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.
[read the full story...]Maxillary sinus augmentation – relative performance of available biomaterials and the challenge of small studies
Mark Steven Howe takes a detailed look at this Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) assessing the relative performance of diffferent biomaterials used for maxillary sinus augmentation. 34 RCTs with 28 different treatment options providing a large number of potential pairwise comparisons although only a small number used direct data. The findings suggest little difference beween the various biomaterials but the available studies are small with only 5 being at low risk of bias.
[read the full story...]Osteoradionecrosis of the jaws: Prevention in adult patients with head and neck cancer
This Cochrane review of interventions for preventing osteoradionecrosis of the jaws in adults with head and neck cancer undergoing curative or adjuvant (i.e. non-palliative) radiotherapy included 4 RCTs. The limited quality of the available studies means evidence regarding the interventions evaluated in this review is uncertain.
[read the full story...]Platelet-rich fibrin and third molar surgery outcomes
This review of the effectiveness of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) in reducing postoperative complications of third molar surgery included 10 small RCTs suggesting that PRF may reduce but not prevent some complications.
[read the full story...]Platelet Rich Fibrin as a biomaterial in oral surgery
This blog on a review of the efficacy of platelet rich fibrin (PRF) in oral surgery procedures was prepared by MSc Students from @UClanDentistry during a workshop with the @TheDentalElf. The review includes 30 small studies of limited quality more high quality studies are needed to assess effectiveness.
[read the full story...]Periodontal infrabony defects: does autologous platelet concentrates (APC) improve surgical outcomes
38 RCTs were included in this Cochrane review of the effects of autologous platelet concentrates (APC) used as an adjunct to periodontal surgery. Very low quality evidence was found for two approaches involving open flap debridement.
[read the full story...]Temporomandibular disorders: Are intra-articular injections with platelet-rich plasma effective?
This review of the effectiveness of intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in temporomandibular disorders included only 6 low quality RCTs providing very weak evidence for a potential benefit from PRP injection.
[read the full story...]Third molar extraction – does platelet-rich fibrin improve outcomes?
6 studies were identified for this review of platelet-rich fibrin to improve outcomes after third molar extraction. The studies were small with contradictory findings so further high quality studies are needed.
[read the full story...]Regenerative endodontics in non-vital immature permanent teeth
This review of regenerative endodontics for non-vital immature permanent teeth included 14 studies. Although suggesting good outcomes overall they were of low quality with a high risk of bias. Larger high quality studies are needed.
[read the full story...]Tooth socket preservation using autologous platelet concentrates
33 studies were included in this review of the effectiveness of autologous platelet concentrates (APCs) in the preservation of fresh extraction sockets. The studies were mainly small and of less than 6 months duration suggesting a positive effect.
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