Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is the most common form of oral ulceration. Prevalence rates for the general population vary between 5-60%. Onset generally peaks between the ages of 10-19 an often persists in to adulthood. A wide range of topical and systematic treatments have been utilised including low-level laser therapy. The aim of the study [read the full story…]
The ADA-EBD Center has just published another of its critical summaries of systematic reviews. This one looks at a 2012 review by Sgolastra et al, which was looking at the efficacy of the Er:YAG laser when used as an alternative treatment to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of patients with chronic periodontitis? [read the full story…]
In my blog on 25th June 2011 we looked at a systematic review which aimed to assess whether laser therapy was more effective than desensitising agents for dentine hypersensitivity. This latest systematic review on the topic by Sgolastra et al aimed to assess the efficacy of lasers, stratified according to laser type, on changes in [read the full story…]
Pulpotomy procedure are used to maintain a carious tooth by removing the infected pulp and lasers have been shown to reduce bacterial levels in human tissue. The aim of this review was to identify studies comparing laser with conventional techniques for pulpotomy procedures in primary teeth and to evaluate their methodological quality, to assess whether [read the full story…]
It has been suggested that root surface biomodification (RSB) with chemical agents, improves outcomes of periodontal surgery and scaling and root planning. The aim of this review was to determine if RSB has any positive or negative effects when used before root coverage procedures? Medline and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials together with [read the full story…]
A number of different laser techniques have been considered as alternative approaches to traditional chemo- mechanical approaches for root canal disinfection. The aim of this review was evaluate the clinical efficacy of lasers as an adjunct to chemo-mechanical disinfection of root canals. The PubMed, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CENTRAL) and the ISI Web of Knowledge [read the full story…]
October saw one new Cochrane protocol published on the Cochrane Library which slipped passed the Elf’s gaze. Cope A, Francis N, Wood F, Mann MK, Chestnutt IG. Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults (Protocol). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2012, Issue 10. Art. No.: CD010136. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010136. The principal [read the full story…]
Dentine hypersensitivity – is a short sharp pain that arises from exposed dentine typically in response to thermal stimuli. The aim of this review and network meta-analysis was to compare the effectiveness of different in-surgery treatments for dentine hypersensitivity. The databases Medline, Science Direct, ISI web of science, Ovid, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled [read the full story…]
Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) is a common chronic immunological disease the treatment of which remains a challenge for clinicians. Two Cochrane reviews have recently been published regarding the treatment of OLP (Chang et al 2012 and Thongorasom et al 2011 ). The quality of evidence for treatments for OLP is weak, but topical steroids are [read the full story…]
Animal studies have suggested that there is less thermal damage when excisional biopsies are performed using a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser in a char-free (CF) mode than in a continuous-wave (CW) mode. The aim of this study was to and compare the clinical and histopathologic characteristics of excisional biopsies performed with CW or CF CO2 [read the full story…]
