British dental journal
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British dental journal · May 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialA double-blind placebo-controlled study to assess the efficacy of a compound analgesic to prevent postoperative pain following oral surgery.
It has been suggested that small doses of opioid drugs given prior to surgery can reduce postoperative pain. This study was designed to compare the effectiveness of a paracetamol/codeine combination and paracetamol alone in preventing the pain following surgical removal of impacted third molar teeth under general anaesthesia. Analysis of the results showed no statistical differences between treatment groups when compared with placebo. We suggest that the opioids may not be the best drugs available to prevent the moderate to severe pain present following some oral surgery procedures.
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Although most anaesthetic textbooks cite dental injury as a complication of endotracheal intubation few studies have examined the extent and nature of the problem. Such damage however, formed the basis for one-third of all confirmed or potential anaesthetic claims notified to the Medical Protection Society between 1977 and 1986. This article seeks to explore the extent of the problem, outline predisposing factors, summarise current prophylactic measures and make recommendations to reduce the overall incidence. ⋯ Where he/she considers there to be a higher than average risk of dental damage occurring during intubation a more specialised examination should be conducted by a dental surgeon. It may, where appropriate, be possible for remedial dental treatment to be carried out and customised mouth guards to be constructed prior to the operation. Obviously such recommendations have certain financial implications and would have to be subject to controlled cost-benefit analysis before their widespread application.
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Following a survey of BDJ readers in 1992 the BDJ was redesigned and relaunched. In mid-1995 a follow-up survey was conducted. Its findings show big improvements in readers' assessment of the design, style and content of the journal.
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British dental journal · Feb 1996
Purchaser/provider: what does it mean and how might it affect GDPs?
Purchaser/provider in dentistry has been talked about so much of late, but while the hospital and community dental services have on many occasions felt the full thrust of the NHS changes, GDPs currently remain largely unaffected. This is likely to change, however, and so it seems appropriate to look back into the short history of this particular management tool and describe what it is, how it relates to health care in general and how it might work in general practice dentistry.