Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy and bacterial load in endodontics

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This review of the efficacy of adjunctive photodynamic therapy (aPDT) on reducing bacterial load in the primary endodontic treatment of teeth with chronic apical periodontitis included 8 studies. While the findings suggest a benefit from aPDT the limited number and quality of the availabel studies mean the findings should be interpreted cautiously.

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Low level laser therapy for burning mouth syndrome

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This review to evaluate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on burning pain, quality of life, and negative emotions in patients with burning mouth syndrome included 14 RCTs only two of which were at low risk of bias.While the findinds suggest that LLLT has a positive effect the quality of evidence means the findings should be interpreted cautiously.

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

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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.

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Non‐surgical procedures to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement

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This Cochrane review update was to assess the effect of non‐surgical adjunctive interventions on the rate of orthodontic tooth movement and the overall duration of treatment included 23 RCTs.The findings suggest there may be limited benefit from photobiomodulation application for accelerating discrete treatment phases but this should be interpreted very cautiously as the findings may not be clinically important and the evidence is of low to very low certainty.

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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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Canine retraction duration using fixed appliances

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This review of canine retraction after maxillary first premolar extraction in adolescent and adult orthodontic patients using fixed appliances included 50 RCTs. However only a small number of studies contributed to the estimate of 4.98 months (95%CI; 2.92 to 12.88 months) to complete canine retraction.

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Photodynamic therapy for denture stomatitis

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This review of comparing photodynamic therapy (PDT) and antifungals or the treatment of denture stomatitis included 5 studies involving a total of 218 patients. While the findings suggest that PDT is effective none of the the studies was at low risk of bias and the treatment protocols investigated differ.

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Dentine hypersensitivity: Is low-level light therapy effective?

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This review assessing the efficacy of low-level light therapy (LLLT) on dentine hypersensitivity included 35 studies 27 of which were RCTs. The findings showed an immediate, interim and persistant benifical effect compared to placebo. However the certainty of the evidence was only low to very low.

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Third molar surgery: Does low-level laser therapy reduce post-operative morbidity?

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This review of whether low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is effective in reducing postoperative morbidity in patients undergoing surgical removal of mandibular third molars included 17 RCTs. The findings suggest a reduction in post-operative swelling but not pain or trismus.

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