Cranio-mandibular manual therapy for temporomandibular disorders

TMJ, Temporomandibular

This review of cranio-mandibular manual therapy (CMMT) on pain and maximum mouth opening in people with temporomandibular disorders included 6 RCTs. While the available evidence supports the use of CMMT it is of very low quality so should be interpreted cautiously.

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Metastatic lesions in the oral and maxillofacial region

Patients with cancer and comorbid depression have worse anxiety, pain, fatigue, and functioning than do other patients with cancer.

This review of metastatic neoplasms in the oral cavity included 217 observational studies from 33 countries. The 348 cases identified arose from 29 primary sites the most common being lung (21%) and breast (12%).

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Internal bleaching of endodontically treated discoloured teeth

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This review of different bleaching agents used for internal bleaching of endodontically treated discoloured teeth included 8 studies. While the findings suggest all agents had a positive effect the quality of the avaiiable studies is low so the findings should be interpreted cautiously.

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Dental students, Depression and Covid-19

Medical students are less likely to seek professional support despite higher levels of mental illness. 

In this blog Mark-Steven Howe takes a look at two recent systematic reviews relating to depression in dental students. One review looked at levels of depression before the covid pandemic and one investigates depression during the pandemic.

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Malic acid spray for treating xerostomia

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This review of the efficacy of topical sialogogue spray containing malic acid 1% for treating xerostomia included 5 RCTs involving 244 patients. While the findings suggested a benefit the available studies are small, of short duration and none are at low risk of bias.

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Anaesthetic techniques for mandibular posterior teeth with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis

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This review of the most effective method of anaesthesia for mandibular posterior teeth with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis included 22 RCTs. The findings suggest that buccal infiltraion and inferior alveolar nerve block ,Vazirani-Akinosi nerve block and introsseus injections performed better but the evidence was only of low to very low certainty.

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Palatally displaced canines: Procedures to promote eruption

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This Cochrane review update of interceptive procedures included 4 RCTs to promote the eruption of palatally displaced permanent canines (PDCs) involving a total of 199 patients. The findings indicate that extraction of the primary canine man increase the the proportion of erupted PDCs but the evidence is very uncertain.

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Posterior crossbites – orthodontic treatments

Orthodontic

This Cochrane review update of the effects of different orthodontic treatments for posterior crossbites included 31 RCTS eight of whihc were at low risk of bias. They found that for children iaged 7 to 11 years old), quad-helix and expansion plates were more beneficial than no treatment for correcting posterior crossbites.

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Tooth crowding in children: Which orthodontic intervention?

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This Cochrane review of the effects of orthodontic interventions for preventing or correcting crowded teeth in children included 24 RCTs. A wide range of interventions were assessed typically is small single studies so the available evidence is of very low certainty.

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Chemotherapy for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer

Chemotherapy

This review of whether chemotherapy, in addition to radiotherapy and/or surgery for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer, results in improved overall survival included 100 studies. the findings indicated some benefit only when used in a few specific circumstances.

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