New Cochrane Protocols March 2012

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March sees another two protocols registered with the Cochrane Oral Health Group.  The protocols are available on the Cochrane Library Parnell C, Gugnani N, Sherriff A, James P, Beirne PV. Non-fluoride topical remineralising agents containing calcium and/or phosphate for controlling dental caries (Protocol). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2012, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD009732. DOI: [read the full story…]

Evidence for dietary advice aiming to change sugar consumption is poor

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Sugars, particularly sucrose, are the most important dietary aetiological cause of dental caries. The evidence establishing sugars as an aetiological factor in dental caries is substantial.  This Cochrane review aimed to look more broadly at whether one-to-one dietary interventions were effective in changing dietary behaviour, as the dental care setting is an appropriate place to [read the full story…]

Promising results from minimal intervention approach to proximal caries in young adults.

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There is increasing interest in non-surgical approaches to the management of dental caries to preserve tooth structure.  The aim of this study was to compare the effect of infiltrating vs. sealing proximal caries lesions against placebo after 3 years. The study was a split mouth design conducted in young adults in Colombia.  Individuals with 3 [read the full story…]

Hall technique for managing carious primary molars shows good long term outcomes.

Photograph of carious teeth

There is a growing literature supporting caries management options where caries is sealed in beneath restorations or sealants. The aim of this trial to compare long-term (at 5 yrs) outcomes for carious primary molars managed by GDPs’ standard conventional restorative methods (control) with the Hall Technique in general dental practice.   The outcomes at 2 years [read the full story…]

Calcium hydroxide effective for partial pulpectomy in primary molars

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Pulpotomy  is one of a number of approaches (indirect pulp capping, direct pulp capping, pulpotomy, pulpectomy) for managing carious lesions approaching the pulp of primary teeth with the aim of retaining  the tooth in a symptom free state until it is lost naturally thus avoiding an extraction.  Formocresol has been used for a number of [read the full story…]

Chlorhexidine is not effective in preventing coronal caries

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While dental caries has a significant impact on adults much of the research on the prevention of this common disease is focussed on children.  The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that a chlorhexidine (CHX) coating, compared with a placebo coating, reduces dental caries increment in at-risk adults over a period of [read the full story…]

Fluoride varnish can be used as an effective caries preventive measure for high-caries-risk children

Photograph of carious teeth

We recently reported on a other fluoride varnish study in a similar age group  conducted in the UK.  The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of 5% sodium fluoride (NaF) varnish application in reducing caries increments in the permanent dentition of rural Brazilian school children over the course of 12 months. Children [read the full story…]

Fluoride supplements have a preventive effect on caries in permanent teeth

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In the past 30 years most developed countries have seen a decrease in the prevalence and severity of dental caries in children, with most disease now found in children often characterised by a low socioeconomic status. The aim of this Cochrane review was to evaluate the efficacy of fluoride supplements for preventing dental caries in [read the full story…]

People who brush and floss regularly have less gum bleeding compared to toothbrushing alone

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The daily use of dental floss in addition to toothbrushing is frequently recommended for the prevention of caries and periodontal diseases. The aim of this Cochrane review was to assess the effects of flossing in addition to toothbrushing, as compared with toothbrushing alone, in the management of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults. A [read the full story…]

Treatment under general anaesthesia improved quality of life for children with early childhood caries

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Despite improvements in oral health in many countries early childhood caries (ECC) remains the most common reason for hospital admissions for paediatric patients.  Children with ECC have a lower oral-health-related quality of  life (OHRQoL).  The aim of this study was to see whether dental treatment of young Auckland children under GA improved oral-health-related quality of [read the full story…]