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Staff Profile

Professor Chris Vernazza

Head of School & Professor of Oral Health Services

  • Address: School of Dental Sciences
    Framlington Place
    Â鶹´«Ã½ upon Tyne
    NE2 4BW
Background

Introduction

I am Head of School and an academic paediatric dentist researching in the field of oral health services research, specifically health economics and practising paediatric dentistry as an honorary consultant. I am involved in teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. I have honorary roles with , t, and sit on groups advising the and .


Roles and Responsibilities

Research:

BSPD Editor, International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry

Editorial Board Member, Community Dental Health

Scientific Advisory Board, JDR Clinical and Translational Research

Reviewer for multiple journals and funding panels

Previously:

  • Oral and Dental Specialty Group Lead,  
  • Director of Research and Academic Training, School of Dental Sciences
  • Editorial Board Member, Journal of Dental Research


Teaching:

Various lecture/seminar/practical and clinical teaching for BDS and BSc (Oral and Dental Health Sciences) UG courses

Board of examiners: BDS Stage 5 (Finals)

Member, BDS Admissions Panel


External:

Trustee,

Chair of Trustees,

Member, Vision 2030 Implementation Group,

Member, Global Advisory Board, (formerly GSK Consumer Division)


Previously:

  • Co-Chair, NHS England North East and North Cumbria Paediatric Dentistry Commissioning Working Group 
  • Lead, Clinical Standard Work package, NHS England Special Educational Settings Oral Health Project 
  • Member, NHS England Paediatric Dentistry Commissioning Guide Working Group
  • Honorary Editor and Executive Board Member/Trustee 
  • Member,  Quality Improvement and Research Committee 


Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Dental Surgery (Sheffield, 2004)
  • Member of Faculty of Dental Surgery (RCS Edinburgh, 2006)
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (Â鶹´«Ã½, 2008)
  • Fellow of Higher Education Academy (2009)
  • PhD (Â鶹´«Ã½, 2011)
  • Membership in Paediatric Dentistry (RCS England, 2014)
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Health Economics (Distinction, U Aberdeen, 2017)
  • Fellowship in Paediatric Dentistry (RCS Edinburgh, 2018)


Previous Positions

  • Clinical Senior Lecturer/Honorary Consultant - Â鶹´«Ã½ 2020-23
  • NIHR Clinician Scientist - Â鶹´«Ã½ 2015-20
  • NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer - Â鶹´«Ã½ Dental Hospital/Â鶹´«Ã½ 2011-2015
  • Clinical Fellow in Child Dental Health - Â鶹´«Ã½ 2006-11
  • General Professional Trainee - Â鶹´«Ã½ Dental Hospital and Dental Practice in Gateshead 2004-6


Informal Interests

Singing with various groups including the and

Research

Research Interests

My main interest is in applying economic techniques in oral health and the study of decision making in oral health. This involves a variety of work across a wide range of dental disciplines, although the work is concentrated around paediatric dentistry, replacements for missing teeth, root canal treatment (endodontics), periodontal treatment, orthodontics and preventive care. I have particular interests in the economics methods of willingness to pay/discrete choice experiments and economics-based priority setting tools in policy decision making (commissioning). 

This work has bridged health economics, oral health services research and policy with key links with NHS England established. I have also furthered my interest in policy by becoming a member of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Policy Academy. 

I also have an interest in applying qualitative methods in understanding dental decision making from both the patient and professional points of view. 

Finally, I am involved in dental epidemiology. For example, I was involved in the decennial UK Child Dental Health Survey.


Major Funding

  • EU Horizon Europe, PRUDENT: Prioritisation, incentives and Resource use for sUstainable DENTistry, Co-Investigator/Work package lead E5.3m 2023-2028  
  • National Institute of Health Research, Health Services and Delivery Research programme. Study of the utilisation of Clinical skills Of dental nurses/hygienists/therapists working in Primary dental care: realism and Economic evaluation (SCOPE). Co-Investigator £976k 2025-2028   
  • Borrow Foundation. FLOWAVE: FLuOridated WAter: Public Values & Evaluation of Cost-Benefit, Co-Investigator £110k 2022-2023  
  • National Institute of Health Research, Health Technology Assessment programme. The CALM trial: the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a guided self-help cognitive behavioural therapy intervention to reduce dental anxiety in children. Co-Investigator £1.7m 2021-2025  
  • National Institute of Health Research, Doctoral Research Fellowship. Dental Care Preference Elicitation: An Application to NHS Dental Contract Reform (DEPEND). Lead PhD Supervisor £373 633  2020-2023
  •  National Institute of Health Research, Doctoral Research Fellowship. DECIDE: Dental ExtraCtion versus filling of adult teeth In chilDren: A cost Effectiveness analysis. Lead PhD Supervisor £356 225  2019-2022 
  • National Institute of Health Research, Clinician Scientist Fellowship. RAINDROP: Resource Allocation in NHS Dentistry: Recognition of Societal Preferences. Principal Investigator/Fellowship Holder £1.01 million 2015-2020   
  • Â鶹´«Ã½ Tonge/Bradlaw Award DIAMOND: Determining new budget allocation formulae for NHS dentistry using national epidemiological data Principal Investigator £50,000 2019-20
  • National Institute of Health Research, Health Services and Delivery Research programme. The value and cost of different forms of information on oral health status and risk given to patient. Co-Investigator £427,000 2014-7   


Research Roles

Co-lead,

Editorial Board Member, Community Dental Health

Trustee, Oral and Dental Research Trust

Reviewer for multiple journals and funding panels

Previously:

Oral and Dental Specialty Lead, North East and North Cumbria NIHR Clinical Research Network

Director of Research and Academic Training, School of Dental Sciences

Editorial Board Member, Journal of Dental Research

BSPD Editor, International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry


Postgraduate Supervision

Current:

  • PhD - Lead Supervisor (2024-2027) Exploring prioritisation and financial sustainability in NHS Dental Services in England (Deepti John)
  • PhD - Co-Supervisor (2021-2024) Identification and validation of a classification system for a malocclusion-specific preference-based measure of oral health-related quality of life. (Muath Alrashed)
  • PhD - External co-supervisor (2020-2026) A multi-methods study to investigate and address the attitudes and preparedness of undergraduate dental students to manage the care of children with disabilities in independent practice (Mark Robertson, University of Dundee)
  • PhD - Lead Supervisor (2015-2024) Implementing IV conscious sedation for oral surgery in adolescents (Ashleigh Stamp)

Previously:

  • PhD - Lead Supervisor (2018-2025) Cost effectiveness of alternatives for amalgam for posterior dental restorations (Ollie Bailey)
  • PhD - Co-Supervisor (2018-2025) What are the desired attributes of a newly graduated dentist and do the current GDC learning outcomes reflect these? (Helen Mather)
  • PhD - Lead Supervisor (2020-2024) NIHR Doctoral Research Fellowship. DEPEND: Dental Care Preference Elicitation: An application to NHS Dental Contract Reform (Katherine Carr)
  • PhD - Lead Supervisor (2020-2023) NIHR Doctoral Research Fellowship. DECIDE: Dental Extraction versus filling of adult teeth in children: a cost effectiveness analysis (Greig Taylor)
  • PhD (2012-2017) Economic issues in the provision of interventions seeking to reduce the incidence of caries in the pre-school Chilean population (Raul Palacio)
  • MPhil (2013-2017) The impact of oral health risk indicators on prevention uptake (Samridh Sharma)
  • Orthodontic MScs (2013-2019) Willingness to Pay for orthodontic treatment (10 students)
  • Orthodontic MSc: What is the psychosocial impact of dental and orthodontic treatment in patients with cleft lip and palate? (Systematic Review)
  • Conscious Sedation in Dentistry MSc:  What are dental non-attenders' preferences for anxiety management techniques?
  • Masters in Global Public Health: Exploring the perceptions of possible stress management interventions among fifth year BDS students at Â鶹´«Ã½, United Kingdom.


Commercial Relevance

Economic evaluations are becoming increasingly important for both public and private providers and commissioners of dental care. Additionally, we have worked with developers of new dental technologies in carrying out economic evaluations of emerging treatments. 

Teaching

As Head of School, I have overarching responsibility for the teaching within the School of Dental Sciences. My specific personal contributions include the following:


Undergraduate Teaching

I am involved with clinical, small group and lecture based teaching as well as assessment and examination in the following areas:

  • BDS/BSc, Key Clinical Skills - Year 2
  • BDS/BSc, Paediatric Dentistry - Years 2-5
  • BDS/BSc, Dental Public Health - Years 2-5

Previously I have been course lead for the academic elements of Paediatric Dentistry on the Bachelor of Dental Surgery and the BSc in Oral and Dental Health Sciences (dental hygiene/therapy) and External Examiner for BDS Finals at University of Birmingham


Postgraduate Teaching

Teacher on MRes (Oral and Dental) and MSc Oral Sciences (Health Economics)

Teaching of recently graduated dentists and NHS paediatric dentistry trainees in preparation for Royal College examinations. 

Publications

  • Articles

    • Atkinson N, Taylor G, Vernazza C, Holliday R. . British Dental Journal 2026. In Press.
    • Young TA, Hyslop M, Papaioannou D, Deery C, Bolt R, Wilson M, Vernazza C, Herbert E, Totton N, Flight L. . BMC Anesthesiology 2026, 26(47).
    • Taylor GD, Exley C, Innes N, Vernazza CR. . International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2025, 35(1), 165-175.
    • Taylor GD, Boyers D, Exley C, Innes N, Vale L, Vernazza CR. . Journal of Dental Research 2025, 104(1), 22-28.
    • Bailey O, Stone SJ, Taylor G, Ternent L, Vernazza CR. . Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology 2025, Epub ahead of print.
    • Deery C, Bolt R, Papaioannou D, Wilson M, Hyslop M, Herbert E, Totton N, Marshman Z, Young T, Kettle J, Albadri S, Atkins S, Biggs K, Clarkson J, Evans C, Flight L, Gath J, Gilchrist F, Hutchence K, Ireland N, Loban A, Norrington A, Paton H, Ray J, Rodd H, Sheldon E, Simmonds R, Vernazza C. . Health Technology Assessment 2025, 29(29).
    • Durvy B, Schöner L, ReyesOjopi T, Achstetter A, Busse R, Carr K, Listl S, Orsolya N, Skandrani A, Tubert-Jeannin S, Vernazza C, Winkelmann J, Waitzberg R. . Health Expectations 2025, 28(6), e70501.
    • Hyslop MC, Papaioannou DE, Bolt R, Wilson MJ, Bradburn M, Clarkson J, Herbert E, Ireland N, Kettle J, Loban A, Norrington AC, Vernazza C, Deery C. . BJA Open 2025, 13, 100375.
    • Beeson M, Vernazza C, Sowden S. . British Dental Journal 2025, 239(3), 209-213.
    • Listl S, van Ardenne O, Grytten J, Gyrd-Hansen D, Lang H, Melo P, Nemeth O, Tubert-Jeannin S, Vassallo P, van Veen EB, Vernazza C, Waitzberg R, Winkelmann J, Woods N. . JDR Clinical & Translational Research 2024, 9(2), 104-192.
    • Nguyen TM, Rogers H, Taylor GD, Tonmukayakul U, Lin C, Hall M, Calache H, Vernazza C. . JDR Clinical & Translational Research 2024, 9(2), 190-192.
    • Wallace CK, Vernazza CR, Emmet V, Singhal N, Sathyanarayana V, Tse Y, Taylor GD. . Paediatric Nephrology 2024, 39, 2131–2138.
    • Bolt R, Hyslop MC, Herbert E, Papaioannou DE, Totton N, Wilson MJ, Clarkson J, Evans C, Ireland N, Kettle J, Marshman Z, Norrington AC, Paton RH, Vernazza C, Deery C, Albadri S, Armstrong L, Atkins S, Babb M, Biercamp C, Biggs K, Bradburn M, Buckley J, Child-Cavill J, Cope S, Crawley S, Dimairo M, Duro E, Eissa A, Flight L, Gath J, Gavel G, Geary T, Gilchrist F, Gopal P, Hall J, Hutchence K, Khandelwal P, Kukreja P, Leeuwenberg I, Limb J, Loban A, Mellor K, Masip N, Moores A, Oshan V, Pickles E, Ray J, Rodd H, Rolfe S, Sheldon E, Simmonds R, Smith R, Sundar A, Thomason A, Waterhouse S, Wilson G, Yates J, Young T. . British Journal of Anaesthesia 2023, 132(1), 76-85.
    • Marshman Z, Rodd H, Fairhurst C, Porritt J, Dawett B, Day P, Innes N, Vernazza C, Newton T, Ronaldson S, Cross L, Ross J, Baker SR, Hewitt C, Torgerson D, Ainsworth H. . Trials 2023, 24, 15.
    • Vernazza CR, Carr K, Holmes RD, Wildman J, Gray J, Exley C, Smith RA, Donaldson C. . JDR Clinical and Translational Research 2023, 8(1), 56-65.
    • Atkinson JA, Jackson JM, Lowery G, Taylor GD, Rogers HJ, Vernazza CR. . Dental Update 2023, 50(7), 565-569.
    • Brannen S, Rolland S, Cala A, Vernazza CR, Paul N. . Journal of Orthodontics 2023, 50(3), 287-295.
    • Edwards K, Rae J, Rolland S, Vernazza CR. . Journal of Orthodontics 2022, 49(2), 113-121.
    • Bailey O, Stone S, Ternent L, Vernazza CR. . Journal of Dental Research 2022, 101(13), 1572-1579.
    • Simpson S, Wallace CK, Vernazza CR. . British Dental Journal 2022, Epub ahead of print.
    • Mather H, Bateman H, Taylor J, VC Vernazza, Rothwell C, McCracken G, Ellis J. . British Dental Journal 2022, 232, 101-107.
    • Herdman M, Johnson I, Mason S, Vernazza CR, Varghese R. . Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry 2022, 127(2), 266.e1-266.e7.
    • Bailey O, Vernazza C, Stone S, Ternent L, Roche A-G, Lynch C. . JDR Clinical & Translational Research 2022, 7(1), 50-60.
    • Bailey O, Vernazza CR, Stone S, Ternent L, Roche A-G, Lynch C. . JDR Clinical & Translational Research 2022, 7(1), 41-49.
    • Vernazza CR, Birch S, Pitts NB. . Journal of Dental Research 2021, 100(6), 576-582.
    • Fenton GD, Cazaly MHM, Rolland SL, Vernazza CR. . JDR Clinical and Translational Research 2021, 7(2), 118-126.
    • O'Donnell R, Landes D, Freeman Z, Vernazza CR. . Community Dental Health 2021, 39(1), 4-7.
    • Vernazza CR, Pitts NB, Mayne C, Mazevet ME. . British Dental Journal 2021, 231(12), 754-758.
    • Carr KC, Donaldson C, Wildman J, Smith RA, Vernazza CR. . Medical Decision Making 2021, 41(4), 465-474.
    • Taylor GD, Carr K, Rogers HJ, Vernazza CR. . BMC Oral Health 2021, 21, 318.
    • Taylor GD, Vernazza CR, Abdulmohsen B. . International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2020, 30(3), 370-380.
    • Harris R, Vernazza C, Laverty L, Lowers V, Burnside G, Brown S, Higham S, Ternent L. . Health Services and Delivery Research 2020, 8(3), 1-125.
    • Pickering K, Bissett SM, Holliday R, Vernazza C, Preshaw PM. . BDJ Open 2020, 6, 20.
    • Rogers HJ, Freitas RD, Beeson MJ, Vernazza CR. . International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2020, 31(S1), 56-65.
    • Cook C, Finch T, Sharma S, Girling M, Rapley T, Vernazza CR. . European Journal of Dental Education 2020, 24(1), 169-176.
    • Harris R, Lowers V, Laverty L, Vernazza C, Burnside G, Brown S, Ternent L. . Trials 2020, 21, 21.
    • Walshaw EG, Adam NI, Palmeiro ML, Neves M, Vernazza CR. . Oral Health and Preventive Dentistry 2019, 17(3), 211-218.
    • Parten NJ, Taylor GD, Currie CC, Durham J, Vernazza CR. . Journal of Oral Rehabilitation 2019, 46(5), 433-440.
    • Taylor GD, Pearce K, Vernazza CR. . International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2019, 29(3), 267-280.
    • Vernazza CR, Taylor GD, Donaldson C, Gray J, Holmes RD, Carr K, Exley C. . BMJ Open 2019, 9, e024995.
    • Palacio R, Shen J, Vale L, Vernazza C. . Community Dentistry Oral Epidemiology 2019, 47(3), 217-224.
    • Holmes RD, Steele JG, Exley C, Vernazza CR, Donaldson C. . Journal of Public Health 2018, 40(4), e578-e585.
    • Vernazza CR, Anderson L, Hunter AI, Leck HC, OConnor SD, Smith GR, Stokes RJ, Rolland SL. . Journal of Dental Research Clinical & Translational Research 2018, 3(2), 141-149.
    • Vernazza CR, Carr K, Wildman J, Gray J, Holmes RD, Exley C, Smith RA, Donaldson C. . BMC Health Services Research 2018, 18(1), 487.
    • Harris R, Vernazza CR, Laverty L, Lowers V, Brown S, Burnside G, Ternent L, Higham S, Steele J. . Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications 2018, 11, 1-9.
    • Finch TL, Girling M, May CR, Mair FS, Murray E, Treweek S, McColl E, Steen IN, Cook C, Vernazza CR, Mackintosh N, Sharma S, Barbery G, Steele J, Rapley T. . BMC Medical Research Methodology 2018, 18(135), 1-13.
    • Rapley T, Girling M, Mair FS, Murray E, Treweek S, McColl E, Steen IN, May CR, Finch TL. . BMC Medical Research Methodology 2018, 18(1), 133.
    • McCracken GI, Asuni A, Ritchie M, Vernazza CR, Heasman PA. . Periodontology 2000 2017, 75(1), 330-352.
    • Tan SHX, Vernazza CR, Nair R. . Journal of Dentistry 2017, 64, 1-12.
    • Stamp AJ, Dorman ML, Vernazza CR, Deeming G, Reid C, Wilson KE, Girdler NM. . British Dental Journal 2017, 222(2), 113-119.
    • Rolland SL, Treasure E, Burden DJ, Fuller E, Vernazza CR. . British Dental Journal 2016, 221(7), 415-419.
    • Vernazza CR, Rolland SL, Chadwick B, Pitts N. . British Dental Journal 2016, 221(6), 315-320.
    • Harding A, Vernazza CR, Wilson K, Harding J, Girdler NM. . British Dental Journal 2015, 218(7), 415-421.
    • Vernazza CR, Rousseau N, Steele JG, Ellis JS, Thomason JM, Eastham J, Exley C. . Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology 2015, 43(1), 75-85.
    • Vernazza CR, Wildman JR, Steele JG, Whitworth JM, Walls AWG, Perry R, Matthews R, Hahn P, Donaldson C. . Journal of Dentistry 2015, 43(8), 981-988.
    • Vernazza CR, Steele JG, Whitworth JM, Wildman JR, Donaldson C. . International Endodontic Journal 2015, 48(12), 1137-1146.
    • Field J, Vernazza C. . Medical Education 2013, 47(5), 531.
    • Vernazza C, Heasman P, Gaunt F, Pennington M. . Periodontology 2000 2012, 60(1), 138-146.
    • Pennington M, Heasman PA, Gaunt F, Güntsch A, Ivanovski S, Imazato S, Rajapakse S, Allen E, Flemmig T, Sanz M, Vernazza CR. . Journal of Clinical Periodontology 2011, 38(6), 553.
    • Vernazza C, Durham J, Ellis J, Teasdale D, Cotterill S, Scott L, Thomason M, Drummond P, Moss J. . European Journal of Dental Education 2011, 15(1), 36-41.
    • Cotterill S, Horner P, Teasdale D, Ellis J, Thomason JM, Vernazza C, Bradley PM, Peterson J, Skelly G, Ball S. . International Journal of Clinical Skills 2011, 5, 18-23.
    • Heasman P, Vernazza C, Gaunt F, Pennington M. . Periodontology 2000 2011, 55(1), 217-230.
    • Pennington MW, Vernazza CR, Shackley P, Armstrong NT, Whitworth JM, Steele JG. . International Endodontic Journal 2009, 42(10), 874-883.
    • Vernazza CR, Mayanja BN, Mugisha JO, Van der Paal L, Young CJ, Robinson PG. . Journal of Disability and Oral Health 2007, 8(2), 81-85.

  • Editorials

    • Vernazza C. . International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2023, 33(Suppl. 2), 4-4.
    • Vernazza CR. . International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2021, 31(5), 555-556.
    • Vasantavada PV, Hearnshaw S, Do L, Vernazza CR, Zohoori F. . Community Dental Health 2021, 38(3), 158-160.
    • Pennington MW, Vernazza CR, Heasman PA. . Journal of Clinical Periodontology 2009, 36(8), 667-668.

  • Reports

    • Porter J, Holmes R, Vernazza C, Chadwick B, Ryan R, Dennes M. . Health and Social Care Information Centre, 2015.
    • Holmes R, Porter J, Vernazza C, Tsakos G, Ryan R, Dennes M. . Health and Social Care Information Centre, 2015.

  • Reviews

    • Stamp AJ, Rolland SL, Wilson KE, Vernazza CR. . Evidence-Based Dentistry 2019, 20(2), 62-63.
    • Murray JJ, Vernazza CR, Holmes RD. . British Dental Journal 2015, 219(6), 281-285.
    • Gaunt F, Devine M, Pennington MW, Vernazza CR, Gwynett E, Steen N, Heasman PA. . Journal of Clinical Periodontology 2008, 35(s8), 67-82.