San Francisco, California, USA: International Association for Dental Research.
  • Rutter J, Cunningham K, Holmes RD, Maguire A, Innes NP, Douglas GV, Clarkson J, Freeman R, McColl E, Robertson M, Marshman Z. FiCTION: Filling Children's Teeth: Indicated or Not? Qualitative Research Protocol. In: IADR/AADR/CADR General Session. 2017, San Francisco, California, USA: International Association for Dental Research.
  • Burgess D, Holmes R, Wilson K. How do dentally anxious patients account for the onset of their dental anxiety?. In: The Psychosomatic Factor in Clinical Practice. 23rd World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine. 2015, Glasgow, UK: Karger.

• Reports

  • Marcheselli, F, Mandalia, D, Sloman, A, Morris, J, Tsakos, G, Heilmann, A, Holmes, R, Gallagher, J, Pitts, N. Adult Oral Health Survey 2023: Report Summary. London: Office for Health Improvement & Disparities (OHID), 2025.
  • Toomse-Smith M, Ridout K, Fuller E, Robertson K, Pitts N, Gallagher J, Morris J, Heilmann A, Tsakos G, Holmes R, Jones K, Douglas G. Adult Oral Health Survey 2021: Report Summary. London: Office for Health Improvement & Disparities (OHID), 2024.
  • Porter J, Holmes R, Vernazza C, Chadwick B, Ryan R, Dennes M. Children’s Dental Health Survey 2013. Country specific report: Wales. Health and Social Care Information Centre, 2015.
  • Holmes R, Porter J, Vernazza C, Tsakos G, Ryan R, Dennes M. Children’s Dental Health Survey 2013. Country specific report: England. Health and Social Care Information Centre, 2015.

• Reviews

  • Holmes RD. Is food insecurity associated with dental caries?. Evidence-Based Dentistry 2024, 25, 19-20.
  • Holmes RD. Dental behaviour support: can we improve qualitative research on patient experience?. Evidence-Based Dentistry 2024, 25, 156-157.
  • Tanner L, Craig D, Holmes R, Catinella L, Moynihan P. Does Dental Caries Increase Risk of Undernutrition in Children?. JDR Clinical and Translational Research 2022, 7(2), 104-117.
  • Holmes RD. Insufficient evidence for the role of school dental screening in improving oral health. Evidence-Based Dentistry 2018, 19(1), 3-4.
  • Holmes RD. No evidence to support or refute the benefits of school dental screening. Evidence-Based Dentistry 2017, 18(3), 66-67.
  • Holmes RD. Tooth brushing frequency and risk of new carious lesions. Evidence-Based Dentistry 2016, 17(4), 98-99.
  • Holmes RD. Psychology of behaviour change is key to effective oral health promotion. Evidence-Based Dentistry 2016, 17, 70-71.
  • Murray JJ, Vernazza CR, Holmes RD. Forty Years of National Surveys: An overview of children's dental health from 1973-2013. British Dental Journal 2015, 219(6), 281-285.