Orthodontic ligation methods and biofilm formation

iStock_000002551343XSmall colourful braces on teeth

This review comparing elastomeric ligation with self-ligation and steel wire ligation for orthodontic appliances and their effect on clinical outcomes included 11 RCTs. The findings suggest no significant differences although the trials were small with a majority at high risk of bias.

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Clarithromycin as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal treatment

plaque,calculus,periodontal disease

This review of systemic or locally delivered clarithromycin as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal therapy included 7 small RCTs, 4 RCTS related to systemic use and 3RCTS for local application. The findings provide moderate certainty evidence suggesting locally delivered clarithromycin significantly improves treatment outcome

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Chronic periodontitis: Efficacy of adjunctive antimicrobials

Many drugs are licensed for use in Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), but it is unclear what works best.

This review of the efficacy of antimicrobials adjunctive to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. 21 RCTs were included with the findings showing that amoxicillin and metronidazole had the largest statistical benefit. Whether this benefit is a clinically important benefit is a wider question.

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Boric acid as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal therapy?

gum disease, scale and polish

Non-surgical periodontal treatment is the mainstay of treatment for the management of periodontitis. A number of adjunctive treatments have been used to improve outcomes including, local and systematic antibiotics and photodynamic therapy.  It has been suggested that boric acid may be beneficial as boron compounds have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and immune regulatory effects and beneficial effects [read the full story…]

Smoking and its impact on non-surgical periodontal therapy

gum disease, scale and polish

This review of the impact of smoking on clinical outcomes of non-surgical periodontal treatment included 17 cohort studies of whihc 11 were prospective. The findings suggest statistically significant smaller improvements in the smoking that non-smoking group. However, any differences are modest and my not be clinically important.

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Powered toothbrushes and plaque control in orthodontic patients

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Typically, fixed appliance orthodontic treatment can last 18-24 months. As the presence of orthodontic appliance encourages plaque accumulation the maintenance of good oral hygiene is important is prevent adverse oral health outcomes.  The small head sizes of powered toothbrushes are considered to assist effective oral hygiene and have been sown to benefit oral health. The [read the full story…]

Photodynamic therapy as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal treatment

iStock_000001604217XSmall dental laser

This review of the adjunctive effects of lasers or antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) to non-surgical periodontal treatment included 17 RCTs. The studies were small and hetrogeneous including just 701 patients in total and of low quality providing very limited evidence.

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Chlorhexidine chip as adjunct to scaling and root planing in patients with chronic periodontitis

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This review of sub-gingival chlorhexidine chips as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in patients with chronic periodontitis included 15 RCTs involving 620 patients in total. Findings suggest an additional improvement with adjunctive use of chlorhexidine chips.

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Chronic periodontitis: pocket elimination after osseous resective surgery

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4 RCTs involving 96 patients were included in this review of osseous resective surgery (ORS) in the treatment of residual periodontal defects.
The findings suggest some benefit from ORS but they should be interpreted cautiously because of the limited number of small studies.

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Antiseptics as adjuncts to nonsurgical periodontal treatment

shutterstock_113989924  - periodontitis

This review of the effectiveness of adjunctive local antiseptics to conventional scaling and root planning (SRP) included 12 RCTs only 3 of whihc were considered to be at low risk of bias. While the findings suggest some benefit from the use of antiseptics with a sustained-release delivery the limited quality of the included studies means that the findings should be interpreted cautiously.

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