Dentures: techniques and materials for final impressions

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9 RCTs were included in this Cochrane review of different final-impression techniques and materials for complete and removable partial dentures. The available evidence for the relative benefits of different denture fabrication techniques and final-impression materials is limited and is of low or very low quality.

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Root canal treatment – irrigant activation techniques to remove smear layer and debris?

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Kenny Strain looks at this new review of in-vitro studies examining irrigant activation techniques during root canal treatment. The findings suggest improvemed removal of smear layer and debris. However the impact on clinical outcomes needs further investigation.

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Autotransplantation of teeth to the anterior maxilla?

shutterstock_44225872 Accurate typodont teeth

This review of the success rates for autotransplantation of teeth into the anterior maxilla includes 17 studies. While the findings suggest high survival rates there is a lack of agreement of success criteria and the quality of the evidence is low.

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Digital impressions- faster or slower than conventional procedures?

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In his debut blog Kenny Strain considers a new review which compares the working times for digital versus conventional impressions as well as patient centered outcomes. The review suggest a patient preference for the digital approach.

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Complete dentures: which occlusal scheme is best?

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17 studies (11 RCTs) were included in this review of occlusal schemes for complete dentures suggesting that bilateral balanced occlusion does not confer better quality of life/satisfaction or masticatory performance and muscle activity.

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Primary teeth: which restorative material last longer?

PMC 2

This review of the longevity of posterior restoration in primary teeth included 31 studies. composite resin had the lowest annual failure rate while stainless steel crowns had the highest success rate. The studies all have a high risk of bias so the findings should be interpreted cautiously.

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Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART)

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15 RCTs were included in this Cochrane review of Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) comparing with conventional treatment for managing dental caries lesions in the primary and permanent teeth provided low quality evidence that ART using H-GIC may have a higher risk of restoration failure in primary teeth.

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Metal-free fixed dental prosthesis – insufficient evidence to support or refute effectiveness

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Only 9 small RCTs were included in this Cochrane review of metal-free materials for prosthodontic restorations providing insufficient evidence to support or refute the effectiveness of metal-free materials for fixed prosthodontic treatment over metal-ceramic or other type of standard restorations.

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Denture hygiene practices

shutterstock_28911784 False teeth

25 studies were included in this review of denture hygiene practices. Mechanical interventions in conjunction with chemical agents were the most effective, Denture brushing was the most common patient practice.

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Shortened dental arch: does prosthetic treatment have a positive impact?

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This small trial compared the restoration of the posterior reduced dental arch with either a denture or no denture. They found greater satisfaction and quality of life in the no denture group.

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