Significant side effects appear rare when using oral midazolam for behaviour management in children and adolescents requiring dental treatment

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Unfortunately dental caries remains a significant problem in children with some young children requiring multiple procedures. Traditionally this was managed with general anesthesia, increasingly sedation and behaviour management are seen as potential alternative approaches and a 2010 guideline from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) suggested that midazolam could be used for [read the full story…]

Atraumatic restorative treatment had similar survival rates to conventional approaches in primary teeth but evidence limited

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Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) involves the removal of so softened carious enamel and dentine with hand instruments and filling the cavity with a adhesive restorative material. Typically this is a high-viscous glass ionomer cement (GIC).   This approach was about 25 years ago  to provide care in less industrialised areas with high disease levels but is [read the full story…]

Limited review suggests no difference in survival rates for calcium phosphate-coated dental implants and non-coated implants

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The use of dental implants has become relatively common and systematic reviews have shown good survival rates for a number of implant systems. However, there is a profusion of systems available with a range of surface modifications.  The main aim of this review was to evaluate the long-term survival data of calcium phosphate-coated dental implants [read the full story…]

New Cochrane Protocols for December 2012

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December brings two new protocols to the Cochrane Library from the Cochrane Oral Health Group. The first of these:-  Liu JLY, Walsh T, Kerr AR, Lingen M, Brocklehurst P, Ogden G, Warnakulasuriya S, Scully C. Diagnostic tests for oral cancer and potentially malignant disorders in patients presenting with clinically evident lesions (Protocol). Cochrane Database of [read the full story…]

No reliable evidence of benefit from extracting primary canine teeth for correcting poorly aligned permanent canines

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In a small proportion of children (1-3%) the upper permanent canine tooth is diverted into the roof on the mouth.  Treatment of this displacement can be complex and it is considered that the early removal of the primary canine tooth may improve the position f the developing permanent successor. The aim of this Cochrane review [read the full story…]

Moderate evidence that chlorhexidine rinse or gel provides a benefit in preventing dry socket

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Teeth are extracted every day in dental surgeries throughout the world because of tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease. Alveolar osteitis (dry socket) is a complication that can follow an extraction with estimates of its incidence ranging from <1-37.5%.  Typically a blood clot is absent in the socket and the patients have pain in and [read the full story…]

CBT and other psychotherapies can help children with PTSD in the short-term, but more evidence is needed according to Cochrane

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Nearly a year ago I blogged about a promising but small RCT, which showed that Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy may help young children with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The blog generated a fair bit of feedback from readers and so I’ve been on the look out ever since for a systematic review that brings [read the full story…]

Weak evidence shows no evidence of improved root surface coverage using root surface biomodification agents

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It has been suggested that root surface biomodification (RSB) with chemical agents, improves outcomes of periodontal surgery and scaling and root planning. The aim of this review was to determine if RSB has any positive or negative effects when used before root coverage procedures? Medline and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials together with [read the full story…]

Cochrane review suggests adding promethazine to haloperidol to rapidly tranquillise psychotic patients with fewer side effects

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The hallucinations and delusions associated with psychosis can be frightening and may sometimes result in aggressive or violent behaviour. Of course, this can be incredibly challenging for the patient, but it can also be a real test for mental health staff who have to try and minimise the harm that patients do to themselves and others. Haloperidol [read the full story…]

No strong evidence available to support any differences in the clinical performance of ceramic inlays and other posterior restorations

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The use of ceramic materials to restoring posterior teeth has been increasing since the 1990s, and in 2003 a Cochrane review by Hayashi and Yeung was published .  The aim of this review was to update that 2003 review by evaluating the clinical effectiveness of ceramic inlays including all articles published since 2002. The PubMed, [read the full story…]