HISTORY

In 2000, Professor Trevor Burke was appointed to the chair of Primary Dental Care at Birmingham School of Dentistry. One of his remits on being appointed was to undertake and encourage more research within general dental practice.

Having previously established a network of dentists involved in the evaluation of new products, the "PREP PANEL" it was hoped that a similar group could be organised in the West Midlands, but the aim for this group was that it should involve practicing dentists in the research process and hopefully in the initiation of new projects. Resources were therefore available to support practice based research and with the assistance of some other staff from the dental school there would be people guiding willing to guide its progress.

Initially, all dentists in the west midlands postgraduate deanery received a letter asking if any would be interested in undertaking research in practice, and in what areas they would like to investigate. A first meeting was arranged at the Birmingham dental School at which twenty practitioners attended. At this and subsequent meetings, the participants were invited to take part in two projects which were ready to roll. Discussions also took place regarding in what areas most people in the group wished to research.

In order to establish a group identity, some options for a group name and group logo design were presented for consideration. "BRIDGE" was chosen with a logo based on the Ironbridge in Telford, a symbol of industry and innovation from central England.

Currently, the group has finished several projects, and has had papers published. It has completed the clinical stages of two more investigations devised and conducted by two of our practitioners, and the results are being analysed. A further longer-term investigation into restoration survival is ongoing.
The group has been successful in obtaining funding for its activities from dental companies and the faculty of general dental practitioners, Most significantly, the long-term project has won a grant for £31,000 from the Shirley Glasstone Hughes memorial fund.