Photobiomodulation for post-operative pain, swelling and trismus after third molar surgery

shutterstock_31846396

This review of the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) on pain, oedema, and trismus after extraction of impacted mandibular third molars included 33 RCTs. However 30 of the included studies were considered to be at high risk of bias, and while the results suggested small benefits for PBM in relation to reduction of pain and swelling these were not considered to be clinically important.

[read the full story...]

We need a whole system approach to tackling early childhood inequality: new research on health and educational outcomes in adolescence

Cute little girl staring through window on a train journey

In her debut blog, Dr Huong Le evaluates a UK population-based retrospective cohort study investigating the impact of early childhood disadvantage on a variety of adverse health and educational outcomes in adolescence.

[read the full story...]

Barriers to PTSD care for US veterans: new evidence highlights importance of an intersectional approach

fraizer-dunleavy-Cy0pcQE93Vw-unsplash

Dr Ana Veic explores the barriers to mental health care reported by over 17,000 US veterans with PTSD, and how these barriers differ between demographic groups (e.g., by race and by sex).

[read the full story...]

Caries in HIV-infected children and adolescents

shutterstock_34500700 - caries sign

This review assessing whether caries severity is higher in HIV-infected children and adolescents than in those who uninfected included 16 studies. While the review suggests a higher caries severity in those infected with HIV the certainty of the evidence is low with the majority of studies not providing information on potential confounders.

[read the full story...]

How do friendships influence adolescent self-injurious thoughts and behaviours?

sam-mcnamara-p0ZvBVpW3KY-unsplash

In her debut blog, Bella Brereton writes with Rasanat Fatima Nawaz to summarise a systematic review that explored the associations between self-injurious thoughts and behaviours and school-based friendship networks in adolescents, using sociometric data.

[read the full story...]

Eruption of maxillary incisors after surgical removal of supernumerary teeth

Supernumerary_teeth

Thte review of the percentage of impacted maxillary incisors that successfully erupt after surgical removal of supernumerary teeth included 15 studies. With the exception of one study all were retrospective with meta-analysis indicating a mean eruption success of 57.6% (95%CI; 47.8 to 67.0%). However the certainty of the evidence is very low to low.

[read the full story...]

What’s the relationship between stressful life events and psychosis?

Hand,Turning,Stress,Level,Meter,Indicating,High,Level,Of,Stress.

Kris Deering considers a 2-year prospective observational study published in the Lancet Psychiatry which found strong links between stressful life events and relapse in first-episode psychosis.

[read the full story...]

Sitting in the waiting room: what happens when anxiety disorders are left untreated?

levi-meir-clancy-jdIT3puximI-unsplash

In her debut blog, Beth Hindhaugh summarises a systematic review and meta-analysis of 173 studies examining the untreated course of anxiety disorders, which finds that for some people, anxiety disorders can improve without treatment.

[read the full story...]

Stress of root canal treatment in patients and dentists

shutterstock_113645092

This review to determine whether root canal treatment causes greater stress than other dental treatments, especially extractions, in patients and providers of dental treatment included 23 studies. The findings suggest that root canal treatment was more psychologically stressful for patients than routine restorative or cleaning procedures however a majority of the included studies (52%) were at high risk of bias.

[read the full story...]

The burden of perinatal mental illness in migrant women: new evidence on prevalence and risk factors

Flock,Of,Geese,Flying,In,V-formation

In her debut Mental Elf blog, Gilda Spaducci explores the global prevalence of perinatal mental disorders among migrant women; summarising a recent review which finds that “one in four experience perinatal depression, one in five perinatal anxiety, and one in eleven perinatal PTSD”.

[read the full story...]