Shortly before Christmas two new protocols for Cochrane review from the Oral Health Group appeared on the Cochrane Library.

The first one is:-

Taylor J, Brocklehurst P, Glenny AM, Walsh T, Tickle M, Lewis MA, Riley P, Yates JM, Pemberton MN. Topical interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) (Protocol). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 12. Art. No.: CD010881. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010881.

The aim of the review being to determine the clinical effectiveness and safety of topical interventions in the reduction of pain associated with recurrent aphthous stomatitis, a reduction in episode duration, a reduction in episode frequency and improved quality of life.

When this review is completed it will complement the review of systemic interventions undertaken by the same group of authors (Dental Elf 14^th Sept 2012)

 

The second protocol is for a review of water fluoridation. The review is being undertaken in collaboration with the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination of the University of York, United Kingdom as an update for their review published in 2000.

The objectives are

1. To evaluate the effects of water fluoridation (artificial or natural) for the prevention of dental caries.
2. To evaluate the effects of water fluoridation (artificial or natural) on dental fluorosis.

The original systematic review (McDonagh 2000) included five objectives. For the purposes of the current review, the original objectives 1 to 3 will be covered by objective 1 (above). The fourth objective will be covered by objective 2 (above) and the fifth objective which explored the differential effects of natural and artificial fluoridation is not covered in the current review.

Iheozor-Ejiofor Z, O’Malley LA, Glenny AM, Macey R, Alam R, Tugwell P, Walsh T, Welch V, Worthington HV. Water fluoridation for the prevention of dental caries (Protocol). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 12. Art. No.: CD010856. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010856

Links

Dental Elf 14th Sept 2012 – No single systemic treatment was found to be effective for treatment of mouth ulcers

McDonagh MS, Whiting PF, Wilson PM, Sutton AJ, Chestnutt I, Cooper J, Misso K, Bradley M, Treasure E, Kleijnen J. Systematic review of water fluoridation. BMJ.  2000 Oct 7;321(7265):855-9. Review. PubMed PMID: 11021861; PubMed Central PMCID:  PMC27492.