A new review of anti-inflammatory agents for the management of gingivitis identified 14 studies. While the various anti-inflammatory agents showed benefit, the majority of the studies were at high risk of bias, so the results should be treated with caution.
[read the full story...]
This new Cochrane review included 8 trials, involving a total of 2,876 children finding little evidence to support or refute the use of chlorhexidine varnish or gel in reducing caries or mutans streptoccoci levels.
[read the full story...]
We learnt in an earlier post about the burden of musculoskeletal conditions that osteoarthritis (OA) develops around the age of 50. Blimey some of our elves are approaching that age. What can we do to help any symptoms that start to develop? We eleves are always looking to stay fit and thought that exercise might help. But [read the full story…]
Natasha Clarke publishes her debut Mental Elf blog about a new systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the risk of neuropsychiatric adverse events associated with the smoking cessation drug varenicline.
[read the full story...]
A mean prevalence of 22% (CI: 14-30%) was found for peri-implantitis and 43% (CI: 32-54%) for peri-implant mucositis in this review which included 15 studies. However, owing to the level of heterogeneity the results should be treated with caution.
[read the full story...]
Clarissa Giebel highlights 5 new Cochrane reviews on dementia diagnosis, focusing on the Mini-Cog, IQCODE and MMSE diagnostic tests.
[read the full story...]
This review included 5 case-controlled studies only 2 of which were at low risk of bias and suggested that HIV-infected children have a higher risk of cavitated caries in their primary teeth, OR = 2.98, 95% CI; 1.59-5.59.
[read the full story...]
In this blog, Lesley Dawson considers a systematic review examining musculoskeletal Intermediate Care pathways to evaluate their effectiveness, outcomes and identify gaps in evidence.
[read the full story...]
This is an update to a review first published 10 years ago. Only 3 new studies could be added. These provide some additional evidence that there is little value in providing professional plaque removal without oral hygiene instruction.
[read the full story...]
Self injurious behaviour in people with learning disabilities, as well as causing physical harm, can have a major impact on quality of life. It is not entirely clear why people engage in self injurious behaviours, but one theory suggests that it may be connected with an opiate euphoria. If this is so, it might be that medications that blocked these opiates might impact on levels of SIB.
Here, Rachel Allen looks at a systematic review that set out to address that question.
[read the full story...]
