Teaching periodontal pocket charting to dental students: a comparison of computer assisted learning and traditional tutorials

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a computer assisted learning (CAL) programme with that of traditional small group tutorials in teaching theoretical and practical aspects of periodontal pocket charting. METHOD: Sixty-one third year undergraduate dental students were randomized to either receive a tutorial or to work through the CAL programme. Students using the CAL programme completed questionnaires relating to previous computer experience and the ease of use of the programme. All students were assessed immediately after the intervention by means of a confidence log, a practical exercise and a further confidence log. They were assessed again three weeks later by means of a confidence log and a multiple-choice written test. RESULTS: There were very few significant differences between groups for any of the assessments used. However, subjective comments indicated that students occasionally felt disadvantaged if they had not received a tutorial. CONCLUSION: CAL and traditional teaching methods are equally effective in teaching periodontal pocket charting to undergraduate dental students

Association between diabetes and the outcome of root canal treatment in adults: An umbrella review

Background Diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disorder among dental patients. The association between diabetes and the outcome of root canal treatment is unclear. Aim To conduct an umbrella review to determine whether there is an association between diabetes and the outcome of root canal treatment. Data source. The protocol of the review was developed and registered in the PROSPERO database (ID number: 141684). Four electronic databases (PubMed, EBSCHOhost, Cochrane and Scopus databases) were used to perform a literature search until July 2019. Study eligibility criteria, participants, and interventions. Systematic reviews with or without meta‐analyses published in English assessing any outcomes of root canal treatment comparing diabetic and nondiabetic patients were included. Two reviewers were involved independently in study selection, data extraction and appraising the reviews that were included. Disagreements were resolved with the help of a third reviewer. Study appraisal and synthesis methods. The quality of the reviews was assessed using the AMSTAR tool (A measurement tool to assess systematic reviews), with 11 items. Each AMSTAR item was given a score of 1 if the criterion was met, or 0 if the criterion was not met or the information was unclear. Results Four systematic reviews were included. The AMSTAR score for the reviews ranged from 5‐7, out of a maximum score of 11 and all the systematic reviews were classified as “medium” quality. Limitations. Only two systematic reviews included a meta‐analysis. Only systematic reviews published in English were included. Conclusions and implications of key findings Diabetes mellitus is associated with the outcome of root canal treatment and can be considered as a preoperative prognostic factor

International Association of Dental Traumatology guidelines for the management of traumatic dental injuries: General Introduction

Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) occur most frequently in children and young adults. Older adults also suffer TDIs but at significantly lower rates than individuals in the younger cohorts. Luxation injuries are the most common TDIs in the primary dentition, whereas crown fractures are more commonly reported for the permanent teeth. Proper diagnosis, treatment planning and follow‐up are very important to assure a favorable outcome. These updates of the International Association of Dental Traumatology’s (IADT) Guidelines include a comprehensive review of the current dental literature using EMBASE, MEDLINE, PUBMED, Scopus and Cochrane Databases for Systematic Reviews searches from 1996‐2019 and a search of the journal Dental Traumatology from 2000‐2019. The goal of these guidelines is to provide information for the immediate or urgent care of TDIs. It is understood that some follow‐up treatment may require secondary and tertiary interventions involving dental and medical specialists with experience in dental trauma. As with previous guidelines, the current working group included experienced investigators and clinicians from various dental specialties and general practice. The current revision represents the best evidence based on the available literature and expert opinions. In cases where the published data were not conclusive, recommendations were based on the consensus opinions of the working group. They were then reviewed and approved by the members of the IADT Board of Directors. It is understood that guidelines are to be applied using careful evaluation of the specific clinical circumstances, the clinician’s judgment and the patient’s characteristics, including the probability of compliance, finances, and a clear understanding of the immediate and long‐term outcomes of the various treatment options versus non‐treatment. The IADT does not, and cannot, guarantee favorable outcomes from adherence to the Guidelines. However, the IADT believes that their application can maximize the probability of favorable outcomes

International Association of Dental Traumatology guidelines for the management of traumatic dental injuries: 2. Avulsion of permanent teeth

Avulsion of permanent teeth is one of the most serious dental injuries. Prompt and correct emergency management is essential for attaining the best outcome after this injury. The International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) has developed these Guidelines as a consensus statement after a comprehensive review of the dental literature and working group discussions. It represents the current best evidence and practice based on that literature search and expert opinions. Experienced researchers and clinicians from various specialties and the general dentistry community were included in the working group. In cases where the published data did not appear conclusive, recommendations were based on consensus opinions or majority decisions of the working group. They were then reviewed and approved by the members of the IADT Board of Directors. The purpose of these Guidelines is to provide clinicians with the most widely accepted and scientifically plausible approaches for the immediate or urgent care of avulsed permanent teeth. The IADT does not, and cannot, guarantee favorable outcomes from adherence to the Guidelines. However, the IADT believes that their application can maximize the probability of favorable outcomes

International Association of Dental Traumatology guidelines for the management of traumatic dental injuries: 1. Fractures and luxations

Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) of permanent teeth occur frequently in children and young adults. Crown fractures and luxations of these teeth are the most commonly occurring of all dental injuries. Proper diagnosis, treatment planning and follow up are important for achieving a favorable outcome. Guidelines should assist dentists and patients in decision making and in providing the best care possible, both effectively and efficiently. The International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) has developed these Guidelines as a consensus statement after a comprehensive review of the dental literature and working group discussions. Experienced researchers and clinicians from various specialties and the general dentistry community were included in the working group. In cases where the published data did not appear conclusive, recommendations were based on the consensus opinions of the working group. They were then reviewed and approved by the members of the IADT Board of Directors. These Guidelines represent the best current evidence based on literature search and expert opinion. The primary goal of these Guidelines is to delineate an approach for the immediate or urgent care of TDIs. In this first article, the IADT Guidelines cover the management of fractures and luxations of permanent teeth. The IADT does not, and cannot, guarantee favorable outcomes from adherence to the Guidelines. However, the IADT believes that their application can maximize the probability of favorable outcomes

Pyrosequencing as a tool for better understanding of human microbiomes

Next-generation sequencing technologies have revolutionized the analysis of microbial communities in diverse environments, including the human body. This article reviews several aspects of one of these technologies, the pyrosequencing technique, including its principles, applications, and significant contribution to the study of the human microbiome, with especial emphasis on the oral microbiome. The results brought about by pyrosequencing studies have significantly contributed to refining and augmenting the knowledge of the community membership and structure in and on the human body in healthy and diseased conditions. Because most oral infectious diseases are currently regarded as biofilm-related polymicrobial infections, high-throughput sequencing technologies have the potential to disclose specific patterns related to health or disease. Further advances in technology hold the perspective to have important implications in terms of accurate diagnosis and more effective preventive and therapeutic measures for common oral diseases