Orthodontic retainers and retention strategies

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This Cochrane review update evaluating different retention strategies used to stabilise tooth position after orthodontic braces included 47 RCTs. However, only 11 RCTs were at low risk of bias and the overall assessment of the certainty of the evidence is low to very low which means that firm recommendations on orthodontic retention strategies cannot be made.

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Oral leukoplakia – malignant transformation rate

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

This review of the rate of malignant transformation (MT) of oral leukoplakia and potential risk factors included 26 mainly retrospective studies. The findings indicate a MT of 7.2% (95%CI; 5.40 to 9.10%) similar to those of another recent review whihc estimated MT as 9.8% (95%CI; 7.9 to 11.7%).

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Virtual reality distraction interventions for dental anxiety in paediatric patients

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This review of virtual reality (VR) distraction interventions in alleviating dental anxiety in paediatric patients included 12 RCTs. The findings suggest VR could be an effective approach to alleviating dental anxiety in paediatric patients.

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Peri-implantitis – adjunctive measures to non-surgical peri-implant therapy

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This review of the effectiveness of patient-performed or administered adjunctive measures to non-surgical peri-implantitis therapy included 9 RCTs. A wide range of interventions were tested but the studies were mainly small with only one being at low risk of bias. Consequently addition high quality well conducted studies are needed on both the prevention and treatment of peri-implant disease.

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Elf Break

Achnahaird beach

  The Dental Elves are taking a short break . Our next blog will appear on the 29th May.        

Peri-implantitis – surgical treatment methods

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This review comparing the effectiveness of different surgical methods for peri-implantitis included 13 parallel group RCTs. However, a wide variety of interventions were tested and the studies were generally small providing very low certainty evidence. Consequently additional high quality well reported studies are needed.

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Bioactive glass for periodontal defects

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This review aimed to assess the effect of bioactive glass on bone and periodontal regeneration and included 20 RCTs. The included studies were small, involved numerous comparisions with only two being at low risk of bias. The findings showed a statistically signiciant benefit for probing depth with bioglass but this may not be clinically significant and the limited quality of thei included studies mean the findings should be interpreted cautiously.

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Mouthwashes and gingival healing after surgical procedures

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This review of the effect of different mouthwashes on gingival healing used after oral surgery in adults included 13 RCTs. The trials assessed 12 different products and concentrations and only one RCTs was considered to be at low risk of bias so the findings should be interpreted cautiously.

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Orthodontic bonding – failure rates with different techniques

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This review of the failure rates of different orthodontic bonding materials included 80 studies with 34 contributing to the quantitative component. The findings suggest little difference between the self-etch primer and conventional acid-etch primer and a poorer performance for glass ionomer compared with self-cure resin. However the findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the low certainty of the available evidence.

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Anterior open bite self-correction after cessation of non-nutritive sucking habits

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This review of whether self-correction of anterior open bite (AOB) occurred after stopping non-nutritive sucking habits after 4 years of age included 5 studies. The studies reported a range of self-correction of AOB from 50-100% however the studies were all at high risk of bias providing evidence of very low certainty.

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