Mark-Steven Howe looks at this review of the association between obturation extent and final treatment outcome of root canal treatment. Twenty two studies were included with 11 contributing to the meta-analysis suggestign that obturation extent may have an effect.
This review of the evidence of bleeding events following invasive oral procedures in patients using direct anticoagulant agents (DOACs) identified 21 studies but no RCTs. The review found no important differences in bleeding events in patients who continued versus patients who discontinued DOAC therapy.
This review of the effectiveness of chlorhexidine mouthwash with an anti-discoloration system (ADS) is effective in preventing extrinsic tooth surface discoloration included 13 RCTs with the findings suggesting that ADS reduces staining but did not affect its properties with respect to gingival inflammation and plaque scores.
This review of the efficacy of scaling and root planning (SRP) and SRP + adjuvant treatments in improving glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic periodontitis included 14 RCTs suggesting some benefit in the short term.
This review of whether toothbrushing-based oral health measures, performed in intensive care units, can reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) included 12 RCTs with the findings suggesting a positive effect.
This Cochrane review update of the effectiveness of school dental screening programmes on overall oral health status and use of dental services included 7 RCTs providing very low-certainty evidence that is insufficient to allow us to draw conclusions about whether there is a role for traditional school dental screening in improving dental attendance.
There is an ongoing debate about the management of patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma and clinically negative cervical lymph nodes. Some clinicians favour preventive elective neck dissection (END) which although is linked with favourable survival has an adverse effect on quality of life while others adopt a wait and watch policy. The aim [read the full story…]
This review of of the effects of oral supplementation on the prevention and/or treatment of oral mucositis in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy included 12 RCTs and suggest that Zinc supplements may be beneficial.
This review comparing the efficacy of Cox-2 inhibitors with ibuprofen after third molar removal included 12 RCTs suggesting that COX-2 inhibotors and Ibuprofen provide similar pain relief at 6, 8, and 12 h after third molar removal.
This review of progression rates in the primary and permanent dentition included 43 studies the majority in permanent teeth(32) providing an estimate of caries incidence rate of 0.11 (95%CI; 0.09–0.13) per person- year at risk.