Evidence-based dentistry
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This guidance is intended to promote good clinical practice for the provision in dentistry of conscious sedation that is both safe and effective. It is not a recipe book for sedation and therefore does not include details of drug dosages. The recommendations are applicable to all patients receiving conscious sedation, to facilitate the provision of any type of dental treatment whether it is delivered in a dental practice, a community dental service clinic or a hospital setting. It also covers the provision of conscious sedation for dental treatment provided on a domiciliary basis. Specifically excluded from this guidance, however, are patients who require assisted ventilation, intensive care sedation, premedication for general anaesthesia, postoperative analgesia, sedation in palliative care, night sedation and sedation in the home setting other than for the provision of dental treatment on a domiciliary basis. ⋯ A number of recommendations were made regarding the future conduct and reporting of clinical trials. The following areas were highlighted as requiring further high-quality research: Fasting before conscious sedation. Conscious sedation of paediatric dental patients. Dental conscious sedation using combinations of drugs. Dental conscious sedation using continuous infusion. The choice of sedation method for dental patients. Cognitive and behavioural effects of conscious sedation. The interaction of pharmacological and nonpharmacological anxiety management techniques. The complete guidance is available for download at www.scottishdental.org/cep/guidance/dentalsedation.htm.
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To investigate the incidence and time taken to full publication of abstracts presented at dental scientific meetings. ⋯ More than half of the research presented at EOS, IADR and ORCA in 1993 remained unpublished 5 years after presentation at the conference. Oral presentations were published more frequently than poster presentations.
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Evidence-based dentistry · Jan 2005
CommentGood evidence for effectiveness of analgesics most commonly prescribed by UK dentists. What is the relative efficacy of single-dose oral analgesics after third molar extraction?
Dental trials were sought among systematic reviews of randomised, double-blind studies of analgesics in acute pain, which were identified from the Cochrane Library, Biological Abstracts, MEDLINE, PubMed and the Oxford Pain Relief database. ⋯ NSAID and COX-2 inhibitors have the lowest (best) NNT. These may also have fewer adverse effects after third molar surgery, but conclusive evidence is lacking. At least 80% of analgesic prescribing by UK dentists is in line with the best available evidence on efficacy and safety.