Opiate substitution therapy: supervised-consumption vs take-home doses

methadone

Vicky Carlisle publishes her debut elf blog on a Cochrane review of supervised dosing with long-acting opioid medication in the management of opioid dependence.

[read the full story...]

Metal-free fixed dental prosthesis – insufficient evidence to support or refute effectiveness

shutterstock_85691464

Only 9 small RCTs were included in this Cochrane review of metal-free materials for prosthodontic restorations providing insufficient evidence to support or refute the effectiveness of metal-free materials for fixed prosthodontic treatment over metal-ceramic or other type of standard restorations.

[read the full story...]

Mucositis in adult cancer patients reduced with keratinocyte growth factor

PDB_1qql_EBI

This Cochrane review of cytokines and growth factors for preventing oral mucositis in patients having cancer treatment included 35 RCTs finding keratinocyte growth factor beneficial in the prevention of oral mucositis .

[read the full story...]

Antipsychotic combinations for schizophrenia: safe and effective?

freestocks-org-126848

Elena Marcus presents the findings of an updated Cochrane review on antipsychotic combinations for schizophrenia.

[read the full story...]

Fluoride supplements for pregnant women to prevent caries in their children

Pregnancy is a major life changing event for all women, but this study shows that women who are depressed during pregnancy are also at risk of reduced breastfeeding initiation and premature delivery

This Cochrane review of fluoride supplements during pregnancy for the prevention of caries in their children identified only a single trial which provided no evidence of caries prevention in their offspring.

[read the full story...]

Orthodontic treatment for Class II division 2 malocclusion: No randomised trial evidence

shutterstock_101866108

This Cochrane review of orthodontic treatment for class II div 2 malocclusion updates the previous 2006 version. No RCTs or CCTs were identified so It is not possible to provide any evidence-based guidance to recommend or discourage any type of orthodontic treatment to correct Class II division 2 malocclusion in children.

[read the full story...]

Drugs to prevent salivary gland damage following radiotherapy to the head and neck

This Cochrane review of drugs for the prevention of radiation-induced salivary gland dysfunction included 39 studies, while a range of agents was tested the evidence found is not sufficient to highlight much promise in terms of effective preventative treatments.

[read the full story...]

Fissure sealants effective in preventing caries in children and adolescents

Fissure sealant

38 trials were included in this updated Cochrane review of the effect of fissure sealants on occlusal caries. The data show a reduction in caries of between 11-51% at 24months compared to no sealant. The benefit was also maintained at longer-term follow up.

[read the full story...]

Periodontal treatment during pregnancy-no evidence of impact on preterm birth

Routine specialist pregnancy care involved an initial meeting to discuss quitting smoking and set a quit date, followed by 4 weekly telephone calls, and free nicotine replacement therapy for 10 weeks.

15 RCTs were included in this Cochrane review of impact of periodontal treatment on adverse pregnancy outcomes. all the included studies were considered to be at high risk of bias. There was no evidence that periodontal treatment reduces the number of preterm babies.

[read the full story...]

Occlusal caries prevention: Seal or varnish?

shutterstock_34500700 - caries sign

This large, well-conducted study in a primary care setting found a small, but not statistically significant difference, between fissure sealants and fluoride varnish for the prevention of caries in first permanent molars at 36 months.

[read the full story...]