Medication for mental health: Oral health impacts

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This review of the side effects of medications prescribed for the management of mental health highlights their potential impact on oral health. The commonest problems being xerostomia.

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Toothbrushing: Are three heads better than one?

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This review of the effectiveness of 3-headed toothbrushes included 15 studies describing 18 comparisons. The quality of the available evidence was low an no differences were seen with self-performed brushing but a benefit was suggested for plaque removal for care-dependent individuals.

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 Shortened dental arch: impact on oral health-related quality of life

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This review of the impact on oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) linked with maintaining or restoring a shortened dental arch found limited evidence from 3 studies suggesting a benefit for OHRQoL with maintaining rather than restoring a the SDA with a removable partial dental prosthesis.

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Chlorhexidine mouthrinse: Reduced plaque and gingivitis when used as adjunct to mechanical oral hygiene procedures

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51 studies were included in this Cochrane review of chlorhexidine mouthwash as an adjunct to mechanical oral hygiene measures. The review provides high quality evidence for a large reduction in the build-up of plaque at 4 to 6 weeks or 6 months. There is also high quality evidence of a moderate reduction in gingivitis in patients with mild gingivitis which may not be clinically important.

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Oral Health in people with dementia

This study is the first of its kind from an RCT perspective which clearly shows that treating major depression in older adults using interventions in primary care settings can extend life

This review of oral health in older people with dementia included 37 mainly observational studies of limited quality. The findings suggest that oral health was generally poorer in those with dementia.

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Toothbrushes: are tapered or end-rounded filaments best?

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This review of the effect of tapered or end-rounded filament toothbrushes on clinical parameters included just 5 RCTs providing inconclusive evidence to recommend one type over another.

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Top Dental Elf Blogs of 2016

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During 2016 the Dental Elves has published 158 blogs covering a broad range of topics. The most popular blogs of each month are highlighted.

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Gingival recession: long term outcomes of no treatment

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Six studies were included in this review of gingival recession. The findings suggest that in patients with good oral hygiene recession is likely to progress.

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Autism spectrum disorders- caries and periodontal disease levels high?

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7 small observational studies were included in this review of oral health status in people with autism spectrum disorders higher levels of caries and periodontal disease are suggested in this population.

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