Evidence-based dentistry
-
Evidence-based dentistry · Jan 2007
CommentTorn labial frenum in isolation not pathognomonic of physical abuse.
Searches were made for studies using Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts, Caredata (the social work and social care knowledge base), Child Data (the National Children's Bureau Database), the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, Embase, Medline, the System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe, the TRIP database (www.tripdatabase.com), Sciences Citation Index, and ISI Proceedings (covers conference papers in all scientific and technical fields). Authors were contacted where necessary. ⋯ Current literature does not support the diagnosis of abuse based on a torn labial frenum in isolation. The intra-oral hard and soft tissue should be examined in all suspected abuse cases, and a dental opinion sought where abnormalities are found.ome of the traditional and normative predictors of successful outcomes.
-
Evidence-based dentistry · Jan 2007
CommentInsufficient evidence to recommend topical lidocaine as first-line treatment for postherpetic neuralgia.
The Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group Trials Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline, Embase, LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences), SIGLE (System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe)(for conference proceedings) and Science Citation Index were searched, along with the reference lists of all eligible trials, key textbooks and previous systematic reviews. Authors of all identified trials were contacted. ⋯ There is insufficient evidence to recommend topical lidocaine as a first-line agent in the treatment of PHN with allodynia. Further research should be undertaken on the efficacy of topical lidocaine for other chronic neuropathic pain disorders, and also to compare different classes of drugs (eg, topical anaesthetics versus anti-epileptics).
-
Evidence-based dentistry · Jan 2007
CommentParacetamol is an effective drug to use for pain following oral surgery.
Studies were identified using the Cochrane trials registers of the Oral Health Group and of the Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group, along with the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline, Embase and the Current Controlled Trials Register. Handsearching included several dental journals as well as the bibliographies of relevant clinical trials and review articles for studies outside the journals searched by hand. Authors of the randomised controlled trials (RCT) identified and manufacturers of analgesic pharmaceuticals were contacted in an attempt to identify unpublished or ongoing RCT. No language restriction was applied. ⋯ Paracetamol is an effective drug to use for postoperative pain following oral surgery, and the reporting of adverse events shows it to be a safe drug: the number-needed-to-treat (NNT) to benefit is three for 1000 mg of paracetamol at 6 h and the NNT to harm is 33. It is most effective at a 1000 mg dose, and can be taken at 6-hourly intervals without compromising safety. It could be considered more readily by dentist and patients both as a first-choice analgesic, or to be taken alternately with other analgesics such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
-
Evidence-based dentistry · Jan 2007
CommentNo definitive conclusion as to the most effective method of pulp treatment of asymptomatic carious teeth.
The Cochrane Oral Health Group's Trials Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline, Embase, National Research Register and the Science Citation Index SCISEARCH were searched. Key journals were searched by hand, together with reference lists of review articles and endodontic textbooks. There was no language restriction. ⋯ The findings of this review suggest that there should not be any significant change from accepted conventional practice procedures when the pulp of the carious tooth is considered. Further well-designed RCT are needed to investigate the potential of contemporary materials which may be suitable when used in the management of carious teeth.