This cluster randomised controlled trial looked at changes in knowledge and attitudes in care homes following the introduction of an oral health care protocol. Significant improvements in knowledge were seen but no changes in attitudes.
This review update includes 23 new studies comparing the effects of antibiotic therapy adjunctive to scaling and root planning for periodontal disease. While some additional benefit was shown the authors could not establish definitive conclusions and guidelines regarding their use.
Periodontal dressings have been used following periodontal surgery this review looks at their use following non-surgical periodontal treatment and suggest that there may be some benefit . However, only 3 small studies were included so more high quality studies are needed to confirm these findings.
This review of mouthwash use in patients having fixed banded orthodontic treatment included 15 small studies and suggests that they reduce plaque levels. However the clinical relevance of the findings are uncertain and larger well conducted studies are needed.
This review included 17 studies and 843 patients. A wide range of cytokines/chemokines were assessed but the available evidence is not sufficient to prove that there are distinct differences between patients with aggressive periodontitis and those with chronic periodontitis.
This review included 17 studies the majority (12) of which were in vitro; and all at risk of bias to greater or lesser extent. The results suggest that glycine powder air polishing had less potential for harm of oral hard and soft tissues than sodium bicarbonate powders.
Twelve observational studies were included in this review which suggested that lip and tongue piercings increased the risk of gum and tooth damage . The relative risk for tooth damage with lip piercings was 1.33 (95%CI; 0.74 to 2.41) and 2.44 (95%CI;1.35 to 4.41) for tongue piercings.
This review focused on patients perception of air polishing for periodontal treatment. Nine studies involving 291 patients were identified suggesting that polishing with powders consisting of glycine seems to be associated with less discomfort during non-surgical periodontal therapy, that is supra- and subgingival air polishing.
This study compared the diagnostic accuracy of dental screening by hygiene-therapists with dentists. The results show that they could be used to screen for caries and periodontal disease. This could allow for a change in the traditional model of dental care seen in the UK.
In this small trial the use of either an 8% arginine desensitising paste or prophy paste reduced dentine hypersensitivity after scaling but the arginine base paste was significantly better than the standard prophy paste.