This review of the association of oral health literacy with oral health behaviours and dental treatment related outcomes included 25 studies the majority being cross-sectional in nature. The available evidence is limited and further high quality studies are needed.
[read the full story...]Supervised toothbrushing for children and adolescents
Four studies were included in this review of supervised toothbrushing in children and adolescents. The evidence identified provides no conclusive evidence. However previous Cochrane reviews have suggested benefits on caries from supervised brushing.
[read the full story...]Motivational Interviewing for adolescent oral health
This large well-conducted 3-arm cluster RCT compared motivational interviewing(MI) with prevailing health education. Both MI arms of the study were more effective in eliciting positive changes in adolescents’ oral health behaviours and preventing dental caries after 12 months.
[read the full story...]School-based oral health education only has short term impact
This review of school-based oral health education included 12 trials and found it was effective in reducing plaque accumulation over a short period. there was no long-term evidence on the effectiveness.
[read the full story...]Toothbrushing: Are three heads better than one?
This review of the effectiveness of 3-headed toothbrushes included 15 studies describing 18 comparisons. The quality of the available evidence was low an no differences were seen with self-performed brushing but a benefit was suggested for plaque removal for care-dependent individuals.
[read the full story...]Periodontitis: risk increased by poor oral hygiene
50 observational studies were included in this review of the effect of oral hygiene on periodontitis. The data suggests that poor oral hygiene increases the risk of periodontitis by around two- to five-fold compared with good OH. However the quality of the data is considered to be of low quality.
[read the full story...]Toothbrushes: are tapered or end-rounded filaments best?
This review of the effect of tapered or end-rounded filament toothbrushes on clinical parameters included just 5 RCTs providing inconclusive evidence to recommend one type over another.
[read the full story...]Computer games for oral health education in young children
This small RCT of a computer game to deliver oral health education in high caries risk children and families was highly satisfactory to users. Improvements in knowledge were demonstrated is the short term > however there was a high drop out rate an further studies are needed to assess change sin other groups and longer term benefits.
[read the full story...]Periodontal treatment: outcomes from long-term conservative management
In patients with moderate to advanced periodontitis this longitudinal study demonstrated that long-term tooth retention is possible for compliant patients using a non-regenerative treatment concept.
[read the full story...]Oral care for critically ill ventilated patients
38 RCTs were included in this Cochrane review update of oral health care in ventilated patients. High quality evidence was found to show that chlorhexidine mouthwash or gel reduces the risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill patients from 25% to about 19%.
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