oral health

The optimal state of the mouth and normal functioning of the organs of the mouth without evidence of disease.

Our oral health Blogs

Obstructive sleep apnoea–Effectiveness of different mandibular advancement devices

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This review of the the effectiveness of different mandibular advancement devices for obstructive sleep apnoea included 50 RCTS. While the findins suggest that mono-bloc MADs are more effective duo-bloc devices the quality of the available evidence is very low.

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Oral hygiene for critically ill patients

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This Cochrane review updated assessing the impact of oral health measures on the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) in critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation in intensive care includes 40 RCTs and suggests that Chlorhexidine mouthwash or gel, as part of oral health measures, probably reduces the incidence of developing VAP.

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Top Dental Elf Blogs: Oct – Dec 2020

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The Dental Elf

Blogs on Hyposalivation in the elderly, powered toothbrushes for patients undergoing orthodontic treatment and the impact of smoking on the outcomes of non-surgical periodontal treatment were our most popular blogs.

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Top Dental Elf Blogs: Apr – Jun 2020

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The Dental Elf brings you daily updates of evidence-based dentistry research

Erosive tooth wear and gastro-oesophageal reflux, oral lichen planus and oro-facial manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus were popular blogs in April, May and June of 2020.

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Top Dental Elf Blogs: Jan – Mar 2020

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Our most popular blogs from January, February and March 2020 were about the FiCTION trial, local anaesthesia and factors associated with third molar surgical difficulty.

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Malocclusion, orthodontic treatment and oral health

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This review looked at both the impact of malocclusion and the impact of orthodontic treatment on oral health. While a large number of studies met the inclusion criteria the heterogeneity of the studies their outcome measures and a a lack of studies to specifically address the questions of this review.

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Smoking and its impact on non-surgical periodontal therapy

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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…]

Dental bleaching in-office: What concentration of hydrogen peroxide?

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This review of difference concentrations of hydrogen peroxide for in-office dental bleaching on colour change and bleaching sensitivity included 25 RCTs. The findings indicate that low and medium hydrogen peroxide concentrations had lower risk and intensity of bleaching sensitivity and no difference in colour change efficacy compared with high concentrations.

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Powered toothbrushes for patients undergoing fixed orthodontic appliance treatment?

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This review of the effect of powered and manual toothbrushes on oral health during fixed applinace orthodontic treatment included 7 RCTs. The findings suggest no diference between the toothbrush types. However the quality of the evidence is low and the studies are of short duration.

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