Professor Nicola Innes
PhD, BDS, BSc, BMSc, MFDS (RCS Eng), MFGDP (RCS Eng), FFD (RCSI)

: Available for postgraduate supervision

Teams and roles for Nicola Innes

Head of School of Dentistry
School of Dentistry

Professor Innes is a clinician-academic with a unique background in dentistry and nursing, currently serving as Head of the School of Dentistry. Her career has been driven by a deep commitment to both improving dental care and excellence in dental education.

As Head of the School of Dentistry, she provides strategic and academic leadership to support excellence in education, clinical training and research. Professor Innes works closely with colleagues and external partners to foster a collaborative, inclusive environment that supports staff development, prepares students for modern, evidence-based dental practice and advances the profession through innovation and impact. In 2023/24, Professor Innes also served as Interim Head of the School of Healthcare Sciences, and in 2024/25, as Interim Pro-vice Chancellor, Education and Student Experience.

As the Oral and Dental Specialty Lead for Wales, Nicola champions clinical research in dentistry. Recently she received the prestigious Health and Care Research Wales Senior Research Leaders Award and their Impact Award for the BRIGHT Trial.

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9984-0012

https://policyprofiles.sagepub.com/profile/22317/nicola-innes

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nicola_Innes

Date
Type

2018

Dey, D. et al., 2018. Co-design of BRIGHT Trial: Brushing RemInder 4 Good oral HealTh intervention. Presented at: Scottish Education Research Association Annual Conference 2018 (SERA 2018) Glasgow, Scotland 21-23 November 2018.
Fontana, M. and Innes, N. 2018. Sealing carious tissue using resin and glass-ionomer cements. In: Schwendicke, F. , Frencken, J. and Innes, N. eds. Caries Excavation: Evolution of Treating Cavitated Carious Lesions. Vol. 27, Monographs in Oral Science Karger. , pp.103-112. (10.1159/000487837)
Innes, N. 2018. Management of deep carious lesions through sealing in primary teeth. In: Schwendicke, F. ed. Management of Deep Carious Lesions. Springer. , pp.113-130.
Innes, N. , Robertson, M. and Schwendicke, F. 2018. Caries Excavation. Monographs in Oral Science 27 , pp.167--171. (10.1159/000487844)
Innes, N. P. T. and Robertson, M. D. 2018. Recent advances in the management of childhood dental caries. Archives of Disease in Childhood 103 (4), pp.311-315. (10.1136/archdischild-2017-313196)
Innes, N. 2018. Cariology Clinical Trials: what are we—and what should we be—looking at?. Advances in Dental Research: an E-Supplement to Journal of Dental Research 29 (1), pp.4-8. (10.1177/0022034517735296)
Jayaraman, J. et al., 2018. Critical appraisal of methodological quality of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis in Paediatric Dentistry journals. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 28 (6), pp.548--560. (10.1111/ipd.12414)
Marianne, D. et al., 2018. Chlorhexidine gel to prevent alveolar osteitis following mandibular third molar extractions. Evidence-Based Dentistry 19 (1), pp.16-17. (10.1038/sj.ebd.6401288)
McFadden, A. et al., 2018. Gypsy, Roma and Traveller access to and engagement with health services. European Journal of Public Health 28 (1), pp.74-81. (10.1093/eurpub/ckx226)
McFadden, A. et al., 2018. Enhancing Gypsy, Roma and Traveller peoples’ trust: using maternity and early years’ health services and dental health services as exemplars of mainstream service provision.
Ricketts, D. , Innes, N. and Schwendicke, F. 2018. Selective removal of carious tissue. In: Schwendicke, F. , Frencken, J. and Innes, N. eds. Caries Excavation: Evolution of Treating Cavitated Carious Lesions. Monographs in Oral Science Basel: Karger. , pp.82-91. (10.1159/000487838)
Santamaria, R. M. and Innes, N. 2018. Sealing carious tissue in primary teeth using crowns. In: Schwendicke, F. , Frencken, J. and Innes, N. eds. Caries Excavation: Evolution of Treating Cavitated Carious Lesions. Vol. 27, Monographs in Oral Science Basel: Karger. , pp.113-123. (10.1159/000487835)
Schwendicke, F. , Frencken, J. and Innes, N. 2018. Clinical recommendations on carious tissue removal in cavitated lesions. In: Schwendicke, F. , Frencken, J. and Innes, N. eds. Caries Excavation: Evolution of Treating Cavitated Carious Lesions. Vol. 27, Monographs in Oral Science Basel: Karger. , pp.162166. (10.1159/000487843)
Schwendicke, F. , Lamont, T. and Innes, N. 2018. Removing or controlling? How caries management impacts on the lifetime of teeth. In: Schwendicke, F. , Frencken, J. and Innes, N. eds. Caries Excavation: Evolution of Treating Cavitated Carious Lesions. Vol. 27, Monographs in Oral Science Basel: Karger. , pp.32-41. (10.1159/000487829)
Schwendicke, F. and Innes, N. 2018. Removal strategies for carious tissues in deep lesions. In: Schwendicke, F. ed. Management of Deep Carious Lesions. Cham: Springer. , pp.15-35. (10.1007/978-3-319-61370-3_2)
Schwendicke, F. et al., 2018. Cost-effectiveness of managing cavitated primary molar caries lesions: A randomized trial in Germany. Journal of Dentistry 78 , pp.40-45. (10.1016/j.jdent.2018.05.022)
Schwendicke, F. et al., 2018. Interventions for treating cavitated or dentine carious lesions. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2018 (6)(10.1002/14651858.CD013039)
Seifo, N. , Al-Yaseen, W. and Innes, N. 2018. The efficacy of silver diamine fluoride in arresting caries in children. Evidence-Based Dentistry 19 (2), pp.42--43. (10.1038/sj.ebd.6401301)
Wright, C. et al., 2018. The use of chlorhexidine in the prevention of alveolar osteitis after third molar extractions. Evidence-Based Dentistry 19 (1), pp.18--19. (10.1038/sj.ebd.6401289)

2017

Ainine, S. et al., 2017. Managing barriers to gypsy and traveller engagement with dental services. Presented at: IADR General Session: 95th General Session & Exhibition of the IADR San Francisco, CA, United States 22-25 March 2017.
Banerjee, A. et al., 2017. Contemporary operative caries management: consensus recommendations on minimally invasive caries removal. British Dental Journal 223 (3), pp.215--222. (10.1038/sj.bdj.2017.672)
Cavalcanti da Costa, A. et al., 2017. Influence of sense of coherence on adolescents' self-perceived dental aesthetics. BMC Oral Health 17 117. (10.1186/s12903-017-0405-2)
Eaton, K. A. et al., 2017. Don't be rejected, how can we help authors, reviewers and editors?: Report of a Symposium for Editors Publishers and Others with an Interest in Scientific Publication, Held in Boston on Wednesday, 11 March 2015, during the Annual Meeting of the International Association for Dental Research. Journal of Dentistry 57 , pp.77-85. (10.1016/j.jdent.2016.11.013)
Gupta, E. et al., 2017. A scoping review of the uses of the care index in children. Community Dental Health 34 (3), pp.131-136. (10.1922/CDH_4063Gupta06)
Innes, N. P. T. et al. 2017. The Hall Technique 10 years on. British Dental Journal 222 (6), pp.478--483. (10.1038/sj.bdj.2017.273)
Innes, N. and Manton, D. 2017. Minimum intervention children's dentistry - the starting point for a lifetime of oral health. British Dental Journal 223 (3), pp.205-213. (10.1038/sj.bdj.2017.671)
Innes, N. and Schwendicke, F. 2017. Restorative thresholds for carious lesions: systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Dental Research 96 (5), pp.501-508. (10.1177/0022034517693605)
Levy, C. et al., 2017. Outcomes in randomised controlled trials in prevention and management of carious lesions. Trials 18 515. (10.1186/s13063-017-2256-1)
Rajendra, A. et al., 2017. Topical silver diamine fluoride for managing dental caries in children and adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2017 (7) CD012718. (10.1002/14651858.CD012718)
Robertson, M. et al., 2017. Use of the Hall Technique in children with learning difficulties. Presented at: IADR General Session: 95th General Session & Exhibition of the IADR 22 - 25 Mar 2017.
Rutter, J. et al., 2017. FiCTION filling children’s teeth: indicated or not? Integrating qualitative research. Presented at: IADR 95th General Session San Francisco, California, USA 22 - 25 March 2017. Proceedings IADR General Session.
Santamaría, R. M. et al., 2017. Alternative caries management options for primary molars: 2.5-year outcomes of a randomised clinical trial. Caries Research 51 (6), pp.605-614. (10.1159/000477855)
Schwendicke, F. et al., 2017. Comparator choice in cariology trials limits conclusions on the comparative effectiveness of caries interventions. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 89 , pp.209-217. (10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.05.019)

2016

Chen, Z. et al., 2016. Managing carious lesions. Chinese Journal of Stomatology 51 (12), pp.712-716. (10.3760/cma.j.issn.1002-0098.2016.12.003)
Frencken, J. , Innes, N. and Schwendicke, F. 2016. Managing carious lesions: why do we need consensus on terminology and clinical recommendations on carious tissue removal?. Advances in Dental Research: an E-Supplement to Journal of Dental Research 28 (2), pp.46-48. (10.1177/0022034516639272)
Hesse, D. et al., 2016. Atraumatic Restorative Treatment compared to the Hall Technique for occluso-proximal cavities in primary molars. Trials 17 169. (10.1186/s13063-016-1270-z)
Innes, N. , Frencken, J. E. and Bjørndal, L. 2016. Managing carious lesions. Advances in Dental Research: an E-Supplement to Journal of Dental Research 28 (2), pp.49-57. (10.1177/0022034516639276)
Innes, N. , Schwendicke, F. and Lamont, T. 2016. How do we create, and improve, the evidence base?. British Dental Journal 220 (12), pp.651. (10.1038/sj.bdj.2016.451)
Innes, N. , Frencken, J. and Schwendicke, F. 2016. Don't know, can't do, won't change: barriers to moving knowledge to action in managing the carious lesion. Journal of Dental Research 95 (5), pp.485-486. (10.1177/0022034516638512)
McFadden, A. et al., 2016. Community engagement to enhance trust between Gypsy/Travellers, and maternity, early years’ and child dental health services. International Journal for Equity in Health 15 183. (10.1186/s12939-016-0475-9)
Sabbagh, H. J. et al., 2016. Environmental risk factors in the etiology of nonsyndromic orofacial clefts in the western region of Saudi Arabia. cleft palate-craniofacial journal 53 (4), pp.435--443. (10.1597/14-136)
Schwendicke, F. et al., 2016. Managing carious lesions: consensus recommendations on carious tissue removal. Advances in Dental Research: an E-Supplement to Journal of Dental Research 28 (2), pp.58-67. (10.1177/0022034516639271)
Schwendicke, F. , Stolpe, M. and Innes, N. 2016. Conventional treatment, Hall Technique or immediate pulpotomy for carious primary molars: A cost-effectiveness analysis. International Endodontic Journal 49 (9), pp.817-826. (10.1111/iej.12537)

2015

Borrie, F. R. P. et al., 2015. Interventions for the cessation of non-nutritive sucking habits in children. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 3 (10.1002/14651858.CD008694.pub2)
Innes, N. et al. 2015. The Hall Technique; Retrospective case-note follow-up of 5-year RCT. British Dental Journal 219 (8), pp.395-400. (10.1038/sj.bdj.2015.816)
Innes, N. 2015. The gentle touch. Denplan Insight 4 , pp.14.
Innes, N. P. T. et al. 2015. Preformed crowns for decayed primary molar teeth. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2015 (12) CD005512. (10.1002/14651858.CD005512.pub3)
Innes, N. P. and Stewart, M. 2015. The hall technique, a simplified method for placing stainless steel crowns on primary molars, may be as successful as traditionally placed crowns. Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice 15 (2), pp.70-72. (10.1016/j.jebdp.2015.03.008)
Lamont, T. , Schwendicke, F. and Innes, N. 2015. Why we need a core outcome set for trials of interventions for prevention and management of caries. Evidence-Based Dentistry 16 (3), pp.66-68. (10.1038/sj.ebd.6401109)
Levey, E. , Carson, S. and Innes, N. 2015. Patients give meaning to changes in health complaints before, during and after the replacement of amalgam restorations. Evidence-Based Dentistry 16 (4), pp.100-101. (10.1038/sj.ebd.6401127)
Sabbagh, H. J. et al., 2015. Passive smoking in the etiology of non-syndromic orofacial clefts: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE 10 (3) e0116963. (10.1371/journal.pone.0116963)
Sabbagh, H. et al., 2015. Birth prevalence of non-syndromic orofacial clefts in Saudi Arabia and the effects of parental consanguinity. Saudi Medical Journal 36 (9), pp.1076-1083. (10.15537/smj.2015.9.11823)
Santamaria, R. M. et al., 2015. Acceptability of different caries management methods for primary molars in a RCT. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 25 (1), pp.9-17. (10.1111/ipd.12097)
Schwendicke, F. , Lamont, T. and Innes, N. 2015. Outcomes in Trials for Management of Caries Lesions (OuTMaC): Protocol. Trials 16 (1) 397. (10.1186/s13063-015-0927-3)

2014

Alamoudi, N. M. et al., 2014. Prevalence and characteristics of non-syndromic orofacial clefts in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and the influence of consanguinity. Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry 38 (3), pp.241-246. (10.17796/jcpd.38.3.bm4m2158v17p2535)
Evans, D. , Innes, N. and Rodrigues, S. 2014. Dentistry without drills. youtube.com: Primary Science Teaching Trust. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huiqwRn9pPk&feature=youtu.be.
Foster Page, L. A. et al., 2014. Acceptability of the Hall Technique to parents and children.. The New Zealand Dental Journal 110 (1), pp.12-17.
Innes, N. and Giannobile, W. 2014. The breadth of oral health research: Translating to clinical practice. Journal of Dental Research 93 (7), pp.616-617. (10.1177/0022034514537648)
Keightley, A. et al., 2014. Participant recruitment to FiCTION, a primary dental care trial-survey of facilitators and barriers. British Dental Journal 217 (10) E22. (10.1038/sj.bdj.2014.1009)
Page Foster, L. A. et al., 2014. Acceptability of the Hall Technique in New Zealand. The New Zealand Dental Journal 2014 (1), pp.12-17.
Sabbagh, H. et al., 2014. Parental consanguinity and nonsyndromic orofacial clefts in children: A systematic review and meta-analyses. cleft palate-craniofacial journal 51 (5), pp.501-513. (10.1597/12-209)
Santamaria, R. et al., 2014. Caries management strategies for primary molars: 1-yr randomized control trial results. Journal of Dental Research 93 (11), pp.1062-1069. (10.1177/0022034514550717)
Santamaria, R. and Innes, N. 2014. Trial shows partial caries removal is an effective technique in primary molars. Evidence-Based Dentistry 15 (3), pp.81-82. (10.1038/sj.ebd.6401044)
Souster, G. and Innes, N. 2014. Two commentaries on review of characteristics of child dental neglect. Evidence-Based Dentistry 15 (1), pp.2-3. (10.1038/sj.ebd.6400996)

2013

Bradbury-Jones, C. et al., 2013. Dental neglect as a marker of broader neglect: a qualitative investigation of public health nurses' assessments of oral health in preschool children. BMC Public Health 13 370. (10.1186/1471-2458-13-370)
Innes, N. 2013. An interview with the editor. Evidence-Based Dentistry 14 (4), pp.100-101. (10.1038/sj.ebd.6400962)
Innes, N. et al. 2013. Should I eXtract Every Six dental trial (SIXES): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 14 (1) 59. (10.1186/1745-6215-14-59)
Innes, N. P. T. et al. 2013. The FiCTION dental trial protocol - filling children's teeth: Indicated or not?. BMC Oral Health 13 25. (10.1186/1472-6831-13-25)
Innes, N. P. and Evans, D. J. 2013. Evidence of improved access to dental care with direct access arrangements. Evidence-Based Dentistry 14 (2), pp.36-37. (10.1038/sj.ebd.6400926)
Innes, N. and Evans, D. 2013. Modern approaches to caries management of the primary dentition. British Dental Journal 214 (11), pp.559-566. (10.1038/sj.bdj.2013.529)
Lamont, T. and Innes, N. 2013. Study suggests dentine bonding agents provided better relief from dentine hypersensitivity than a desensitising toothpaste. Evidence-Based Dentistry 14 (4), pp.105-106. (10.1038/sj.ebd.6400965)
Ricketts, D. et al., 2013. Operative caries management in adults and children.. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 3 CD003808. (10.1002/14651858.CD003808.pub3)
Santamaria, R. et al., 2013. Paradigm shift in dental caries in deciduous teeth: Summary of the main lectures of the DGKiZ Spring Meeting 2013 | Paradigmenwechsel bei der Karies an Milchzähnen; Zusammenfassung der Hauptvorträge der Frühjahrstagung der DGKiZ 2013. Oralprophylaxe und Kinderzahnheilkunde 35 (2), pp.57-59.

2012

Innes, N. 2012. Patients with oro-facial clefts have more dental anomalies. Evidence-Based Dentistry 13 (3), pp.82-83. (10.1038/sj.ebd.6400877)
Innes, N. 2012. Quality of the published qualitative dental research is mediocre. Evidence-Based Dentistry 13 (4), pp.122. (10.1038/sj.ebd.6400903)
Innes, N. 2012. Rubber dam use less stressful for children and dentists. Evidence-Based Dentistry 13 (2), pp.48. (10.1038/sj.ebd.6400859)
Innes, N. and Evans, D. 2012. Challenges in early childhood caries management - Fluoride programmes for children. Oralprophylaxe und Kinderzahnheilkunde 34 (4), pp.158-160. (10.3238/OPKZH.2012.0158-0160)
Innes, N. and Hurst, D. 2012. GDC learning outcomes for the undergraduate dental curriculum. Evidence-Based Dentistry 13 (1), pp.2-3. (10.1038/sj.ebd.6400834)
Marshman, Z. et al., 2012. The management of dental caries in primary teeth - involving service providers and users in the design of a trial. Trials 13 143 (2012). (10.1186/1745-6215-13-143)
Sabbagh, H. , Mossey, P. and Innes, N. 2012. Prevalence of orofacial clefts in Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries: A systematic review. Saudi Dental Journal 24 (1), pp.3-10. (10.1016/j.sdentj.2011.11.001)
Splieth, C. , Innes, N. and Sohnel, A. 2012. Evidence-based cariology in clinical and public health practice as part of the European Core Curriculum in Cariology. European Journal of Dental Education 15 (SUPPL.), pp.45-51. (10.1111/j.1600-0579.2011.00714.x)

2011

Gilchrist, F. et al., 2011. Clinical outcomes for preformed metal crowns placed by dental undergraduates. Presented at: British Society for Paediatric Dentistry Annual Scientific Meeting Glasgow, Scotland 13-16 September 2011. Vol. 21.Vol. s2. Wiley. , pp.12. (10.1111/j.1365-263X.2011.01167_5.x)
Innes, N. , Evans, D. and Stirrups, D. 2011. Sealing caries in primary molars: Randomized control trial, 5-year results. Journal of Dental Research 90 (12), pp.1405-1410. (10.1177/0022034511422064)
Ricketts, D. N. J. and Innes, N. P. T. 2011. To drill or not to drill? How much caries removal do we need?. In: Splieth, C. H. ed. Revolutions in Pediatric Dentistry. Quintessence Publishing Co. Ltd

2010

Innes, N. 2010. Enamel matrix derivative for direct pulp capping. Evidence-Based Dentistry 11 (2), pp.45-46. (10.1038/sj.ebd.6400719)
Innes, N. , Marshman, Z. and Vendan, R. 2010. A group of general dental practitioners' views of preformed metal crowns after participation in the Hall technique clinical trial: a mixed-method evaluation.. Primary Dental Care 17 (1), pp.33-37. (10.1308/135576110790307672)

2009

Burrow, M. et al., 2009. Complete or ultraconservative removal of decayed tissue in unfilled teeth. Australian Dental Journal 54 (3), pp.274-276. (10.1111/j.1834-7819.2009.01133.x)
Innes, N. and Evans, D. 2009. Caries prevention for older people in residential care homes. Evidence-Based Dentistry 10 (3), pp.83-87. (10.1038/sj.ebd.6400672)
Innes, N. and Evans, D. 2009. Managing dental caries in children: Improving acceptability and outcomes through changing priorities and understanding the disease. British Dental Journal 206 (10), pp.549-550. (10.1038/sj.bdj.2009.471)
Innes, N. , Evans, D. and Hall, N. 2009. The Hall Technique for managing carious primary molars.. Dental Update 36 (8), pp.472-4, 477-8. (10.12968/denu.2009.36.8.472)
Innes, N. P. T. 2009. Traumatic intrusion of primary teeth and developmental defects in successor teeth. Evidence-Based Dentistry 10 (3), pp.70-71. (10.1038/sj.ebd.6400663)
Ricketts, D. et al., 2009. Complete or ultraconservative removal of decayed tissue in unfilled teeth. Australian Dental Journal 52 (3), pp.252-253. (10.1111/j.1834-7819.2007.tb00497.x)

2008

Innes, N. , Evans, D. and Stirrups, D. 2008. The hall technique. British Dental Journal 205 (4), pp.167-168. (10.1038/sj.bdj.2008.701)

2007

Innes, N. 2007. Better outcomes in pulpotomies on primary molars with MTA: Is mineral trioxide aggregate more effective than formocresol for primary molar pulpotomy?. Evidence-Based Dentistry 8 (1), pp.11-12. (10.1038/sj.ebd.6400464)
Innes, N. P. , Evans, D. J. P. and Stirrups, D. R. 2007. The Hall technique; a randomized controlled clinical trial of a novel method of managing carious primary molars in general dental practice: acceptability of the technique and outcomes at 23 months. BMC Oral Health 7 18. (10.1186/1472-6831-7-18)

2006

Evans, D. and Innes, N. 2006. Outside the ivory tower [Letter]. British Dental Journal 201 (5), pp.249-250. (10.1038/sj.bdj.4813997)
Innes, N. P. T. et al. 2006. A novel technique using preformed metal crowns for managing carious primary molars in general practice - A retrospective analysis. British Dental Journal 200 (8), pp.451-454. (10.1038/sj.bdj.4813466)
Innes, N. P. T. , Ricketts, D. and Evans, D. J. P. 2006. Preformed metal crowns for decayed primary molar teeth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (1)(10.1002/14651858.CD005512.pub2)
Ricketts, D. et al., 2006. Complete or ultraconservative removal of decayed tissue in unfilled teeth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (4)(10.1002/14651858.CD003808.pub2)

2005

Innes, N. P. T. et al. 2005. Obtaining an evidence-base for clinical dentistry through clinical trials.. Primary Dental Care os12 (3), pp.91-96. (10.1308/1355761054348459)

2000

Evans, D. P. J. et al., 2000. The Hall technique: a pilot trial of anovel use of preformed metal crownsfor managing carious primary teeth.. Tuith Online

1999

Innes, N. P. T. and Ogden, G. R. 1999. A technique for the study of endocytosis in human oral epithelial cells. Archives of Oral Biology 44 (6), pp.519-523. (10.1016/S0003-9969(99)00027-8)

1998

Coughtrie, M. W. H. et al., 1998. Biology and function of the reversible sulfation pathway catalysed by human sulfotransferases and sulfatases. Chemico-Biological Interactions 109 (1-3), pp.3-27. (10.1016/S0009-2797(97)00117-8)

Professor Nicola Innes
Dean and Head of School of Dentistry | Professor of Paediatric Dentistry | Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry

Professor Nicola Innes is Dean and Head of Cardiff Dental School. She also leads the Improving Dentistry Group, which focuses on advancing evidence-based, patient-centred dental care.

Nicola’s career spans healthcare, academia, senior leadership, and internationally recognised research. She began her professional journey as a Registered General Nurse before earning a BSc in Life Sciences from Napier University, followed by an intercalated BMSc in Cellular and Molecular Pathology and a BDS (Hons) from the University of Dundee. She later completed a PhD investigating the Hall Technique—a minimally invasive method for managing dental caries in children—which has since influenced global clinical practice.

After seven years in general dental practice in Scotland, Nicola transitioned into academia, beginning as a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Dundee in 2005. She was awarded membership of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (Faculty of General Dental Practitioners and Faculty of Dental Surgery), and an Ad Eundem Fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. She joined the General Dental Council’s Specialist List for Paediatric Dentistry in 2011 and became Head of Cardiff Dental School in 2020.

Her research has attracted over £8M of grant funding and 150+ peer reviewed publications. She has led several major UK-wide NIHR-funded clinical trials, including:

FiCTION – exploring alternative approaches to managing children’s tooth decay;
BRIGHT – evaluating school-based interventions to improve oral hygiene in adolescents;
CALM – testing CBT-based strategies to reduce dental anxiety in children.

Nicola’s work extends internationally, with collaborations and trials in Germany, the US, Australia, Latvia, Brazil, Lithuania, and New Zealand. She has co-authored Cochrane reviews, contributed to national and international clinical guidelines, and chaired development groups such as the widely used SDCEP guidance.

Her research interests are rooted in improving patient outcomes and ensuring the ethical and effective use of healthcare resources. These include:

Clinical trials in cariology, restorative, preventive, and paediatric dentistry;
Children’s perceptions of dental care and the development of child-friendly approaches;
Translational and educational research to support the implementation of evidence-based practice.

These areas also underpin her teaching in children’s dentistry, cariology, and evidence-based practice. While at Dundee, she co-led the implementation of a new undergraduate dental curriculum, reflecting her commitment to innovation in dental education.

Honours and awards

International

2025 Recipient of the 2025 IADR Giddon Award for Distinguished Research in the Behavioral Sciences: Innes N, Fairhurst C, Whiteside K ... Marshman Z. (2024) Behaviour change intervention for toothbrushing (lesson and text messages) to prevent dental caries in secondary school pupils: The BRIGHT randomized control trial. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 52, 469-478.
IADR Educational Research Group Faculty Award (2014)
British Council Workshop; Fluoride Metabolism and Public Health Award - International Collaboration meeting in Bauru, Brazil (2014)
First Prize Senior Clinical Research Category of Hatton Awards: International Association for Dental Research (2011)

National

Senior Research Leader Award, Health and Care Research Wales (2025)
Impact Award for BRIGHT Trial, Health and Care Research Wales Annual Conference (2024)
First Prize Senior Colgate Award: British Society for Oral and Dental Research (2010)
Chief Scientist's Office, PhD Research Training Fellowship (2000)
Royal Odonto-Chirurgical Society of Scotland Undergraduate Award (1998)
First Prize Unilever Award (pre & post-doc.) British Society for Dental Research (1996)

Current supervision

Idris Busaily Busaily

Louay Hanafi

Glesni Guest-Rowlands

Heather Lundbeck

Zahra Khubrani

Julian Joseph

Past projects

PhDs (current)

Idris Busailly – Investigation of, and strategies for, improving the implementation of research evidence in general dental practice using radiography and fluoride varnish as two case studies. Year 2 (full-time, Cardiff University)

Louay Hanafi – The use of PEEK as an aesthetic and minimally invasive material for preformed crowns for children with compromised primary molars. Year 2 (full-time, Cardiff University)

Alexander Gormley - £398,971.00 NIHR Doctoral Fellowship NIHR302605 HARMONY – HeAlthieR sMiles fOr childreN with cleft bY improving tooth decay prevention and management. Year 3 (full-time, Bristol University)

Heather Lundbeck – Addressing the barriers to, and facilitators of, behaviours associated with general dental practitioners’ use of Minimally Invasive Dentistry for the management of carious lesions. Year 3 (part-time, Cardiff University)

Mark Robertson – CHANGE: Stakeholders’ experiences of dental management of CHildren with disabilities, And developmeNt and evaluation of an educational intervention for underGraduate dEntal students; a mixed methods study. Year 3 (part-time, University of Dundee)

Zahra Hassan Khubrani - Perception of aesthetic in patients undergoing complex restorative Dentistry. Year 1 (full-time, Cardiff University)

Glesni Guest-Rowlands - How Can Shared Decision Making Be Supported For Dentists, Patients And Families Of Patients With Learning Disabilities? Year 1 (part-time, Cardiff University)

PhD (awarded)

Ali Farahani - Assessment of the Index of Orthognathic Functional Treatment Need (IOFTN); systematic review and 4 retrospective studies (Cardiff University, PhD by publication) 2025

Melis Alkyildiz – Evaluation of the Occlusal Effects of the Hall Technique and Investigation of Children's Satisfaction (part-time, Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Turkey) 2024

Greig Taylor – Pathways for the management of molar incisor hypomineralisation in the UK. A cost-effectiveness analysis. 2023

Dalia Bajabir – Behavioural changes and modification of known environmental factors as part in reducing the occurrence of cleft lip and palate. 2021

Waraf Al-Yaseen – Mind the gap; what influences the changes in clinical care decision making from undergraduate to qualified dentist. 2020

Nassar Seifo – Silver diamine fluoride as a caries preventive treatment. 2020

Mariana Araujo – The Hall Technique and ART in a school setting; a randomised control clinical trial. Joint with University of Sao Paolo, Brazil. 2020

Heba Sabbagh – Investigation into the prevalence and aetiology of orofacial clefts in Saudi Arabia; a gene-environment interaction study. Post-graduate College of MDN presentations 2013 1st prize. 2015

MPhil (awarded)

Saarah Juman - Epidemiology Of Orofacial Clefts And Craniofacial Anomalies In A Multi-Ethnic Population (full-time)

MSc (awarded)

Hal Esler – Radiographs of children in primary dental care; quality of FiCTION Trial radiographs. 2020

Sam Rollings – Establishing the limitations of digital subtraction radiography to investigate progression/regression of caries lesions after ‘sealing-in’ in a clinical environment. 2017

Mark Robertson – The Hall Technique in learning disabled children; an observational study and systematic review with clinical recommendations. 2018

Contact Details

[email protected]

Research themes

Specialisms

guideline development
Dental public health
E-Oral Health and teledentistry
Clinical Trials
Systematic reviews

Text message reminders help teens brush their teeth

31 October 2024

Text message reminders can help improve oral health in teenagers

17 October 2024

External profiles

ORCID

Professor Nicola Innes PhD, BDS, BSc, BMSc, MFDS (RCS Eng), MFGDP (RCS Eng), FFD (RCSI)

Teams and roles for Nicola Innes

Head of School of Dentistry

Overview

Publication

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019