We have posted previously about increasing concerns about misuse of tobacco and alcohol amongst people with mild to moderate learning disabilities, with one review in the United States suggesting that people with learning disabilities were less likely to receive or remain in treatment. The authors of this systematic review were interested in looking at interventions [read the full story…]
Individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) have shortened life expectancies compared to the general population. This is partly down to higher rates of chronic physical illness. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among patients using mental health services. It is assumed that interventions used to reduce CVD are similarly effective in patients with [read the full story…]
Lower rates of cervical and breast cancer screening have been reported in women with learning disabilities when compared to the general population. The researchers in this Canadian Study set out to look at whether there were any differences in the rates of cervical and breast screening between women with learning disabilities and those without. As [read the full story…]
Varnishes have been is use as a delivery system for topical fluoride since the 1960s. Their effectiveness was highlighted to a greater extent following the publication of the first version of this Cochrane review in 2002. Since then use of fluoride varnish has been recommended in evidence-based guidance from SIGN, the SDCEP and the American [read the full story…]
Fluoridated salt has for many years been proposed as a vehicle for the prevention of caries. A 2010 systematic review by Yengopal et al indicated that salt fluoridation could reduce caries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of school-based and domestic distribution of fluoridated salt on caries increment in schoolchildren residing [read the full story…]
Cognitive decline describes increasing problems with memory, comprehension, language and mental agility. Mild cognitive impairment means that a person has cognitive decline beyond that which might be expected for their age, but generally do not experience problems with everyday living (Alzheimer’s Society, 2012). Dementia has similar symptoms, but these are more severe and people with [read the full story…]
The release of Bisphenol-A (BPA) from dental resins has attracted attention from researchers, and it has been described as an endocrine disruptor chemical. The aim of this review was to assess the short- and long-term release of BPA in human tissues (saliva, blood serum and urine) after treatment with dental pit and fissure sealants. Searches [read the full story…]
This latest critical summary prepared under the auspices of the ADA Center for Evidence Based Dentistry looks at a 2012 meta-analysis by Kühnisch et al that looks at the retention rates of pit and fissure sealants. The results of the meta-analysis suggest that resin-based sealants have the highest retention rates at 5-years. The appraiser notes [read the full story…]
There is substantive evidence from systematic reviews for the effectiveness of fluoride varnish (FV) in caries prevention (Marhino et al 2002). The aim of this study (Divaris et al 2012) was to assess whether there were differential effects for FV according to tooth surface and baseline pathology. This was a secondary analysis of a cluster-randomised [read the full story…]
Dental caries is a chronic disease that usually progresses slowly. The demineralisation of the tooth seen in the early stages of dental decay are reversible so progression to cavitation can be prevented. The aim of this review was to appraise the evidence for the efficacy of nonsurgical caries preventive methods to arrest or reverse the [read the full story…]
