The University of Sheffield
The School of Clinical Dentistry

Professor Helen Rodd BDS (Hons), FDS(Paed), PhD

Head of Unit of Oral Health and DevelopmentHelen Rodd

Unit of Oral Health and Development
School of Clinical Dentistry
The University of Sheffield
31 Claremont Crescent
Sheffield
S10 2TA
UK

Tel: +44 (0) 114 271 7885
Fax: +44 (0) 114 271 7843

Email : h.d.rodd@sheffield.ac.uk

Biography

I qualified with Honours from Bristol University in 1988. Moving North to Sheffield, I completed my higher training in Paediatric Dentistry in 1997 and was subsequently awarded Clinical Research Fellowships from both the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Medical Research Council. I obtained my PhD in 2000 and was appointed professor/honorary consultant in paediatric dentistry at The School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield in 2006.

Research Interests

I have two main research interests, oral neuroscience and child-centred research thus my research incorporates a number of disciplines and involves both laboratory and clinical approaches.

To date, my neuroscience research has principally sought to gain greater understanding into mechanisms of inflammatory pain, using the human tooth pulp as the experimental model. The main experimental approach has involved immunoctyochemistry and quantitative analysis of tooth pulps obtained from extracted teeth with varying degrees of caries and associated pain histories. I have carried out extensive comparisons of the innervation and inflammation of primary and permanent teeth which has helped direct clinical approaches for the compromised tooth pulp. Investigation of the pulpal status of hypomineralised first permanent molars has also provided a biological basis for the hypersensitivity responses seen in some of these teeth.

My more recent research interest lies in the field of child-centred dental research with particular emphasis on the impact of dental or facial differences on children´s psychosocial status and the way in which they are judged by their peers on the basis of dental appearance. This very much complements my special clinical interest and involvement with children with a cleft lip and/or palate and children with developmental enamel opacities. In addition, I have undertaken a number of projects which have explored children´s experiences of, and satisfaction with, a variety of dental treatments. The methodologies have involved both qualitative and quantitative approaches, with a strong emphasis on child-involvement in the study aim and design. In addition, the research is largely multi-disciplinary, particularly with social science colleagues.

Current/recent research projects

  • Collaborator in an HTA-funded multi-centre randomised controlled trial (FiCTION) to determine the effectiveness of restoring the carious primary dentition
  • Developing decision-aids for young people requiring treatment under sedation. This is a PhD project funded by the Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesia in Dentistry
  • Exploring children’s social judgements of other children with visible enamel defects (MPhil-supervised project)
  • Caries diagnosis: validity, patient and operator perspectives (PhD-supervised project)
  • Children’s experiences of a dental general anasethesia. This is a novel video diary-based project funded by Sheffield Health
  • Oral health and perspectives of children with severe learning disabilities. This is a multi-disciplinary clinical and participatory study funded by Sheffield Health.

Clinical Activities

As a consultant paediatric dentist I look after children with complex medical, dental or behavioural needs. I also work at the Sheffield Children’s Hospitals where we provide comprehensive treatment under general anaesthesia.

Teaching Interests

I am involved in teaching and learning at all levels of undergraduate, postgraduate and specialist training. I am the theme leader for the 2nd BDS growth, development, ageing and nutrition course which came out of the new dental undergraduate curriculum. I have a number of education-related publications and have been particularly interested in undergraduate experience and confidence in the management of children. I also lecture nationally and internationally at postgraduate courses and scientific meetings.

Professional activities

Key publications

  1. Hall M, Gibson B, James A, Rodd HD. Children's experiences of participation in the cleft lip and palate care pathway. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2012 Jan 31. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-263X.2011.01214.x. [Epub ahead of print]
  2. Porritt J, Marshman Z, Rodd HD. Understanding children's dental anxiety and psychological approaches to its reduction. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2012 Jan 3. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-263X.2011.01208.x. [Epub ahead of print]
  3. Nilchian F, Rodd H D, Robinson P G. The success of fissure sealants placed by dentists and DCPs. Community Dental Health. 2011;28:99-103.
  4. Rodd HD, Abdul-Karim A, Yesudian G, O'Mahony J, Marshman Z. Seeking children's perspectives in the management of visible enamel defects. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2011 Mar;21(2):89-95.
  5. Rodd H D, Marshman Z, Porritt J, Bradbury J, Baker S R. Oral health related quality of life in children in relation to dental appearance and educational transition Br Dent J. 2011 Jul 22;211(2):E4. doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2011.574.
  6. Porritt J, Rodd H, Baker SR. Quality of life impacts following childhood dento-alveolar trauma. Dental Traumatology 2011; 27: 2-9.
  7. Rodd HD, Marshman Z, Porritt J, Bradbury J, Baker SR. Psychosocial predictors of children's oral health-related quality of life during transition to secondary school. Qual Life Res. 2011 Jul 9. [Epub ahead of print]
  8. Patel A, Rodd HD, Baker SR, Marshman Z, Robinson PG, Benson PE. Are social judgements made by children in relation to orthodontic appliances? J Orthod. 2010 Jun;37(2):93-9.
  9. Rodd HD, Farman M, Albadri S, Mackie IC. Undergraduate experience and self-assessed confidence in paediatric dentistry: comparison of three UK dental schools. Br Dent J. 2010 Mar 13;208(5):221-5.
  10. Rodd HD, Barker C, Baker SR, Marshman Z, Robinson PG.Social judgements made by children in relation to visible incisor trauma. Dent Traumatol. 2010 Feb;26(1):2-8.
  11. Marshman Z, Baker SR, Bradbury J, Hall MJ, Rodd HD. The psychosocial impact of oral conditions during transition to secondary education. Eur J Paediatr Dent. 2009 Dec;10(4):176-80.
  12. Nilchian F, Rodd HD, Robinson PG.Influences on dentists' decisions to refer paediatric patients to dental hygienists and therapists for fissure sealants: a qualitative approach. Br Dent J. 2009 Oct 10;207(7):E13; discussion 326-7. Epub 2009 Oct 2.
  13. Morgan CR, Rodd HD, Clayton N, Boissonade FM. Changes in proteinase-activated receptor 2 expression in the human tooth pulp in relation to caries and pain. J Orofac Pain. 2009 Summer;23(3):265-74.
  14. Pulpal status of hypomineralized permanent molars. Rodd HD, Boissonade FM, Day PF. Pediatr Dent. 2007; 29(6):514-20.
  15. Rodd HD, Morgan CR, Day PF, Boissonade FM. Pulpal expression of TRPV1 in molar incisor hypomineralisation. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2007 Dec;8(4):184-8.
  16. Marshman Z, Gibson BJ, Owens J, Rodd HD, Mazey H, Baker SR, Benson PE, Robinson PG. Seen but not heard: a systematic review of the place of the child in 21st-century dental research. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2007 Sep;17(5):320-7.

Textbooks

Past PhD Students