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The full story behind the most important RCT into children’s oral health of the 21st century unveiled at BSPD’s annual conference, taking place on 11-14 September at the Caird Hall Dundee.

The results of the FiCTION trial are to be unveiled for the first time.

FiCTION (Filling Children’s Teeth: indicated or not) is a randomised controlled clinical trial which began seven years ago in Dundee with the aim of testing three different approaches to the management of caries in children. They are:

  1. Conventional (drill and fill) with prevention
  2. Biological management (sealing in) with prevention
  3. Best practice prevention alone.

This important multi-centre RCT involved six universities – Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Newcastle and Sheffield – in addition to Dundee – 72 GDPs and 1144 children aged 3-7. The trial was funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA).

Dundee is the academic home to two of the FiCTION project leads, Professors Jan Clarkson and Nicola Innes, making the annual conference in 2018 the perfect opportunity to share the research findings. The trial and its results will be discussed across three different presentations. A differing line-up of at least four highly respected academics will be presenting on each of the three themes: Trial design and experience, Results and Implications.

Professor Clarkson, Chair of the Organising Committee as well as a lead investigator for the FiCTION trial said: 'These results have been eagerly awaited. They will support GDPs on treatment decision-making, benefit our child patients for whom care will become more predictable and standardise best practice. We are delighted we will be able to say to conference delegates in Dundee – you heard it here first!'

Known as the City of Discovery, Dundee is home to DC Thomson, publishers of many comics and newspapers, including the Sunday Post which featured the comic strip featuring Oor Wullie. He is the mascot for BSPD’s conference, which has the theme Design and Discovery. The chosen charity is the Archie foundation which fund-raises for sick children in Scotland.

Liz Roebuck, a Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry and the incoming President of BSPD, commented: 'The conference committee is looking forward to welcoming delegates to Scotland. In the year, month and week which celebrates the opening of the V&A Dundee, an international centre, and inspiration, for design, discovery and learning, it couldn’t be a more exciting time to be in the City!'

Other conference highlights are:

A keynote presentation by Professor Dame Sue Bailey, Chair of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition, whose topic is Improving the mental health and wellbeing of all Children and Young People

Two opportunities to debate How to make a difference and a presentation from a patient who will talk about her experience of child mental health issues

The pre-conference teachers’ study day featuring a workshop in British Sign Language.

A tour of nearby St Andrews on the final night culminating in a dinner and ceilidh at a venue with a panoramic view over the sea.

Registration now open at http://www.bspdconference.org