The aim of this review was to assess the scientific evidence on the efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in the treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). The authors searched the PubMed, Science Direct, Cochrane Clinical Trials Register, and PEDro databases. Papers were screened, extracted, and quality assessed independently by two reviewers. A meta-analysis- was performed [read the full story…]
Another critical summary of a systematic review prepared under the auspices of the American Dental Association Center for Evidence-Based Dentistry. Originally published in 2010 , the review aimed to assess the frequency of non-odontogenic dentoalveolar pain six months or more after endodontic therapy. The summariser notes the that both English and non-English language articles were [read the full story…]
The authors of this study set out to look into the issue of behaviour associated with pain in people with learning disabilities being misinterpreted as reflecting psychopathology. The authors worked with caregivers of 123 children and young people to examine whether psychopathology altered pain behaviour. They asked the caregivers to complete a checklist, the ‘Non-Communicating [read the full story…]
The aim of this study was to determine whether in patients diagnosed with pulpal necrosis and associated periapical radiolucency with moderate to severe preoperative pain ibuprofen or ibuprofen/acetaminophen was more effective for postoperative endodontic pain. 71 patients with a symptomatic tooth with a pulpal diagnosis of necrosis and moderate to severe pain at the time [read the full story…]
This critical summary of a systematic review published in 2010 was prepared under the auspices of the American Dental Association Center for Evidence-Based Dentistry. The original review was addressing the question of whether intraoral orthopaedic appliances reduce pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders affecting muscle and joint (TMJD) compared to subjects receiving placebo control, no [read the full story…]
In 2009, researchers in Surrey completed an audit of pain recognition and management within the learning disability services there. One of the key recommendations from that audit was that staff in learning disability services should receive training in pain recognition and management. As a result, nearly 200 services in the locality (from an invitation list [read the full story…]
This systematic review was first published in 2010 The American Dental Association Centre for Evidence-based Dentistry has now published a critical summary of this review. They found the review to be comprehensive using STROBE criteria to assess study quality.Eighteen of the 26 studies were prospective. However they noted that the reviewers did not report the [read the full story…]
Many people with dementia experience pain, but often find it difficult to communicate this to their carers and the pain is therefore manifested as agitation instead. A randomised controlled trial published in the British Medical Journal looks at a systematic approach to the treatment of pain, to see if it can reduce agitation in people with [read the full story…]
Root canal procedures are commonly believed to be the most painful dental treatment yet only 17% have described it as their most painful dental experience. The aim of this review was to determine the influence of root canal treatment on pain prevalence and severity and estimate the prevalence and severity of pre-treatment, treatment, and post-treatment [read the full story…]
This article reports the findings of an audit carried out in Surrey to look at pain recognition and management with people with learning disabilities. The authors looked at what people with learning disabilities understood and experienced when they had pain, compared to what was reported as good practice in the literature. The authors found that [read the full story…]
