Evidence-based dentistry
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Evidence-based dentistry · Jan 2008
CommentHandsearching still a valuable element of the systematic review.
The Cochrane Methodology Register, Medline, Embase, AMED, Biosis, Cinahl, LISA, and Psycinfo were consulted along with researchers who may have carried out relevant studies. ⋯ Hand searching is still valuable in identifying randomised trials for inclusion in systematic reviews of healthcare, particularly trials reported as abstracts or letters, those published in languages other than English, along with all reports published in journals not indexed in electronic databases. Where time and resources are limited, however, searching an electronic database using a complex search (or the Cochrane HSSS) will identify the majority of trials published as full reports in English language journals, provided, of course, that the relevant journals have been indexed in the database.
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Evidence-based dentistry · Jan 2008
CommentOral cancer risk and smokeless tobacco products--clouded by smoke?
Medline, Embase, Cancerlit, Toxline were searched, followed by the reference lists of identified reviews and articles. ⋯ Smokeless tobacco, as used in America or Europe, carries at most a minor increased risk of oral cancer, but elevated risks in specific populations or from specific products cannot definitely be excluded.
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Evidence-based dentistry · Jan 2008
CommentThe effectiveness of occlusal splints for sleep bruxism.
Searches were made using the Cochrane Oral Health Group's Trials Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Medline, Embase, LILACS (Latin American & Caribbean Health Sciences Literature), Biblioteca Brasileira de Odontologia, and Dissertations, Theses and Abstracts. Hand searches were made of abstracts of particular importance to this review. Additional reports were identified from the reference lists of retrieved reports and from article reviews about treating sleep bruxism. There were no language restrictions. ⋯ There is not enough evidence to state that the occlusal splint is effective for treating sleep bruxism. Indication of its use is questionable with regard to sleep outcomes, but there may be some benefit with regard to tooth wear. This systematic review suggests the need for further investigation in more controlled RCT that pay attention to method of allocation, outcome assessment, large sample size, and sufficient duration of followup. The study design must be parallel in order to eliminate the bias provided by studies of crossover type. A standardisation of the outcomes of the treatment of sleep bruxism should be established in the RCT.