Projects per year
Personal profile
Research Interests
I am Chair of Oral Health Services Research and Gerodontology within the Centre for Public Health (CPH) where I lead Oral Health Research. My research portfolio is multidisciplinary and I am a member of both the Health Services Research, and Nutrition and Metabolism Research Groups in CPH. My research is centred around optomising treatment options for older patients which positively impact their dental and overall health. This research is undertaken in partnership with the Belfast Older Person's Patient and Public Involvement Group (BELONG) My current position combines research, clinical teaching and specialist patient care.
I am a specialist in Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics working as a Consultant in the Belfast NHS Health and Social Care Trust. My clinical duties are based in the Centre for Dentistry, Queens University Belfast where I also provide clinical supervision and teaching for dental undergraduates. I am the Director of Internationalisation for the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences.
I am the current President of the British Dental Association in Northern Ireland. I am a past president of the British Society of Gerodontology and the Geriatric Oral Research Group (GORG) within the International Association for Dental Research (IADR). I am a past President of the Irish Division of IADR and past President of the European College of Gerodontology (ECG). I will be working with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a Fellow from 2021-2024 with a focus on improving oral health for older adults.
I am the author of the textbooks: Clinical Cases in Gerodontology and Nutrition and Oral Health.
Research Focus
My research focuses on:
1. Gerodontology: https://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/CentreforPublicHealth/Research/TOPIC-OralHealthinCareHomes/
2. Links between oral health and nutrition
3. Patient centred outcomes including Quality of Life measures
4. Health economics
5. Head and neck oncology
I am a partner on the Erasmus + co-funded project, eCampus for Dental Education supporting multidisciplinary teambased learning and evidence-based treatment planning (EDEMTET) and Management Committee member in the EU Cost Action, Promoting Geriatric Medicine in countries where it is still emerging (PROGRAMMING)
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Keywords
- RK Dentistry
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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R3598CPH: Adaption of a habit based dietary intervention for older adults in Brazil
McKenna, G. (PI), Congdon, N. (CoI), McGowan, L. (CoI) & Woodside, J. (CoI)
04/06/2024 → …
Project: Research
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R2087CPH: Medicines in an ageing society – an interdisciplinary research programme: MED-AGE
McGuinness, B. (PI), Barry, H. (CoI), Carney, G. (CoI), Ellis, G. (CoI), Heron, N. (CoI), Hughes, C. (CoI), Maguire, A. (CoI), McKenna, G. (CoI) & Montgomery, L. (CoI)
13/12/2023 → …
Project: Research
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R4078CPH: The impaCt Of dietary intake and Nutritional status in CarE homes on orAl heaLth: an EviDence synthesis (CONCEALED)
McKenna, G. (PI), McCorry, N. (CoI), McEvoy, C. (CoI), Mitchell, G. (CoI), O'Neill, C. (CoI) & Woodside, J. (CoI)
02/02/2022 → …
Project: Research
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R4057CPH: uSing-roLE substitution In care hOmes to improveoRal health (SENIOR)
McKenna, G. (PI) & O'Neill, C. (CoI)
13/08/2021 → …
Project: Research
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A theoretically-informed process evaluation in parallel to a feasibility study of a complex oral health intervention using NICE guidelines in a care home setting
Brocklehurst, P., Langley, J., Wassell, R., Daniyal, S., Syed, S. S., Harvey, M., Goulden, N., Sherriff, A., Heilmann, A., Hoare, Z., Smith, C., Watt, R., O'Neill, C., Kee, F., McKenna, G. & Tsakos, G., 15 Jan 2025, (Early online date) In: Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile4 Downloads (Pure) -
Comparing analog and 3D measurements of vertical dimension in edentulous subjects
Srinivasan, M., Handel, S., Bronzino, I., Kamnoedboon, P., McKenna, G. & Leles, C. R., 11 Jan 2025, (Early online date) In: Journal of Dentistry. 105566.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Oral health matters - Guideline commentary for oral health for adults in care homes [NG48]
Doshi, M., Gilway, D. & McKenna, G., 03 Feb 2025, (Accepted) In: Age and Ageing.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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A 1-year parallel-group randomized clinical trial comparing effectiveness of a mandibular complete denture versus an early loaded single-implant overdenture
Nogueira, T., Esfandiari, S., McKenna, G. & Leles, C., 22 Apr 2024, In: The International Journal of Prosthodontics. p. 153-156,Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile125 Downloads (Pure) -
A clinical guide to advanced minimum intervention restorative dentistry (1st ed)
McKenna, G., 13 Dec 2024, In: British Dental Journal. 237, 11, 834.Research output: Contribution to journal › Book/Film/Article review › peer-review
Prizes
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Adjunct Professor, College of Medicine and Health, University College Cork
McKenna, G. (Recipient), 26 Mar 2019
Prize: Appointment
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Awards Administrator, British Society of Prosthodontics (BSSPD)
McKenna, G. (Recipient), 18 Apr 2024
Prize: Appointment
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British Society of Gerodontology, Poster Prize 2020
Nic Íomhair, A. (Recipient), McKenna, G. (Recipient) & Watson, S. (Recipient), 03 Dec 2020
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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British Society of Gerodontology, Poster Prize 2022
McAllister, M. (Recipient), Moore, C. (Recipient), Markey, N. (Recipient) & McKenna, G. (Recipient), 01 Dec 2022
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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British Society of Gerodontology Poster Prize 2021
Markey, N. (Recipient), Moore, C. (Recipient), Cullen, L. (Recipient), Hamilton, K. (Recipient) & McKenna, G. (Recipient), 02 Dec 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Oral health of the ageing population: considerations for clinicians
McKenna, G. (Invited speaker)
03 Oct 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited or keynote talk at national or international conference
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Oral Health for an Ageing Population
McKenna, G. (Invited speaker)
09 Sept 2025 → 12 Sept 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited or keynote talk at national or international conference
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Functionally orientated treatment for older adults
McKenna, G. (Invited speaker)
28 Aug 2025 → 30 Aug 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited or keynote talk at national or international conference
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Oral care and the geriatric patient
McKenna, G. (Invited speaker)
16 May 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited or keynote talk at national or international conference
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Oral health of older adults, a changing clinical picture
McKenna, G. (Invited speaker)
09 Apr 2025 → 11 Apr 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Press/Media
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NIHR-supported incubator in oral health research: informing policy across the UK
McKenna, G., Marshman, Z., Vernazza, C. & Watt, R.
27/01/2025
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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The oral health needs of older adults have changed considerably in the last years
05/08/2024
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Hidden challenges of tooth loss and dentures revealed in new study
Gibson, B., Baker, S. R., Martin, N., McKenna, G., Broomhead, T. & El Dhuwaib, B.
07/06/2024
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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Sustainable oral health care: prevent and think ahead for older age.
McKenna, G. & Janssens, B.
29/04/2024
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Fostering closer relationships at branch events
18/01/2024
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities