Dental amalgam has been the filing material for choice for more than 150 years. However, because of their aesthetics and concern over their mercury content their use has been declining. The Minamata Convention on Mercury has also proposed that their use be phased down according to local needs. The development of tooth-coloured resin composites from [read the full story…]
Dental Implants now in regular use in dental practice. However they come in an almost bewildering array of sizes and materials and with a range of surface characteristics and modifications. Many of these modifications have been developed with the aim of improving clinical performance. This update of a Cochrane review which was last refreshed in [read the full story…]
Successful orthodontic treatment requires that the patients to agree with and follow the treatment proposed. This requires the patients to keep appointments, maintaining good oral hygiene, wearing elastics, appliances and avoid damage. The aim of this review was to investigate the effectiveness of interventions to enhance adherence among orthodontic patients aged 12 to 18 years. [read the full story…]
A number of different regenerative techniques, guided tissue regeneration (GTR), bone grafting (BG) and the use of enamel matrix derivative (EMD) have been used to try and regenerate periodontal tissues. The aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness of EMD in the treatment of periodontal pockets of suprabony defects. Searches were conducted in [read the full story…]
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) can result in day-time sleepiness, neurocognitive decline and, in the long terms cardiovascular problems. While nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the standard treatment for OSA oral appliances (OAs) have been used as an alternative approach. The aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness of OAs that advanced [read the full story…]
We are seeing a move towards more conservative methods of managing caries and also an increasing need to consider the patients perspectives of treatment. This study aimed to compare children’s behaviour and pain perception when approximal dentinal caries lesions in primary molars (in children aged 3–8 years old) were managed with three treatment strategies; conventional [read the full story…]
The shortened dental arch (SDA) consisting of ten pairs of occluding anterior and premolar teeth is considered sufficient to provide good oral function. The WHO goal for developing countries of 20 functional, aesthetic natural teeth without resorting to a prosthesis is consistent with the SDA. The aim of this review was compare the functional outcomes [read the full story…]
Electronic apex locators (EALs) have used in permanent teeth since the 1960s and they have been gaining in popularity. The use of EALs in the primary dentitions was proposed in 1996. The aim of this review was to compare the accuracy of EALs in primary teeth when compared to actual root canal lengths (ARCLs). Searches [read the full story…]
Yesterday (Dental Elf 10th July 2014) we looked at a trial that compared dentures made with silicone and alginate impression materials. In a study undertaken alongside that trial the authors aimed to assess the cost effectiveness of silicone and alginate impressions for complete dentures. The cost effectiveness analysis (CEA) took the perspective of the UK [read the full story…]
While oral health has improved in many countries there is still a continuing demand for non-implant prosthodontic treatment. The aim of this trial was to whether there is a patient preference for dentures produced from alginate or silicone impressions Edentulous adults aged 18 or over who required new complete dentures were invited to participate. Those [read the full story…]
