Rate My Professor Tim Newton

Professor Tim Newton is Professor of Psychology as Applied to Dentistry in the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences at King’s College London. He serves as Dean of Research Culture within the Research Management and Innovation Directorate, promoting research governance, integrity, ethics, and innovation. Newton holds Honorary Consultant Health Psychologist positions with Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and the Office of the Chief Dental Officer. As a founder member of the King’s Dental Institute Health Psychology Service, he allocates 25% of his time to clinical work, providing Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for dental phobia, support for challenging dental procedures, and psychological assistance for chronic oro-facial pain and long-term oral conditions. He obtained his BA and PhD in psychology from the University of Liverpool and is registered as a practitioner psychologist with the Health Care Professions Council.

Newton’s research focuses on theory-based interventions to modify behaviour related to oral health and manage dental anxiety and phobia, including the design, implementation, and evaluation of brief interventions for improving oral health behaviours in primary dental care, with emphasis on feasibility and acceptability. Notable publications include “The impact of dental anxiety on daily living” (2000), “Anxiety and pain measures in dentistry: a guide to their quality and application” (2000), “The social determinants of oral health: new approaches to conceptualizing and researching complex causal networks” (2005), and “Managing oral hygiene as a risk factor for periodontal disease: a systematic review of psychological approaches to behaviour change for improved plaque control in periodontal management” (2015). His accolades encompass the Behavioural, Epidemiological and Health Services Research Distinguished Scientist Award from the International Association of Dental Research (2016), Honorary Fellowship in Dental Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Honorary Fellowship from the College of General Dentistry, and honorary membership of the British Orthodontic Society.