Craig Ramsay and Jan Clarkson (University of Dundee) appeared at the New Town Theatre as part of the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas.
Topics covered at the event included 'How to improve or maintain a good oral health in terms of your own behaviour (e.g. what is the best toothpaste to use), your clinician's behaviour (should he/she provide scale and polish) and the government's policy (fluoridated water etc).
They discussed the different evidence that is used to answer those questions and how randomised controlled trials are considered the gold standard and Cochrane is a great collaboration that helps summarise information about different RCT's.
The sell out audience had lots of questions about different issues related to oral health and people were incredibly curious and wanted to find out more. The audience opinion was that we should not have treatments in the NHS that have no evidence of working.
It was a really fun show with lots of interaction and the audience were incredibly receptive. It was a great way to share knowledge and shows that the public like experts, want to learn more about research and are receptive to innovative ways of sharing knowledge.