Dr Poppy Anastassiadis
Senior Lecturer
School of Dentistry
College of Health
Dental decay is a preventable disease. The burden of poor oral health falls disproportionately on people experiencing disadvantage and social marginalisation. These realities guide my academic and research focus on prevention, equitable access and person-centred care.
My work focuses on translating evidence into practice through education, the implementation of preventive approaches and the development of community-based models of care. I am interested in how research can inform practical, sustainable improvements in clinical care and service delivery, particularly for people who face barriers to accessing dental services.
I support learners to develop the knowledge, clinical skills, professional judgement and understanding of social context needed to deliver effective, person-centred care. My work connects research, education and clinical practice to prepare clinicians who can respond to diverse community needs.
Available Project: Silver Fluoride: knowledge, perspectives and experience
The integration of silver fluoride in South Australian dental clinics for student use is pivotal in modern caries management. Extensive research validates the efficacy of silver fluoride in arresting caries in both primary and permanent teeth, presenting a minimally invasive alternative, or adjunct, to conventional restorative procedures.
Silver fluoride and silver diamine fluoride can be considered as an additional adjunct in the toolkit for caries management. They are currently indicated in situations where traditional treatment approaches to caries management face challenges due to patient behaviour, medical factors, or limited access to care (Do et al., 2020).
This research centres around implementing silver fluoride into SA dental student clinics for enhanced caries management. Tailored guidelines and precise application protocols aim to facilitate its integration into clinical practice.
This research project aims to assess the baseline knowledge, perspectives, and experiences of students, staff, and tutors regarding the implementation of silver fluoride in clinics through an initial comprehensive survey. After the implementation period, a follow-up survey will measure changes and perceptions post-implementation. Additionally, focus groups will complement the quantitative data by delving deeper into emerging themes, providing a nuanced understanding and validating the findings from the surveys.
Understanding barriers to implementation will drive targeted education and training efforts, essential for successful adoption in dental practice. Ultimately, this research seeks to harness the potential of silver fluoride as an adjunct in the toolkit for comprehensive caries management, optimising dental care across diverse patient scenarios.
Project available for Honours
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 - ongoing | Senior Lecturer | The University of Adelaide |
| 2014 - 2020 | Lecturer | The University of Adelaide |
| 2010 - 2014 | Associate Lecturer | The University of Adelaide |
| Date | Type | Title | Institution Name | Country | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Fellowship | Fellow Academy of Dentistry International | Academy of Dentistry International | United States | - |
| 2023 | Fellowship | Fellow of the International College of Dentists | International College of Dentists | Australia | - |
| 2020 | Fellowship | Fellow of Pierre Frauchard Academy | Pierre Frauchard Academy | Australia | - |
| 2013 | Fellowship | Fellowship Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons General Dental Practice | Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons | Australia | - |
| 2011 | Distinction | Commendation in the Primary Examination | Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons | Australia | - |
| 2009 | Award | Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons Academic Prize | Royal Australian College of Dental Surgeons | Australia | - |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 - 2020 | Flinders University | Australia | Master of Clinical Education |
| 2005 - 2009 | The University of Adelaide | Australia | Bachelor of Dental Surgery |
| Date | Title | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 - 2020 | Master of Clinical Education | Flinders University | Australia |
| 2012 - 2013 | Fellowship General Dental Practice | The Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons | Australia |
| Date | Title | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors | Institute Australian Company Directors | - |
| 2020 | Epigeum: Supervising Doctoral Studies program | The University of Adelaide | - |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Handsley-Davis, M., Kapellas, K., Jamieson, L. M., Hedges, J., Skelly, E., Kaidonis, J., . . . Weyrich, L. S. (2022). Heritage-specific oral microbiota in Indigenous Australian dental calculus. EVOLUTION MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH, 10(1), 352-362. Scopus18 WoS15 Europe PMC22 |
| 2018 | Kaidonis, J. A., Anastassiadis, P. M., Lekkas, D., Ranjitkar, S., Townsend, G. C., & Amaechi, B. T. (2018). Prevention and control of dental erosion by professionally applied treatment. Clinical Dentistry Reviewed, 2(1), 1-9. |
| 2015 | Anastassiadis, P., Hall, C., Marino, V., & Bartold, P. (2015). Surface scratch assessment of titanium implant abutments and cementum following instrumentation with metal curettes. Clinical Oral Investigations, 19(2), 545-551. Scopus7 WoS6 Europe PMC2 |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Kaidonis, J., Anastassiadis, P., Lekkas, D., Ranjitkar, S., Amaechi, B., & Townsend, G. (2015). Prevention and control of dental erosion: Professional clinic care. In B. Amaechi (Ed.), Dental Erosion and Its Clinical Management (pp. 151-168). Switzerland: Springer. DOI Scopus3 |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Lekkas, D., Parker, E., Anastassiadis, P., Stow, L., & Murray, A. (2022). Rethinking summative assessment using the PDSA Cycle. Poster session presented at the meeting of International Association of Dental Research (IADR) Australia and New Zealand Conference. Melbournce. |
| 2022 | Anastassiadis, P. (2022). Developing scholarly networks with a clinical focus. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australian and New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators, Festival Partnerships. |
Undergraduate teaching
Bachelor of Dental Surgery
- Clinical supervisor
- Previous Year 2 Co-coordinator
- Previous Year 2 Simulation Clinic Coordinator
- Lecturer in Minimum Intervention Dentistry
Bachelor of Oral Health
- Lecturer in Minimum Intervention Dentistry
Postgraduate teaching
- Graduate Certificate in Oral Health Science
Community outreach and clinical education
Community Outreach Lead, Adelaide University Community Outreach Dental Clinic.
I lead community-based clinical education that connects student learning with care for people experiencing barriers to dental access. Through supervised placements, students develop clinical skills, person-centred approaches and an understanding of the social factors that influence oral health and access to care.
| Date | Role | Board name | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 - ongoing | Chair | Australian Dental Association South Australia Branch | Australian Dental Association SA | Australia |
| 2019 - 2019 | Board Member | Adelaide Dental School Program Board | The University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2016 - ongoing | Board Member | Australian Dental Association South Australia Branch | Australian Dental Association South Australia | Australia |
| Date | Role | Committee | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 - ongoing | Member | Employed Dentist Working Party | Australian Dental Association | Australia |
| Date | Role | Membership | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 - ongoing | Member | Australian and New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators | Australia |
| 2020 - ongoing | Member | Prideaux Centre for Research in Health Professions Education | Australia |
| 2017 - ongoing | Member | e-Learning Community of Practice | Australia |
| 2013 - ongoing | Member | Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons | Australia |
| 2010 - ongoing | Member | Craniofacial Biology and Dental Education Group | Australia |
| 2009 - ongoing | Member | Australian Dental Association | Australia |
| Date | Title | Engagement Type | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 - ongoing | Reviewer: Focus on Health Professional Education | Scientific Community Engagement | Focus on Health Professional Education: A Multi-professional Journal | - |
| 2017 - ongoing | ADA Federal Continuing Professional Development Reviewer | Scientific Community Engagement | Australian Dental Association | - |
Connect With Me
External Profiles
