Young people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are usually given some kind of behavioural or educational intervention to help improve their overall functioning. However, in some cases, those individuals who have high levels of repetitive, obsessive-compulsive type behaviours and mood disorders are treated with drug interventions, although there is little high quality evidence to support [read the full story…]
Halitosis is an unpleasant odour that emanates from the oral cavity and can be serious enough to cause personal embarrassment. The prevalence of halitosis (bad breath or oral malodour) has been reported to be in the order of 50% although this has been questioned. The majority of cases (86%) are considered to be as a [read the full story…]
Bruxism can be classified as primary (idiopatic) or secondary (iatrogenic). While secondary bruxism is associated with medical conditions (e.g. neurologic, psychiatric, sleep disorders medication), primary bruxism ( which includes clenching and sleep bruxism ) is not. Dental treatments for bruxism include occlusion adjustment, tooth surface restoration, and orthodontic treatment. These interventions are extensive and irreversible [read the full story…]
This is a critical appraisal of a Cochrane review first published in December 2010. The appraisal was prepared under the auspices of the American Dental Associations Centre for Evidence-based Dentistry The objective of the Cochrane review was to determine if adjusting the pH of lidocaine had any effect on pain resulting from non-intravascular injections in [read the full story…]
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…]
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…]
Sadly, despite the fact that dental caries is preventable and industrial nations have seen substantial falls in recent years there are still significance numbers of children with dental caries that remains untreated. While many of these can be managed with routine care other need additional behavioural management support, sedation or for a small (but significant) [read the full story…]
Previous research has highlighted that people with autism spectrum disorders may be deficit in omega-3 fatty acids and that taking supplements may help to improve the symptoms of the condition. This new Cochrane systematic review set out to review the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids for improving core features of autism spectrum disorder (e.g. social [read the full story…]
Picture the scene: adolescent boy with an absentee father, trying to fend off a large crowd of men who occupy his house, cost him a lot in food and drink and are all determined to marry his mother. He is young, inexperienced, lacking in confidence and besieged by problems. In short, he needs a mentor. [read the full story…]
Post systems are used in the restoration of endodontically treated teeth where there has been significant loss of the clinical crown. A post provides a method to secure filing material to the tooth. The aim of this trial was to assess the survival rate of two different post systems after 5 years of service. Patients [read the full story…]
