• FHEA
• MJDF (RCS Eng.)
• BDS

Mr Sharma qualified as a dentist from the University of Birmingham in 2007. Following his qualification, he undertook his Vocational Training and then Senior House Officer posts in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Paediatric Dentistry, and Restorative Dentistry.

During this time, Praveen obtained his post-graduate qualification (M.J.D.F (RCS Eng.)).

Praveen joined the Birmingham Dental Hospital as an Academic Clinical Fellow in Restorative Dentistry in 2011. Praveen was Birmingham Dental Hospital’s first Academic Clinical Fellow and his successful experience of this post paved the way for other ACFs at the Birmingham Dental Hospital. During his time as an ACF, Praveen received clinical training in Restorative Dentistry. His formal research training was provided via modules in the University of Birmingham. His research projects in the area of periodontal and systemic disease links won a prize on a national level and he has presented his findings as oral presentations at international dental conferences and a national renal conference.Praveen has taken time Out-of-Programme for Research and joined the University of Birmingham’s School of Dentistry as a Clinical Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry in 2012 and is continuing with his research in the periodontal-systemic disease link. This is via a large (1000 patients), long term (10 years) longitudinal cohort study of patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

Praveen also teaches dental undergraduate students on the Periodontology Department and obtained his teaching qualification (FHEA) in 2016.

• Dental Surgery BDS
• Dental Hygiene and Therapy BSc

Mr Sharma is currently investigating non-traditional risk factors impacting on morbidity and mortality in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in collaboration with the Renal Research Group at University Hospital Birmingham Foundation Trust (UHBFT). This is an on-going, prospective, detailed bioclinical study which aims to recruit 1000 pre-dialysis patients at risk of progressive CKD and with an increased cardiovascular risk and follow them up for 10 years (RIISC (Renal Impairment In Secondary Care) study

In his analysis of this cohort, he found significantly greater prevalence and severity of periodontitis amongst patients within the RIISC cohort compared to a control population, controlling for some confounders.

In investigating the association between worsening periodontal health and renal health, measures of worsening periodontal health were significantly positively associated with decreasing kidney function and increasing arterial stiffness in a multiple linear regression model.

These data show that not only do patients with CKD have a greater prevalence and severity of periodontitis than individuals without CKD but that worsening periodontal health in patients with CKD is associated with decreasing eGFR and increasing arterial stiffness.

Praveen also analysed data from a large, US dataset, (NHANES III) to find that patients with CKD and periodontitis had an approximate 10% increase in 10 year mortality, an increase similar to that seen in patients with CKD and diabetes, who were periodontally healthy.

In addition to these, Praveen analysed data from a UK based database, Denplan DEPPA, to show that periodontitis was associated with worse systemic health and more patient-reported outcomes of pain, difficulty eating and aesthetic concerns. Successful management of periodontitis was associated with an improvement in these outcomes.

These findings have been disseminated in regional, national and international meetings in the fields of dentistry and renal medicine as a mix of poster and oral presentations which have been very well received.