Explore the development, research and real-world evidence that underpins the RETURN intervention
RETURN is a brief, structured behavioural intervention designed to support patients to engage with dental care after an urgent dental visit. It was developed with patients and communities, refined with dental teams, and evaluated in real-world NHS urgent dental settings.
This section brings together the evidence behind RETURN — from how it was designed and tested, to what we learned about delivering it in practice. Whether you are a commissioner, policymaker, dental team member, patient, or researcher, you can use the pages below to understand what RETURN is, why it was developed, and how it can be implemented.
What you’ll find here:
- how RETURN was developed and evaluated through a multi-phase research programme
- peer-reviewed publications and trial outputs
- dissemination activities and learning shared with stakeholders
- the RETURN intervention resources (videos, booklets and toolkit)
- training and support for dental teams
- why RETURN matters for commissioning and service planning
A message from the Chief Investigator
Watch a short introduction to RETURN from Professor Rebecca Harris explaining why the intervention was developed, how it was tested, and what the findings mean for dental practice and commissioning.