Evidence-based dentistry
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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).