This review comparing the effect of CAD/CAM-based and conventional fixed retainers on the stability of treatment outcomes and periodontal health in patients undergoing orthodontic retention using fixed retainers includeds 7 RCTs. The studies are of moderate size and relatively short duration (6 to 12months) and there are quality concerns so the findings should be viewed cautiously.
This review of the level of toothbrush contamination and the factors affecting contamination in the general population included 15 studies. The findings show that toothbrush contamination occurs after first use and rises with continuing use. However, there is little evidence of significant adverse events from current practices.
This review of oil pulling compared to chlorhexidine and other mouthwashes in improving the plaque, gingival and bacteria count parameters included 25 RCTs. However, the studies are modest in size of short duration and all except one study were considered to be at high risk of bias. Consequently the available evidence is of very low certainty and should be interpreted cautiously.
Ross Nedoma summarises the biggest review yet on exercise for depression, which strengthens the case for making exercise a key component in our fight against depression.
This review assessing the effect of incorporating the dental water jet (DWJ) into the oral hygiene routines of orthodontic patients included 6 RCTs. While the findings suggest a benefit from the use of the DWJ the limited number of small studies none of which were at low risk of bias means the findings should be interpreted cautiously.
This review of the prevalence of oral leukoplakia reported from 1996 to 2022,by continent, definition, age, and living habits included 69 studies. The findings provided a global pooled estimate for prevalence of 3.41% (95%CI: 2.65 to 4.26%).
This review of caries experience in adult patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) compared diabetics to individuals without DM included 13 mainly cross-sectional studies. The findings suggest higher DMF scores in patietns with DM.
This review of antibiotic prophylactic treatments in relation to the risk of developing dry socket (DS) and site-specific infection (SSI) after lower third molar extraction included 16 RCTs. Antibiotic did reduce the risk of DS and SSI in health patients but the number needed to treat (NNT) was high so the use should be considered only after a careful assessment of an individual patient’s risk.
This review to assess the prevalence in bruxism in patients with Down Syndrome included 8 small studies. The studies were hetrogeneous with a pooled prevalence of 33% (95% CI: 22 to 45%).
This review assessing the agreement of dental caries experience between monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic twins (DZ) included 19 studies. While the findings indcate a possible a genetic influence the certainty of evidence is very low so the findings should be interpreted very cautiously.