![Anwen Cope PhD BDS MPH FDS(DPH) RCPS(Glasg) FHEA FFPH](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/7700?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Anwen Cope
(she/her)
PhD BDS MPH FDS(DPH) RCPS(Glasg) FHEA FFPH
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Anwen Cope
Clinical Senior Lecturer
Overview
I am a Senior Clinical Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in Dental Public Health at Cardiff University's School of Dentistry. I am recognised by the General Dental Council as a Specialist in Dental Public Health and am a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health. I have been recognised as an Emerging Leader in Health and Social Care Research by Health and Care Research Wales, which reflects my commitment to improving population oral health through research, education, and NHS service. I am the Lead for Impact, Innovation and Enterprise for the School of Dentistry.
My research spans evidence implementation, urgent dental care and dental antibiotic use, the impact of poverty on oral health, and supporting shared decision-making in clinical practice. I have over £1.05M of grant capture, most of this as the Principal Investigator.
I teach Dental Public Health and Evidence-Based Dentistry to both undergraduate and postgraduate students and supervise postgraduate research. I support Specialty Trainees in Dental Public Health and am the Teaching and Training Representative for the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry.
In my Honorary NHS Consultant role I lead the Welsh Oral Health Information Unit, a specialist health intelligence team, which works closely with Public Health Wales to deliver the NHS Wales Dental Epidemiology Programme.
Publication
2026
- Busaily, I. et al. 2026. Cross-sectional study of paediatric preventive care in Saudi Arabia. International Dental Journal 76 (5) 109730. (10.1016/j.identj.2026.109730)
- Barnes, E. , Brocklehurst, P. and Cope, A. 2026. The impact of dental caries and local-area deprivation on 5-year-olds' oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Community Dental Health 43 (2), pp.160-166. (10.1177/0265539X251400455)
- Chestnutt, I. G. et al. 2026. A consensus exercise to inform the future of National Health Service General Dental Services using a modified-Delphi technique. British Dental Journal 240 (7), pp.482-488. (10.1038/s41415-025-9100-x)
- Chestnutt, I. and Cope, A. 2026. How commerce influences health and oral health. British Dental Journal
2025
- Cope, A. , Chestnutt, I. and Wilson, J. 2025. Shared decision making in dentistry. In: Elwyn, G. , Joseph-Williams, N. and Edwards, A. eds. Oxford Textbook of Shared Decision Making in Healthcare, Fourth Edition. Oxford University Press. , pp.297-300. (10.1093/med/9780198897804.003.0059)
2024
- Cope, A. and Chestnutt, I. G. 2024. A systematic review of the association between food insecurity and behaviours related to caries development in adults and children in high‐income countries. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology 52 (5), pp.625-647. (10.1111/cdoe.12959)
- Dickenson, A. J. et al., 2024. Improving children’s oral health in Wales through partnership. BMJ Paediatrics Open 8 (1), pp.1-2. (10.1136/bmjpo-2024-002989)
- Chestnutt, I. G. and Cope, A. L. 2024. A retrospective analysis of NHS patient dental charges in England, Scotland and Wales. British Dental Journal (10.1038/s41415-024-7739-3)
- Chestnutt, I. G. et al. 2024. A consensus exercise to inform the future of National Health Service General Dental Services using a modified-Delphi technique. Project Report.[Online].Cardiff University. Available at: https://www.northwalesldc.co.uk/uploads/publications/files/consensus-on-issues-relating-t-263.pdf.
- Cope, A. L. et al. 2024. Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2024 (5) CD010136. (10.1002/14651858.CD010136.pub4)
- Brocklehurst, P. et al., 2024. Can we remunerate for prevention? A public health perspective. British Dental Journal 236 106. (10.1038/s41415-024-6765-5)
2023
- Bannister, C. et al. 2023. Time to complete contemporary dental procedures – estimates from a cross-sectional survey of the dental team. BMC Oral Health 23 926. (10.1186/s12903-023-03671-y)
- Cope, A. L. and Chestnutt, I. G. 2023. The implications of a cost-of-living crisis for oral health and dental care. British Dental Journal 234 , pp.501-504. (10.1038/s41415-023-5685-0)
2022
- Cope, A. L. et al. 2022. The development and application of a chairside oral health risk and need stratification tool in general dental services. Journal of Dentistry 123 104206. (10.1016/j.jdent.2022.104206)
- Scott, H. et al., 2022. A qualitative exploration of decisions about dental recall intervals. Part 2: perspectives of dentists and patients on the role of shared decision making in dental recall decisions. British Dental Journal (10.1038/s41415-022-4046-8)
- Scott, H. et al. 2022. A qualitative exploration of decisions about dental recall intervals. Part 1: attitudes of NHS general dental practitioners to NICE Guideline CG19 on the interval between oral health reviews. British Dental Journal 232 , pp.327-331. (10.1038/s41415-022-3998-z)
2019
- Cope, A. et al. 2019. Exploring the feasibility of using routinely collected data to produce antibiotic prescribing profiles for general dental practitioners in Wales. Community Dental Health 36 (3), pp.177-180. (10.1922/CDH_4211Cope04)
2018
- Cope, A. , Butt, K. and Chestnutt, I. 2018. Why might patients in the UK consult a general medical practitioner when experiencing dental problems? A literature review of patients’ perspectives. Community Dental Health 35 (4), pp.235-240. (10.1922/CDH_4369Cope06)
- Cope, A. et al. 2018. Patients' reasons for consulting a GP when experiencing a dental problem: a qualitative study. British Journal of General Practice 68 (677), pp.e877-e883. (10.3399/bjgp18X699749)
- Cope, A. et al. 2018. Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 9 CD010136. (10.1002/14651858.CD010136.pub3)
2016
- Cope, A. L. et al. 2016. Antimicrobial prescribing by dentists in Wales, UK: findings of the first cycle of a clinical audit. British Dental Journal 221 (1), pp.25-30. (10.1038/sj.bdj.2016.496)
- Cope, A. L. et al. 2016. Antibiotic prescribing in UK general dental practice: a cross-sectional study. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology 44 (2), pp.145-153. (10.1111/cdoe.12199)
- Cope, A. L. et al. 2016. Dental consultations in UK general practice and antibiotic prescribing rates: a retrospective cohort study. British Journal of General Practice , pp.e329-e336. (10.3399/bjgp16X684757)
2015
- Cope, A. et al. 2015. General practitioners' attitudes towards the management of dental conditions and use of antibiotics in these consultations: a qualitative study. BMJ Open 5 (10) e008551. (10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008551)
- Cope, A. L. 2015. Understanding the use of antibiotics in the management of dental problems in primary care. PhD Thesis , Cardiff University.
2014
- Cope, A. and Chestnutt, I. 2014. Inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics in primary dental care: reasons and resolutions. Primary Dental Journal 3 (4), pp.33-37. (10.1308/205016814813877333)
- Cope, A. et al. 2014. General dental practitioners' perceptions of antimicrobial use and resistance: a qualitative interview study. British Dental Journal 217 (5), pp.653-660. E9. (10.1038/sj.bdj.2014.761)
2012
- Cope, A. et al. 2012. Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults.. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (10) CD010136. (10.1002/14651858.CD010136)
Articles
- Busaily, I. et al. 2026. Cross-sectional study of paediatric preventive care in Saudi Arabia. International Dental Journal 76 (5) 109730. (10.1016/j.identj.2026.109730)
- Barnes, E. , Brocklehurst, P. and Cope, A. 2026. The impact of dental caries and local-area deprivation on 5-year-olds' oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Community Dental Health 43 (2), pp.160-166. (10.1177/0265539X251400455)
- Chestnutt, I. G. et al. 2026. A consensus exercise to inform the future of National Health Service General Dental Services using a modified-Delphi technique. British Dental Journal 240 (7), pp.482-488. (10.1038/s41415-025-9100-x)
- Chestnutt, I. and Cope, A. 2026. How commerce influences health and oral health. British Dental Journal
- Cope, A. and Chestnutt, I. G. 2024. A systematic review of the association between food insecurity and behaviours related to caries development in adults and children in high‐income countries. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology 52 (5), pp.625-647. (10.1111/cdoe.12959)
- Dickenson, A. J. et al., 2024. Improving children’s oral health in Wales through partnership. BMJ Paediatrics Open 8 (1), pp.1-2. (10.1136/bmjpo-2024-002989)
- Chestnutt, I. G. and Cope, A. L. 2024. A retrospective analysis of NHS patient dental charges in England, Scotland and Wales. British Dental Journal (10.1038/s41415-024-7739-3)
- Cope, A. L. et al. 2024. Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2024 (5) CD010136. (10.1002/14651858.CD010136.pub4)
- Brocklehurst, P. et al., 2024. Can we remunerate for prevention? A public health perspective. British Dental Journal 236 106. (10.1038/s41415-024-6765-5)
- Bannister, C. et al. 2023. Time to complete contemporary dental procedures – estimates from a cross-sectional survey of the dental team. BMC Oral Health 23 926. (10.1186/s12903-023-03671-y)
- Cope, A. L. and Chestnutt, I. G. 2023. The implications of a cost-of-living crisis for oral health and dental care. British Dental Journal 234 , pp.501-504. (10.1038/s41415-023-5685-0)
- Cope, A. L. et al. 2022. The development and application of a chairside oral health risk and need stratification tool in general dental services. Journal of Dentistry 123 104206. (10.1016/j.jdent.2022.104206)
- Scott, H. et al., 2022. A qualitative exploration of decisions about dental recall intervals. Part 2: perspectives of dentists and patients on the role of shared decision making in dental recall decisions. British Dental Journal (10.1038/s41415-022-4046-8)
- Scott, H. et al. 2022. A qualitative exploration of decisions about dental recall intervals. Part 1: attitudes of NHS general dental practitioners to NICE Guideline CG19 on the interval between oral health reviews. British Dental Journal 232 , pp.327-331. (10.1038/s41415-022-3998-z)
- Cope, A. et al. 2019. Exploring the feasibility of using routinely collected data to produce antibiotic prescribing profiles for general dental practitioners in Wales. Community Dental Health 36 (3), pp.177-180. (10.1922/CDH_4211Cope04)
- Cope, A. , Butt, K. and Chestnutt, I. 2018. Why might patients in the UK consult a general medical practitioner when experiencing dental problems? A literature review of patients’ perspectives. Community Dental Health 35 (4), pp.235-240. (10.1922/CDH_4369Cope06)
- Cope, A. et al. 2018. Patients' reasons for consulting a GP when experiencing a dental problem: a qualitative study. British Journal of General Practice 68 (677), pp.e877-e883. (10.3399/bjgp18X699749)
- Cope, A. et al. 2018. Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 9 CD010136. (10.1002/14651858.CD010136.pub3)
- Cope, A. L. et al. 2016. Antimicrobial prescribing by dentists in Wales, UK: findings of the first cycle of a clinical audit. British Dental Journal 221 (1), pp.25-30. (10.1038/sj.bdj.2016.496)
- Cope, A. L. et al. 2016. Antibiotic prescribing in UK general dental practice: a cross-sectional study. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology 44 (2), pp.145-153. (10.1111/cdoe.12199)
- Cope, A. L. et al. 2016. Dental consultations in UK general practice and antibiotic prescribing rates: a retrospective cohort study. British Journal of General Practice , pp.e329-e336. (10.3399/bjgp16X684757)
- Cope, A. et al. 2015. General practitioners' attitudes towards the management of dental conditions and use of antibiotics in these consultations: a qualitative study. BMJ Open 5 (10) e008551. (10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008551)
- Cope, A. and Chestnutt, I. 2014. Inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics in primary dental care: reasons and resolutions. Primary Dental Journal 3 (4), pp.33-37. (10.1308/205016814813877333)
- Cope, A. et al. 2014. General dental practitioners' perceptions of antimicrobial use and resistance: a qualitative interview study. British Dental Journal 217 (5), pp.653-660. E9. (10.1038/sj.bdj.2014.761)
- Cope, A. et al. 2012. Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults.. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (10) CD010136. (10.1002/14651858.CD010136)
Book sections
- Cope, A. , Chestnutt, I. and Wilson, J. 2025. Shared decision making in dentistry. In: Elwyn, G. , Joseph-Williams, N. and Edwards, A. eds. Oxford Textbook of Shared Decision Making in Healthcare, Fourth Edition. Oxford University Press. , pp.297-300. (10.1093/med/9780198897804.003.0059)
Monographs
- Chestnutt, I. G. et al. 2024. A consensus exercise to inform the future of National Health Service General Dental Services using a modified-Delphi technique. Project Report.[Online].Cardiff University. Available at: https://www.northwalesldc.co.uk/uploads/publications/files/consensus-on-issues-relating-t-263.pdf.
Thesis
- Cope, A. L. 2015. Understanding the use of antibiotics in the management of dental problems in primary care. PhD Thesis , Cardiff University.
Research
Highlighted Projects
STEP2 - Stakeholder engagement to optimise the impact of supervised toothbrushing programmes
Tooth decay in Welsh children is improving but remains high, with 32.4% of 5-year-olds affected in 2022/23. The Designed to Smile (D2S) programme targets children in deprived areas with supervised toothbrushing, fluoride varnish, and parental support. Although participation was strong before the pandemic, the programme saw a significant drop in engagement after COVID-19 disruptions. While nursery school participation has nearly returned to previous levels, primary school involvement remains below pre-pandemic rates.
The aim of the study is to explore what factors hinder or facilitate the positive recruitment of primary schools to the Designed to Smile (D2S) programme.
The study will use qualitative semi-structured interviews to explore the perspectives of key stakeholders involved in the D2S programme and those involved in the decision-making process within the participating/non-participating primary schools.
This study is funded by the Medical Research Council Harmonised Impact Acceleration Account.
Teaching
Undergraduate
I am the topic lead for Dental Public Health and Evidence Based Dentistry modules.
I teach Dental Public Health and Evidence Based Dentistry on the Dental Hygiene and Therapy BSc and Dental Surgery BDS programmes.
Postgraduate
I teach Stakeholder Engagement on the Futuretech in Tissue Engineering module.
I teach seminars on critical appraisal and scientific publication for Health Education and Improvement Wales.
External examiner
I am an external examiner for the University of Birmingham BDS course and Kings College London MSc in Dental Public Health.
Biography
I graduated from Cardiff University with a first-class honours in Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 2009 and subsequently completed a PhD in 2015 and Masters in Public Health (with distinction) in 2018. I entered Dental Public Health specialty training in 2015 and passed the Intercollegiate Specialty Fellowship Examination in 2020 and was awarded the Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training in 2021. I have full registration with the General Dental Council and am named on the specialist list for Dental Public Health. I joined Cardiff University as a Senior Clinical Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in Dental Public Health in September 2021.
Qualifications
- FDS in Dental Public Health. Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, 2021
- Master of Public Health (Distinction). Cardiff University, 2018
- Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine). Cardiff University, 2015. Thesis Title: Understanding the use of antibiotics for acute dental condition in primary care in the UK.
- Diploma of Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties. Royal College of Surgeons of England, 2013
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery, First Class Honours. Cardiff University, 2009
Honours and awards
- Emerging Leader Award, Health and Care Research Wales. 2025
- Finalist, Outstanding Contribution to Medical Education, BEST Trainee Awards. Health Education and
Improvement Wales (HEIW). 2019 - T C White Lecture Award. Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. 2017
- Roger Anderson Poster Prize. British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry. 2017
- Roger Anderson Poster Prize. British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry. 2015
- TC White Young Researcher Award. Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. 2015
- Student Competition Winner. Cochrane UK & Ireland Annual Symposium. 2014
Professional memberships
Full registration with the General Dental Council
Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health
Member of the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry
Member of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
Academic positions
2015 – 2021: Specialty Trainee and Hon. Lecturer in Dental Public Health, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
2014 – 2015: Post-doctoral Clinical Research Fellow in Dental Public Health, School of Dentistry, Cardiff University
Committees and reviewing
Member, British Dental Association Health and Science Committee
Editorial Board Member, BMC Oral Health
Supervisions
I am particularly interested in supervising MPH, MPhil and PhD students in the areas of urgent dental care and antibiotic prescribing in dentistry.
I may also occasionally have capacity to supervise students interested in:
- Oral epidemiology
- Health services research
- Clinical dentistry
Please be aware that the earliest I am likely to be able to supervise new postgraduate research students is late 2027/early 2028.
Current supervision
Idris Busaily Busaily
Past projects
Jason Sequeira - Masters in Public Health (2024)
News articles
Contact Details
+44 29225 10614
University Dental Hospital, Room 5F.06 Postgraduate Research Office, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XY
Research themes
Specialisms
- Dental public health
- Epidemiology
- Antimicrobial stewardship
