Low quality evidence that periodontal treatment improves glycaemic control in diabetics

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This update of a 2010 Cochrane review found low quality evidence that periodontal treatment involving scaling and root planing does improve glycaemic control in people with diabetes, with a mean percentage reduction in HbA1c of 0.29% at 3-4 months, but there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that this is maintained after 4 months.

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Dental implants: smokers have poorer outcomes suggests review

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This review of the impact of smoking on dental implants had broad inclusion criteria and included 107 studies. The findings suggest smoking affects implant failure rates, incidence of postoperative infections, as well as the marginal bone loss.

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Professional plaque removal more effective with oral hygiene instruction

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This is an update to a review first published 10 years ago. Only 3 new studies could be added. These provide some additional evidence that there is little value in providing professional plaque removal without oral hygiene instruction.

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Periodontal disease: compliance with treatment improves outcomes

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When regularly compliant periodontal patients were compared with erratic compliers in this systematic review, they were found to have significantly lower risk of tooth loss during supportive periodontal treatment

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Periodontal treatment using air polishing had good patient perception

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This review focused on patients perception of air polishing for periodontal treatment. Nine studies involving 291 patients were identified suggesting that polishing with powders consisting of glycine seems to be associated with less discomfort during non-surgical periodontal therapy, that is supra- and subgingival air polishing.

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Peri-implantitis: little evidence that particular non-surgical treatments are better than debridement alone

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This Bayesian network meta-analysis only included 11 small studies of overall low quality. While the greatest reduction in PPD was seen with debridement in conjunction with antibiotics the difference are small so it is difficult to conclude that any particular non-surgical treatment for peri-implantitis performs better than debridement alone

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Chronic periodontitis: review suggests that Er:YAG laser may provide short term improvement

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This review compares the clinical outcomes of scaling and root planing with Er:YAG laser either as an alternative or as an adjuvant in patients with chronic periodontitis. 12 small trials were included and similar outcomes were seen with both treatments at 3 months . However hetrogeneity in teh studies and the small sample size mean that these finding should be interpreted with caution.

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Periodontal treatment: another review finds that it has short term benefits for glycaemic control

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This is the most recent review of the link between periodontal treatment and glycaemic control in diabetic. In included 10 trials involving 1135 patients and found and improvement in Hb1Ac levels at 3 months but not at 6 months.

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Can treating periodontitis help prevent heart disease?

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Periodontal disease is associated with cardiovascular disease. This Cochrane review looks at whether treating periodontal disease can prevent further heart disease. Unfortunately the available evidence is limited to a single trial at high risk of bias.

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