Professor David Gillam, BA, BDS, MSc, DDS, FRSPH, MICR

Profile

Prior to joining QMUL in 2009, I gained extensive clinical experience in Germany and the UK working in general dental practice, community dentistry and University positions. During this time, I also gained experience in both laboratory and clinical research. Previously I was on the GDC Specialists’ register in Periodontology (1998-2023). Currently I am involved in several areas of research including Dentine Hypersensitivity and I have been involved in the successful development of dental products which are currently sold in the consumer market.

Centre: Oral Bioengineering

Teaching

 I currently provide lectures and seminars to both undergraduate and postgraduate students on several dental topics as well as assessing undergraduate (3rd Year SSC projects) and postgraduate projects as an Internal Examiner (MSc and, D Clin Dent courses). I previously acted as an internal Examiner for PhD progress reports and final PhD thesis examinations. Currently I supervise several undergraduate (SSC) and postgraduate projects and assignments (MSc, D Clin Dent and PhD). I am on the PhD postgraduate committee.

Research

Research Interests:

I have experience in conducting over 65 Masters ad Undergraduate projects (including D Clin Dent and PhD) since 1990 and this has enabled me to help and teach research skills to primarily postgraduate students and complete the research project in the allocated time. I also have co-Supervised six PhD students (submitted or completed). Most of these projects have subsequently been either presented (by the students) at conferences or published in peer reviewed journals.

My main research interests are in periodontology and in the management of Dentine Hypersensitivity and currently collaborates with Professor Robert Hill in the development of innovative oral care products, for example, novel bioactive glasses, hydroxyapatite toothpastes and mouthwashes for the treatment of various dental conditions. I have published over 170 papers and book chapters on numerous dental topics. I am also a referee for several dental journals and Editorial Boards. In 2009, I was a co-investigator with Professor Francis Hughes on a Clinical and Biological markers study which was part of a PhD study. I have also been a joint collaborator with Professor Robert Hill on a series of patents (Toothpaste and Mouthwash), as well as liaising with major Consumer HealthCare and Dental Companies on a series of dental materials, for example bioactive glass, short chain polypeptides.

These activities have enabled the Dental Physical Sciences Unit to bring in finance to complete Masters and PhD projects as well as presenting the research at both national and international meetings. This has culminated in the team lead by Professor Robert Hill (Dr David Gillam, Dr Natalia Karpukhina and Pushkar Wadke) being awarded a £25,000 Materials science Venture Prize, awarded by the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers. As a result, major Dental Companies have approached QMUL as well as the University gaining extensive coverage in the Dental and National press. This research has led to a QMUL spin off Company (Biomin Technologies) which has developed and produced a novel toothpaste currently being sold in several international countries (e.g. Europe, India, China).

I am currently a Non-Executive Director and Clinical Consultant for the Company. Further collaboration with another Consumer HealthCare Company led to the development of a mouth rinse and toothpaste which is currently on sale in major retailers such as Boots. I have also been involved in the team led by Dr Mangala Patel (Agron Hoxton and Dr Andy Bushby) developing a novel dental product for early-stage caries prevention and we have received several awards e.g., Barts Innovations in Healthcare Awards - Dragon's Den Style Award (£1500) and a QMI Proof of Concept Fund (£44,000).

I previously was the Chair of the Internal Peer review Committee for assessing Staff and postgraduate projects prior to an Ethics Submission.

Publications

1. CARESMEL J AND GILLAM D (2024) Developing Oral Care Products: The Effectiveness of Selected Whitening Agents in Toothpastes - A Review.  Clin Oral Sci Dent (2024), 6:2.
2. MOSQUIM V, CARNEIRO GU, FORATORI-JUNIOR GA, HONÓRIO HM, GILLAM DG, WANG L. (2023) Knowledge and Attitudes on Preventing and Treating Dentin Hypersensitivity and Its Predicting Factors: A Cross-sectional Study with Brazilian Citizens. Eur J Dent. 2023 Jul;17(3):855-862. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1757905. Epub 2022 Dec 13. 
3. HOXHA A, KARPUKHINA K, GILLAM DG, BUSHBY AJ & PATEL MP (2021) Fluoride Rechargeable Layered Double Hydroxide Powders for Dental Applications. Applied Clay Science. 200; 105863.
4. TISKAYA M, SHAHID S, GILLAM D &, HILL R (2021) The Use of Bioactive Glass (BAG) in Dental Composites: a critical review. Dental Materials 37(2): 296-310.
5.  TISKAYA M, GILLAM D, SHAHID S & HILL R (2021) A Potassium Based Fluorine Containing Bioactive Glass for Use as a Desensitizing Toothpaste. Molecules 2021, 26, 4327.  https://doi.org/10.3390/ molecules26144327 
6. FRANCISCONI-DOS-RIOS LF, CALABRIA MP, PEREIRA JC, HATTON J, HONÓRIO HM, WANG L & GILLAM DG (2021). Knowledge of Brazilian dentists and students in treating dentine hypersensitivity. Res., Soc. Dev v.10, n.9, e28010917194, 2021 (CC BY 4.0) | ISSN 2525-3409 | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v10i9.17194.
7. STEPHEN AS, DHADWAL N, NAGALA V, GONZALES-MARIN C, GILLAM DG, BRADSHAW DJ, BURNETT GR & ALLAKER RP (2021) Interdental and subgingival microbiota may affect the tongue microbial ecology and oral malodour in health, gingivitis and periodontitis. J Periodont Res 2021:56 (6) 1174-1184
8. TEJANI T, MILOSEVIC A, PATEL M & GILLAM D (2021) The effect of layered double hydroxide on fluoride release and recharge from a commercial and an experimental resin varnish.  Dent Mater. 2021 Nov 8: S0109-5641(21)00280-3. doi: 10.1016/j.dental.2021.10.002. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34763905
9. JANAPHAN K, HILL RG & GILLAM DG (2021) In Vitro Evaluation of the Abrasiveness of Novel Bioactive Glass Powders (BiominF®) on Ivory Dentine in Air Polishing Procedures Compared to Selected Reference Powders. J Dent Maxillofacial Res: 4 (3) DOI: 10.31038/JDMR.2021423. 
10. AL-MUTAIRI R, LIVERSIDGE H & GILLAM DG (2022) Prevalence of Moderate to Severe Periodontitis in an 18–19th Century Sample—St Bride’s Lower Churchyard (London, UK). Dent. J. 2022, 10, 56. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/dj10040056.

All publications

Full list of publications can be found at Full list of publications can be found at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=David+G+Gillam