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: Laura is currently working as an NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer in paediatric dentistry. This combines completing her clinical training and developing her research further following completion of her NIHR Doctoral Fellowship. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Manchester, before completing posts in the North West covering OMFS and paediatric dentistry, before moving to Sheffield in 2018 to focus on academic child oral health. Laura's work has been recognised nationally and internationally.

Qualifications

PhD, University of Sheffield. 2022-2025.

Masters in Clinical Research (Distinction), University of Sheffield. 2019-2021.

Postgraduate Certificate, Medical Education, University of Sheffield. 2020-2021.

Postgraduate Certificate, Dental Public Health, University of Manchester. 2017-2018.

BDS, Dentistry, University of Manchester. 2010-2015.

Royal College of Surgeons of England, MFDS. 2017.

Royal College of Surgeons of England, MPaed Dent. 2022.

Research interests: Laura is currently working on two projects, funded by the NIHR and the Academy of Medical Sciences. These focus on prevention and minimally invasive management for children with dental caries and are focussed on primary care. Laura's ultimate aim across her research is to reduce the number of children requiring dental extractions under GA and other invasive treatments for dental caries. She has a strong child centred focus to her work, which she aims to make policy relevant. Her main areas of methodological expertise include trials, implementation science and qualitative research. She has previously received funding from the NIHR, RCS England and the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry.

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, 26. 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 activities: Laura is involved in both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching within the School of Clinical Dentistry. She is keen to support and mentor students who wish to develop and gain experience in research. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and has a Post Graduate Certificate in Medical Education from the University of Sheffield.

Professional activities and memberships

National Institute of Health Research: National oral health incubator: Member of the steering committee
British Society of Paediatric Dentistry: Quality Improvement and Research Committee Representative
British Society of Paediatric Dentistry teachers branch: Prize and abstract committee
CONNECT: Child Oral health National rEsearch CollaboraTive: Immediate past chair and previous secretary and social media representative.
YH Regional Academic Committee: Dental trainee representative (2023-2025)
British Society of Paediatric Dentistry Quality Improvement Bulletin Editorial team
Editorial board: BMC Oral Health journal
Faculty Dental Journal (RCS): Trainee editor
Royal College of Surgeons of England: Faculty of Dental Surgery Board member (trainee representative)
British Society of Paediatric Dentistry: National Council Representative (2020 – 2024)