Dr Laura Timms

School of Clinical Dentistry

Academic Clinical Fellow in Paediatric Dentistry

l.timms@sheffield.ac.uk

19 Claremont Crescent

Full contact details

Dr Laura Timms
School of Clinical Dentistry
19 Claremont Crescent
Sheffield
S10 2TA

Profile

Dr Timms graduated from the University of Manchester in 2015. Following this, she completed dental foundation training in South Manchester, before undertaking dental core training in paediatric dentistry and oral and maxillo-facial surgery in the North West and South Yorkshire. During this time she achieved Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery and a post graduate certificate in Dental Public Health from the University of Manchester.

She moved to Sheffield to undertaken joint clinical-academic training in paediatric dentistry in order to pursue her passion for clinical research. Laura is currently focussing on research involving children to reduce the need for invasive dental care due to dental caries.

Research interests

Dr Timms has a research interest in the prevention and minimally invasive management of dental caries in children. She is currently focussing on the early use of Silver Diamine Fluoride for the management of caries in the primary dentition, undertaking research with children, parents and dental professionals. She received a grant from the Research Design Service (Yorkshire) to involve children and their families in the research. She also received a pump-priming grant jointly funded by the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry in order to co-design with children an engagement video about SDF, and to assess acceptance of SDF treatment in the UK.

The video can be found here.

Publications

Journal articles

Timms L, Rodd H, Brocklehurst P, Deery C & Marshman Z (2026) A mixed methods evaluation of the implementation of silver diamine fluoride in NHS primary dental care. BMC Oral Health. View this article in WRRO
Timms L, Henesy F, Bilkhoo S, Kandiah A & Zaitoun H (2026) Service evaluation of referrals to a hospital paediatric dentistry service. Faculty Dental Journal, 17(3), 107-110.
Timms L, Rodd H, Brocklehurst P, Deery C & Marshman Z (2026) Is it feasible to conduct a randomised controlled trial of silver diamine fluoride compared to usual care for the management of caries in children’s primary teeth in UK primary dental care? A randomised feasibility study. BMC Oral Health. View this article in WRRO
Timms L (2026) Silver diamine fluoride: evidence update. Dental Update, 53(3), 160-166.
Timms L & Marshman Z (2025) Is silver diamine fluoride more effective than sodium fluoride varnish at preventing caries in upper anterior primary teeth?. Evidence-Based Dentistry, 26(4), 170-171. View this article in WRRO
Timms L, Choi S, Marshman Z, Rodd H, Wilson AR & Tiwari T (2025) Parental acceptability of silver diamine fluoride: the UK and US experiences. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, 35(1), 13-21. View this article in WRRO
Timms L, Rodd H, Deery C, Brocklehurst P & Marshman Z (2024) Silver diamine fluoride for the management of dental caries in children in primary dental care: protocol for a feasibility study. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 10. View this article in WRRO
Salman H, Timms L & Rodd H (2024) Multi-source feedback on student-delivered paediatric dental care in a Teaching Hospital. BDJ Student, 31(2), 60-63.
Timms L (2023) Author Q&A: Laura Timms. British Dental Journal, 235(9), 716-716.
Timms L, Rodd H, Deery C, Brocklehurst P & Marshman Z (2023) 'You just don't have the time to keep bringing them back, bringing them back': the experience of primary care dental professionals in England when treating young children with carious teeth. British Dental Journal. View this article in WRRO
Timms L, Bux S, Maybin L, Rogers H, Horisk K, Fraser J, Large J, Deery C, Ashley P, Keightley A & Sumner O (2023) A multi-site service evaluation of silver diamine fluoride use for children. British Dental Journal, 235(4), 269-272. View this article in WRRO
Timms L, Rodd H, Day P, Morgan A, Harris J, Stevens C & Deery C (2023) Fifty years of progress in paediatric dentistry. Dental Update, 50(5), 387-394.
Timms L, Marshman Z, Deery C & Rodd H (2022) Co-production of an information video on silver diammine fluoride – with children, for children. Faculty Dental Journal, 13(4), 160-165.
Prasad S, Timms L, Uppal S, Rodd H & Marshman Z (2022) Children’s general anaesthesia – parental preferences and information needs. Faculty Dental Journal, 13(2), 62-67.
Campbell F, Timms L, Deery C & Drage N (2022) Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in paediatric dentistry. Dental Update, 49(2), 153-158.
Timms L & Deery C (2021) Do panoramic radiographs offer improved diagnostic accuracy over clinical examination and other radiographic techniques in children?. Evidence-Based Dentistry, 22(3), 110-111.
Rodd HD, Graham A, Tajmehr N, Timms L & Hasmun N (2021) Molar incisor hypomineralisation: current knowledge and practice. International Dental Journal, 71(4), 285-291. View this article in WRRO
Moradi S, Sabbagh S, Timms L & Ravaghi V (2021) Teaching minimally invasive interventions in paediatric dentistry : a cross-sectional survey of dental schools in Iran. BMC Oral Health, 21(1). View this article in WRRO
Timms L, Graham A, Gallacher N, Large J, Simpson S, Johnson R, Gallichan N, Oliver R, Morgan E, Hardwick C , Gormley A et al (2021) Paediatric dentists’ views on the use of silver diammine fluoride: a UK perspective. Faculty Dental Journal, 12(3), 114-119. View this article in WRRO
Timms L, Hume C, Wilson V, McClean L, Marshman Z & Zaitoun H (2021) A service evaluation of an intervention to increase application of topical fluoride varnish in general dental practice in South Yorkshire. European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry, 22(1), 93-97.
Timms L, Deery C, Stevens C & Rodd H (2020) COVID-2019 – Time to Use Silver Diamine Fluoride for Caries Arrest in General Dental Practice?. Dental Update, 47(8), 662-668.
Timms L, Noble F & Rogers H (2020) An exploration of paediatric dentistry trainees’ attitudes towards academia. Faculty Dental Journal, 11(3), 128-132.
Timms L, Sumner O, Deery C & Rogers HJ (2020) Everyone else is using it, so why isn’t the UK? Silver diamine fluoride for children and young people. Community Dental Health, 37(2), 143-149.
Timms L, Deery C, Chadwick B & Drage N (2020) Bitewing Radiography for Caries Diagnosis in Children: When and Why?. Dental Update, 47(4), 334-341.
Timms L & Deery C (2020) Fluoride varnish and dental caries in preschoolers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Evidence-Based Dentistry, 21(1), 18-19.
Timms L, Sumner O, Deery C & Rogers HJ (2020) Everyone else is using it, so why isn’t the UK? Silver diamine fluoride for children and young people. Community Dental Health, 37(2), 143-149.
Marshman Z & Timms L (2019) What is the impact on families of children having dental treatment under general anaesthetic?. Evidence-Based Dentistry, 20(2), 48-49.
Timms L & May J (2018) Bones heal, teeth don't! The involvement of dentists in the acute and long-term management of patients injured in the Manchester Arena Bomb. British Dental Journal, 224(9), 681-688.
Timms LJH () Silver Diamine Fluoride: Clinical Tips. Journal of the Irish Dental Association.
Rodd H, Timms L, Noble F, Bux S, Porritt J & Marshman Z () ‘Message to dentist’ : facilitating communication with dentally anxious children. Dentistry Journal, 7(3). View this article in WRRO

Teaching interests: Dr Timms is currently completing a postgraduate certificate in Medical Education with the University of Sheffield, funded by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Faculty of Dental Trainers. She engages in teaching of dental students in paediatric dentistry through lectures, seminars and clinical supervision. She also provides teaching to multi-discipline professionals related to paediatric dentistry

Publications

Timms L, Sumner S, Deery, C, Rogers H. Everyone Else is using it, why aren’t we? Silver Diamine Fluoride for Children and Young People. Community Dental Health Journal. June 2020
Timms L, Hume C, Wilson Z, McLean L, Marshman Z, Zaitoun, H. A service evaluation of an intervention to increase application of topical fluoride varnish in general dental practice in South Yorkshire. European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry. May 2020
Timms L, Deery, C, Chadwick B, Drage, N. Bitewing radiography in children: When and Why. Dental Update. Apr 2020
Timms L, Deery C: Review of Sousa FSO, et al., Fluoride Varnish and Dental Caries in Preschoolers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evidence Based Dentistry Journal 2020
Rodd H, Timms L*, Noble F, Bux S, Porritt J, Marshman Z. ’Message to dentist’: facilitating communication with dentally anxious children. Dentistry Journal. 2019 Jul 1;7(3). pii: E69.
Marshman Z. Timms, L, Review of: Park et al The family impact of dental general anaesthesia in children: A meta-analysis. Evidence Based Dentistry Journal. Evidence-Based Dentistry 2019 (20):48–49
Timms, LJ, May JE: Bones heal, teeth don’t! The involvement of dentists in the acute and long term management of patients injured in the Manchester Arena Bomb. British Dental Journal Br Dent J. 2018 May 11;224(9):681-688. doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.353
Rodd H, Graham A, Tajmer N, Timms L, Hasmun N. Molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH): current knowledge and practice. International Dental Journal. 2020
Timms L, Deery C, Stevens S, Rodd H. COVID-2019 − Time to Use Silver Diamine Fluoride for Caries Arrest in General Dental Practice? Dental Update. Dent Update 2020; 47: 662-668