Derek
Dental implants: evidence on patient expectations mainly cross-sectional
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There is a growing interest in patients’ expectations of dental implants. This review found 10 mainly cross sectional studies with variable quality of reporting. Expectations with respect to aesthetics and function predominated.
[read the full story...]Plaque control during orthodontic treatment: study suggests that text messaging may have a positive effect
This small study in orthodontic patients suggests that text messaging might improve plaque control in short term. Larger better quality studies are needed to provide more definitive answers.
[read the full story...]Elf Break
The Dental Elf is taking a short break and will be back on the 4th November
Oral cancer detection: Limited evidence for use of chemiluminescence and autofluorescent imaging devices in primary care
Early detection of oral cancer improves prognosis so methods to improve diagnosis are welcome. The review we look at today looks at two light-based systems: chemiluminescence or autofluorescence. 25 studies were included and they are well summarised but few were tested in primary care. Neither system provided much improvement on the level of sensitivity and specificity achieved by conventional oral examination. Therefore it is suggested that these tools are better suited to specialist clinics in which there is a higher prevalence of disease and where experienced clinicians may better discriminate between benign and malignant lesions.
[read the full story...]Peri-implantitis: lack of high quality evidence for surgical approaches
Today we look at a review of surgical treatments for the management of peri-implantitis. 21 studies were identified but only 5 were randomised trials, only one of which was at low risk of bias. While all approaches provided some benefit the available evidence is limited.
[read the full story...]Compete dentures: no difference between simplified and traditional approaches to fabrication
Today we look at a review that compares simplified approaches with traditional methods for constructing complete dentures. 3 small trials reported in 6 papers suggest some advantages of the simplified approach over the traditional. However studies are small and of short duration.
[read the full story...]Caries Prevention: review suggests that education training and fairer payments would increase prevention delivered by dentists
Seven qualitative studies and 41 surveys were included in this qualitative metasummary of factors that increase or decrease dentists delivery of caries prevention. While the surveys in particular, are of questionable quality some commonality emerges that further education and training coupled with a fairer pay scheme would be a reasonable approach to change the balance in favor of the provision of dental caries preventive measures by dentists
[read the full story...]Nerve repositioning for implant placement: neurosensory complications common
This review of complications following inferior alveolar nerve repositioning techniques included 24 studies the majority at high risk of bias. Initial sensory disturbance was highest with lateralisation technique but lower at end of follow up periods than transposition approach.
[read the full story...]Peri-implantitis: little evidence that particular non-surgical treatments are better than debridement alone
This Bayesian network meta-analysis only included 11 small studies of overall low quality. While the greatest reduction in PPD was seen with debridement in conjunction with antibiotics the difference are small so it is difficult to conclude that any particular non-surgical treatment for peri-implantitis performs better than debridement alone
[read the full story...]Chronic periodontitis: review suggests that Er:YAG laser may provide short term improvement
This review compares the clinical outcomes of scaling and root planing with Er:YAG laser either as an alternative or as an adjuvant in patients with chronic periodontitis. 12 small trials were included and similar outcomes were seen with both treatments at 3 months . However hetrogeneity in teh studies and the small sample size mean that these finding should be interpreted with caution.
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