Methodological quality of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines in cariology.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to appraise the methodological quality of evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) in the cariology field. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search on electronic databases (MEDLINE/Pubmed, EMBASE, DARE and Epistemonikos), websites, and guideline organizations were undertaken. Evidence-based CPGs including at least one recommendation for clinical prevention and/or management of dental caries, developed for any clinical setting, were included. The quality of each guideline was evaluated using the AGREE II tool. Descriptive analysis was performed and the average overall score for each domain was calculated. RESULTS: Thirty-two guidelines were included. Most of the CPGs achieved higher scores for the domains of clarity of presentation (66.7%, 95% IC 37.3-52.2) and scope and purpose (59.6%, 95% IC 53.7-65.5) domains; and lower scores for editorial independence (46.1%, 95% IC 37.8-55.7) and applicability domain (44.7%, 95% IC 37-55.3). The reviewers assessed 12 CPGs (37.5%) as recommended for use, 15 (46.9%) recommended with modifications, and 5 (15.6%) as not recommended. CONCLUSION: The overall methodological quality of evidence-based CPGs in the cariology field is moderate, and there is a need for improvements in reporting related to most domains. The poorest reporting was found in the description of the domains' applicability of its recommendations and editorial independence. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinical Practice Guidelines provide guidance to patients, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders. The quality of these documents is essential for establishing trust in their recommendations.

Required time for pre-oncological dental management - A rapid review of the literature.

This study identified the scientific literature comparing the influence of different times in which dental procedures were performed before the oncological treatments (radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy) on the risk of oral complications development. MEDLINE/PubMed and Embase databases were searched, and articles were selected by title, abstract and full-text assessment. The search identified 2,356 articles and three retrospective observational studies were included. Data were collected and analyzed according to the dental procedure, the time before oncological treatment, and oral complications. Risk of bias (ROBINS) and certainty of evidence (GRADE) were evaluated. Pairwise meta-analyses were performed from dental extractions (Exo) data according to the time which were performed and ORN development using a random-effect model (RR and 95 % CI, p < 0.05). meta-analyses showed a higher risk of ORN development in patients with Exo performed < 2 weeks before oncological treatment than in those who Exo was performed > 2 weeks ≤ 1 month before oncological therapy (RR 1.29; 95 % CI 1.12-1.48; p < 0.01). There was a higher prevalence of oral mucositis (OM) in patients who received periodontal treatment ≤ 3 weeks before oncological therapy than those who received dental procedures > 3 weeks ≤ 6 months before. Although the risk of bias ranged from serious to critical, with very low certainty of evidence, the findings suggest that dental extractions should be performed within > 2 weeks before oncological treatment to avoid ORN complications. More studies are needed to conclude the appropriate time to perform dental procedures to decrease other associated oral complications. (CRD42021272652).

10-year practice-based evaluation of ceramic and direct composite veneers.

OBJECTIVES: This 10-year practice-based study aimed to compare survival and success of direct resin composite and ceramic veneers placed in a private dental practice, between January 2008 and March 2014. METHODS: Data were retrieved from a clinical practice's records and were anonymized typed into electronic files. All veneer information was recorded, including previous restorations, repairs or failures, materials used, dates, patient, and age. RESULTS: We analyzed 1459 veneer restorations, of which 1043 (71.5%) were direct composite, and 416 (28.5%) were ceramic, placed in 341 patients. The mean patients' age was 47.8 years, and the mean number of restorations per patient was 4.3 restorations. During all follow-up, 957 (65.6%) veneers were successful without any repair, 252 (17.3%) were repaired and still in place, and 250 (17.1%) had a failure that resulted in replacement. Replacements were usually carried out with the same material placed at first. Considering success analysis, annual failure rates (AFR) for veneers in 5 and 10 years were 9.1% and 10% for direct composite and 2.9% and 2.8% for ceramic, respectively. Survival analysis showed AFR of 3.9% and 4.1% for composite and 1.4% and 1.2% for ceramic at the same periods. Cox regression was made for both success and survival outcomes. Composite veneers presented a higher risk of failure than ceramic veneers with higher hazard ratios for survival (HR) [HR 4.00 (2.74-5.83)] and success [HR 5.16 (2.65-10.04)]. SIGNIFICANCE: Ceramic veneers had superior longevity than direct composite veneers in both success and survival analysis.

Short versus standard implants associated with sinus floor elevation: An umbrella review of meta-analyses of multiple outcomes.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Bone loss in the edentulous posterior maxilla complicates dental implant placement. In spite of the evidence available, there is continued uncertainty about the benefit of short implants for different outcomes. PURPOSE: The purpose of this review was to evaluate the existing evidence for short and standard implants in association with sinus floor elevation regarding implant survival, marginal bone loss, and complications by using an umbrella review of the evidence across meta-analysis of interventional studies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane Library were searched to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses comparing short implants and standard implants associated with sinus floor elevation. Data extraction and methodological quality (AMSTAR-2) was assessed by 2 authors independently. Outcomes were categorized and tabulated to assess effectiveness. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic synthesis. The certainty of the evidence was evaluated with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. RESULTS: From 2011 studies, 7 systematic reviews (66 studies) were included as per the eligibility criteria. There was no statistically significant difference between groups for implant survival (risk ratio=1.08; P=.79), and the qualitative analysis did not show differences for prosthetic outcomes. Standard implants were associated with fewer prosthetic complications in the quantitative analysis (risk ratio=3.27; P<.01), but no difference was found between the treatments in the qualitative analysis. Short implants showed reduced marginal bone loss (0.98 ±0.12 mm; mean difference=-0.22; P<.01) and better biologic outcomes (risk ratio=0.16; P<.01). Patient satisfaction was similar for both groups, whereas costs and time for the procedure favored short implants. The quality of the evidence was graded as "critically low" (57.1% of the reviews) and "low." There was a high certainty of evidence for implant survival, whereas marginal bone loss and complications had moderate certainty. CONCLUSIONS: Short implants had a better or equal performance compared with standard implants for all outcomes assessed. However, assumptions were based on reviews with low or critically low quality of the evidence, suggesting the development of high-quality systematic reviews in this field.

Esthetic treatment of buccal exostoses: a case report.

Buccal exostoses are benign bony protuberances that may grow over time but rarely result in functional alterations. The diagnosis is established by a combination of medical history and clinical and radiographic features of the affected region. This case report describes the surgical treatment of bilateral bone projections on the buccal surface of the maxilla that represented an undesirable esthetic alteration to the patient. The surgical procedures, which were performed at separate appointments for the left and right sides, involved reflection of full-thickness flaps and careful osteotomy with a carbide spherical drill and a Rhodes chisel. At completion of the procedures, flat buccal bone ridges with a clear esthetic improvement were observed. At the follow-up examination (3 months postsurgery on the left side and 1 month on the right), the presence of stable periodontal tissue-positioned where it was located during the immediately postoperative period-indicated a satisfactory clinical result.

Dental care and the COVID-19 pandemic: the precautionary principle and the best available evidence

The precautionary principle is part of evidence-based healthcare. However, since it is not always based in the most qualified evidence, it is frequently questioned. The emergence of a highly contagious disease, with increased levels of morbimortality, an acute respiratory syndrome, the so called Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), led health professionals to look for the best alternatives to save lives. In this sense, the precautionary principle was evocated. The precautionary principle is used both preventively and therapeutically when knowledge about how to manage problems/diseases/conditions that are especially life-threatening. The aim of this short communication is to make a reflection about the precautionary principle, the dental profession and COVID-19. It is important to have in mind that in such a disease, guidelines, protocols and approaches can change very fast, since a continuous evaluation of all policies is mandatory.

Dental Care and the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Precautionary Principle and the Best Available Evidence

Abstract The precautionary principle is part of evidence-based healthcare and is used both preventively and therapeutically when there is no available evidence about how to manage problems/diseases/conditions that are especially life-threatening. However, since it is not always based in the most qualified evidence, it is frequently questioned. The emergence of a highly contagious disease, with increased levels of morbimortality, an acute respiratory syndrome, the so called Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), led health professionals to look for the best alternatives to save lives. In this sense, the precautionary principle was evocated. The aim of this paper is to make a reflection about the precautionary principle, the dental profession and COVID-19. It is important to have in mind that in such a disease, guidelines, protocols and approaches can change very fast, since a continuous evaluation of all policies is mandatory. During the pandemic, elective procedures may be restricted, but international organizations removed the recommendation to postpone elective procedures. Clinicians are advised to be updated about their local current policies. On the other hand, there are cases in which in-office dental care is unavoidable, such as individuals with pain, spontaneous bleeding and dental trauma. Biosafety is upmost importance when seeking patients during pandemic. In this sense, it was concluded that precautionary principle should be, therefore, used. However, caution needs to be taken and continuous surveillance necessary.

Tratamento criogênico para elevar a quantidade de macroporos no plasma rico em fibrina utilizado como scaffold em engenharia tecidual / Cryogenic treatment to increase the amount of macropores in plasma rich in fibrin used as scaffold in tissue engineering

Objetivos: Investigar se o tratamento criogênico é capaz de elevar a quantidade de macroporos no Plasma Rico em Fibrina (PRF) utilizado como scaffold sem destruir totalmente sua integridade estrutural. Métodos: Três amostras de sangue (10 ml) foram processadas para obtenção do PRF. As amostras foram armazenadas em ultrafreezer (-80°C) e armazenadas por sete dias e um ano. Como controle foi utilizado um PRF imediatamente após sua obtenção. Após os respectivos períodos de armazenamento, cada PRF foi preparado para análises histológicas. Três áreas representativas de cada amostra foram selecionadas e avaliadas no software Image J quanto ao tamanho dos poros: macro ≥ 50 µm e microporos < 50 µm. Resultados: Após sete dias e um ano de criopreservação foi observada uma área total de macroporos compreendendo 76% e 82% do PRF, respectivamente. No PRF processado imediatamente após sua obtenção observamos 64% de macroporos. Além disso, a criopreservação promoveu uma alteração do arranjo estrutural do PRF. Conclusão: O tratamento criogênico do PRF a -80°C (por 7 dias ou um ano) foi capaz de elevar a quantidade de macroporos mantendo uma considerada quantidade de microporos. Com o aumento do tempo de tratamento criogênico um maior número de macroporos foi observado.

Objectives: To investigate whether the cryogenic treatment is able to increase the amount of macropores in the Fibrin Rich Plasma (PRF) used as scaffold, without destroying its structural integrity. Methods: Three blood samples (10 ml) were processed to obtain the PRF. The samples were stored in ultra-freezer (-80° C) and maintained for seven days or one year. As a control, PRF immediately after their acquisition was used. After each storage period, PRF was prepared for histological analysis. Three representative areas of each sample were selected and evaluated in Image J software for pore size: macro ≥ 50 µm and micropores < 50 µm. Results: After seven days and after one year of cryopreservation was observed a total area of macropores comprising 76% and 82% of the PRF, respectively. In PRF processed immediately after collection was observed 64% of macropores. As observed, the cryopreservation changed the structural arrangement of the PRF. Conclusion: The cryogenic treatment of PRF at -80 ° C (for 7 days or one year) increased the amount of macropores maintaining a considerate amount of micropores. A greater number of macropores was observed as the cryogenic treatment time was increased.