Enamel demineralisation during multi-bracketed fixed orthodontic treatment

iStock_000002551343XSmall colourful braces on teeth

This overview of systematic reviews of evidence for the prevention of enamel demineralization during fixed appliance orthodontic treatment included 29 reviews. Most of the reviews were considered to have methodological issues with the findings suggesting that professional fluorides, sealants, reminders, and lasers might be useful interventions to prevent enamel demineralization.

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Sealants for primary molar teeth

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This Cochrane review of the effects of sealants compared to no sealant or a different sealant in preventing pit and fissure caries on the occlusal surfaces of primary molars in children. Nine small RCTs were included providing limited evidence of low to very low certainty.

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Treatments for cavitated or dentine carious lesions

tooth diagramme, caries

This Cochrane review of interventions to treat carious lesions conventionally considered to require restorations in primary or permanent teeth with vital pulps included 27 RCTs. Compared with conventional treatment there were lower numbers of failures with the Hall technique and selective excavation (SE) in primary teeth and with SE and stepwise removal in permanent teeth.

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Caries prevention in children: Fluoride varnishes or sealants?

Fissure sealant

11 RCTs were included in this Cochrane review which looked at the relative effectiveness of fissure sealants compared with fluoride varnishes for the prevention of caries in the occlusal surfaces of permanent teeth.

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Dentine Hypersensitivity: Which agents are most effective?

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This review of treatments used to treat dentine hypersensitivity. 254 different agents were tested with all showing some effectiveness in short term.

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White spot lesion prevention during orthodontic treatment

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This review of the efficacy of preventive interventions against the development of white spot lesions (WSLs) during fixed appliance orthodontic treatment included 23 RCTs tha majority of which were at high risk of bias. The findings suggest some benefit from sealants and fluoride varnishes but more high quality research is neeeded.

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Top Dental Elf Blogs: Sep – Dec 2018

The National Elf Service aims to close the gap between research and practice.

If this your idea of fun, do drop us a line.

Between September and December 2018 our most popular blogs considered guidelines for non-restorative options for caries management , orthodontic management of the developing dentition and aligners for orthodontic treatment.

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Carious lesions: guidelines for non-restorative treatments.

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This evidence-based clinical practice guideline on the non-restorative treatments for carious lesions in primary and permanent teeth from the American Dental Association provides 11 recommendations.

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Micro-invasive treatments for proximal caries

shutterstock_54584944  - mixed dentition

Seven RCTs were included in this review of of micro-invasive interventions for non-cavitated proximal caries suggesting that resin infiltration is effective in arresting caries progression.

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Dental restorations: repair or replace?

Filling -amalgam

10 studies were included in this review of the effectiveness of minimally invasive repair or replacement of dental restorations. The reviewers suggest that seal and refurbishment techniques did not present a significant difference in clinical longevity in comparison to the replacement technique in permanent teeth. However, both the amount and the quality of the available evidence is limited.

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