Tools for measuring oral health and orofacial pain in dependent adults

This study is the first of its kind from an RCT perspective which clearly shows that treating major depression in older adults using interventions in primary care settings can extend life

A group of Scottish Specialty Registrars in Special Care Dentistry look at a recent review of available measurement tools for assessing oral health and orofacial pain in dependent adults, which can be used by the non-dental caregivers. Nine tools were identified and despite a lack of comprehensive testing a number demonstrate reliability and validity.

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Clear aligners v fixed appliances for periodontal health

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This review of periodontal health maintenance and gingival recessions development in patients undergoing an orthodontic treatment with clear aligners (CA) or fixed appliances (FA) included 12 studies. The limited amount and quality of evidence was insufficient to assess whether CA were bettern than FA at maintaining periodontal health.

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Nocebo response in third molar analgesic trials

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This review estimating the nocebo response in dentistry from trials of analgesic treatment following third molar surgery included data from 50 RCTs. Adverse events (AEs) were roughly the same in placebo and active arms suggesting AEs may be attributed to the nocebo phenomenon.

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Acute pain management following dental extraction

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This review and network meta-analysis (NMA) of pharmacological treatments for the management of pain subsequent to simple and surgical tooth extraction included 85 RCTs. There was moderate- and high-certainty evidence that for surgical dental extractions that ibuprofen 200 to 400 mg plus acetaminophen 500 to 1,000 mg was the most effective for pain relief.

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Peri-implant mucositis – patient performed adjunctive measures

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This review of patient-performed or administered measures used adjunctively to submarginal instrumentation for the management of peri-implant mucositis included 14 studies. The findings indicated that adjunctive measures reduced probing depth, bleeding on probing and plaque level reductions at 3 months and were in favour of adjunctive measures, which were plaque.

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Effervescent tablets for cleaning removable dentures

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This eview of the effectiveness of effervescent tablets in the cleaning and sanitising of removable prostheses included 23 RCTs. Six RCTs contributed to meta-analyses which indicate that use of brushing and effervescent tables reduce biofilm and bacterial conts more than brushing alone.

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Refugee dental care – factors associated with access

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In this new blog Rrbecca Manson looks at a review of the factors associated with determining access to dental care among refugees worldwide. Nine observational studies were included and a number of factors influencing access at an individual level are identified.

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Peri-implant mucositis – non-surgical treatments

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This review of the effectiveness of professional mechanical/physical treatment of peri-implant mucositis included 5 RCTs. None of the included RCTs was at low risk of bias so there is little evidence to recommend one treatment of combination of treatment. Additional high quality well reported studies are needed.

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Denture stomatitis – which interventions are most effective?

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This review of the comparative efficacy of interventions used for the treatment of denture stomatitis(DS) included 35 RCTs with 25 studies contributing to the meta-analyses. The findings suggest that topical antifungal agents produced the most effective clinical improvement and microwave disinfection and topical antifungals the best mycological resolution. Only one of the RCTs was at low risk of bias so the findings should be interpreted cautiously.

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Peri-implantitis – efficacy of different bone reconstructive therapies

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This review of the efficacy of different bone reconstructive therapies for peri-implantitis compared to access flap surgery at 12 months or longer. included 18 studies with 12 RCTs contributing to the meta-analyses. The findings suggest that compared with access flap surgery reconstructive surgery does not offer significant improvements at 12 months but the evidence is of low certainty.

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