Acute pain management following dental extraction

volodymyr-hryshchenko-m1Hq4ibP9rc-unsplash

This review and network meta-analysis (NMA) of pharmacological treatments for the management of pain subsequent to simple and surgical tooth extraction included 85 RCTs. There was moderate- and high-certainty evidence that for surgical dental extractions that ibuprofen 200 to 400 mg plus acetaminophen 500 to 1,000 mg was the most effective for pain relief.

[read the full story...]

Alveolar osteitis and oral contraceptive use

Anti-epileptic drugs can influence the effectiveness of contraceptive drugs

This review assessing the risk of alveolar osteitis (AO) in in oral contraceptive users included 17 mainly observational studies. The findings showed an increased risk of developing AO in female oral contraceptive (OCP) users, RR = 1.98 (95%CI:1.42 to 2.76) compared to female non-OCP users

[read the full story...]

Alveolar osteitis – local management interventions

shutterstock_84141019

This Cochrane review update looked at local interventions used for the prevention and treatment of alveolar osteitis (dry socket) following tooth extraction. 49 RCTs were included providing moderate certainty evidence for chlorhexidine rinses and gel for probably reduction in dry sockets.

[read the full story...]

Metronidazole for treatment of non-periodontal dental infections

shutterstock_32144176

This review of whether metronidazole used as monotherapy or in addition to a β-lactam antibiotic offers any additional benefit over β-lactam monotherapy in non- periodontal dental infections includes 3 RCTs. The findings suggest that metronidazole does not provide superior clinical results compared to β-lactam antibiotics for the treatment of non-periodontal dental infections. However the evidence is limited and of low quality.

[read the full story...]

Tooth extraction prior to head and neck radiotherapy and osteoradionecrosis risk

shutterstock_84141019

28 mainly retrospective studies were included in this review which aimed to determine if tooth extraction prior to head and neck radiotherapy (RT )is associated with a reduced risk of developing osteoradionectosis (ORN). The findings showed a significant association of post-RT dental extractions with the risk of ORN development, odds ratio = 1.98 (95%CI: 1.17 to 3.35. However the certainty of the evidence was low to moderate.

[read the full story...]

Third molar surgery – Lingual or buccal-based flaps?

shutterstock_31846396

This review of postoperative discomfort, operative time, and wound healing in the short-term follow-up following surgical extraction of lower third molars with lingual- or buccal-based flaps included 7 RCTs. The quality of the included studies was limited and few differences were seen between the type of flaps.

[read the full story...]

Alveolar ridge preservation techniques

tooth Socket_preservation_complete

16 RCTs were included in this Cochrane review update of the effectiveness of techniques for alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) following dental extractions prior to implant placement. The findings suggest that ARP techniques may minimise the overall changes in residual ridge height and width six months after extraction, but the evidence is very uncertain

[read the full story...]

Osteoradionecrosis incidence and the timing of dental extractions

radiotherapy

This review of whether the incidence of osteoradionecrosis differed between patients who have dental extractions before or after radiotherapy (RT) included 24 studies (19 retrospective 5 prospective). While the findings suggest that the incidence is similar if extractions are undertaken before or after RT the quality of the evidence is limited.

[read the full story...]

Tooth extraction: Do antibiotics prevent complications?

The authors sought to review available literature relating to SSRI withdrawal syndromes

This Cochrane review update of the effect of systemic antibiotic prophylaxis on the prevention of infectious complications following tooth extractions included 23 studies. There was very-low certainty evidence that prophylactic antibiotics may reduce the risk of infection and dry socket following third molar extraction compared to placebo.

[read the full story...]

Alveolar ridge preservation: which grafting material?

shutterstock_2418735

This review of grafting materials for alveolar ridge preservation included 38 small RCTs. 34 different materials were investigated with the findings suggesting that no grafting material increased new bone formation between 3 and 6 months after tooth extraction.

[read the full story...]