Does the use of topical anesthetics reduce the perception of pain during needle puncture and anesthetic infiltration? Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

The objective of this systematic review was to assess whether the use of topical anesthetics reduces the perception of pain during puncture and anesthetic infiltration. Twenty-two randomized controlled clinical trials, published in English on or before August 6, 2020, were found in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases. Risk of bias was determined for randomization and other issues. A total of 1029 patients were evaluated using parameters such as type of topical anesthetic, application site, and pain (measured on a scale). Some studies assessed more than one topical anesthetic. Seventeen of them showed a reduction in pain from needle puncture and four from infiltration. Meta-analyses for some results showed considerable statistical heterogeneity. Regarding pain during needle puncture of the maxilla, statistically significant differences were observed in the topical anesthetics group, in both the vestibular (P = 0.0002) and palatal (P = 0.005) region. This was different from the mandible, for which there was no statistically significant difference (P = 0.07). With regard to pain caused by anesthetic infiltration in the maxilla, there was no difference in the use of anesthetic in relation to the control group (P = 0.11). Given these findings, using topical anesthetics only relieves pain during needle puncture and in the maxilla. PROSPERO 2020: CRD42020206362.

Does the use of low-level light therapy postoperatively reduce pain, oedema, and neurosensory disorders following orthognathic surgery? A systematic review.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of low-level light therapy (LLLT) in improving pain, oedema, and neurosensory disorders of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) after orthognathic surgery. This systematic review was performed in compliance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Searches were conducted in the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) published up to September 2020. After evaluating eligibility, 15 RCTs were selected. None of the studies reported an evaluation of all of the outcomes within the same publication. It was possible to determine the effect of LLLT in controlling pain following orthognathic surgery. Of the three studies evaluating this outcome, all observed a positive effect. Of the four studies that evaluated oedema, two found a positive effect. Of the 11 studies that evaluated neurosensory disorders of the IAN, all of them observed a positive effect, at least in one of the sensory evaluation tests. A meta-analysis was not possible due to the heterogeneity across studies. Considering the limitations of this review, but given the fact that LLLT is a minimally invasive intervention, its use merits consideration in immediate postoperative orthognathic surgery.

A 3D Finite Element Analysis of Bone Tissue in 3-Unit Implant-Supported Prostheses: Effect of Splinting Factor and Implant Length and Diameter.

This study aimed to assess the effects of splinting in 3-unit implant-supported prostheses with varying the splinting factor, length of the implant, and the diameter of the 1°molar (1°M) implant on cortical bone tissue (CBT). Twelve 3D models were simulated, which represented the posterior maxillary with 3 implants, supporting 3-unit FDP varying the splinting factor (single-unit crowns, splinted crowns straight-line and offset implant configuration [OIC]), length of the implant (7mm and 8,5mm), and the diameter of the 1°M (Ø4 mm and Ø5 mm). The CBT was analyzed by maximum principal stress and microstrain maps. The increase in implant diameter improved the biomechanical behavior of rehabilitation. The increase of the implant diameter in the 1°M associated with OIC generated the best biomechanical behavior for CBT. The splinting was effective in decreasing stress and microstrain, mainly when associated with OIC and implant diameter of Ø5 in the 1°M. The effect of increasing the diameter of the implant referring to the 1°M for single-unit crowns was more effective than the effect of the splinting of implants with Ø4 mm in straight-line. The diameter and splinting factors showed to be more important than implant length to reduce the stress and microstrain on CBT.

Is there an association between overweight/obesity and dental implant complications? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of this systematic review was to test the following hypotheses: (1) that there is no difference in implant survival rate between individuals with overweight or obesity and those who are within the ideal weight range; (2) that there are no differences between these groups regarding indicators of peri-implant health. Two independent reviewers performed a literature search of the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases for studies published up to April 1, 2018. A meta-analysis was performed to determine the risk difference for implant failure and mean difference for marginal bone loss, probing depth, and bleeding on probing. Six studies were selected for review, involving a total of 746 patients with 986 implants: 609 in overweight or obese individuals and 377 in individuals within the ideal weight range. The findings of this systematic review indicate that the first hypothesis should be accepted, since no statistically significant difference in implant survival rate was found between individuals with overweight/obesity and those within the ideal weight range (P=0.64). The second hypothesis was rejected, as the review indicated a difference in marginal bone loss (P<0.00001), probing depth (P<0.00001), and bleeding around dental implants (P<0.00001).

Efficacy of corticosteroids versus placebo in impacted third molar surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

The aim of this systematic review was to identify randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials investigating the effectiveness of corticosteroids in the control of pain, oedema, and trismus following third molar surgery, and to analyse the effects of the type of drug administered and the time and route of drug administration on the outcomes of interest. Searches were performed in the PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases. This review was structured according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The search identified 1223 studies. After assessing eligibility based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 17 studies were selected for the qualitative analysis (a total of 730 patients aged 15-45 years). Ten studies were included in the meta-analysis, which was performed using Review Manager software. The corticosteroids were effective in controlling pain (P=0.002; mean difference -17.38, 95% confidence interval -24.81 to -9.95) and trismus (P<0.00001; mean difference 6.10, 95% confidence interval 3.42 to 8.77). With the exception of the submucosal route, the route of administration did not appear to affect the outcomes. The administration of a corticosteroid in the preoperative phase was superior to its use in the postoperative phase for the control of trismus.

Efficacy of stem cells in maxillary sinus floor augmentation: systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of this review was to test the hypothesis of no difference in the efficacy of bone regeneration when using stem cells in maxillary sinus floor augmentation surgery in comparison to other grafts. Nine randomized clinical trials and one follow-up study involving human subjects were identified through a search of the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases, supplemented by a hand search. No significant difference between groups was found for the implant survival rate, increase in bone height, marginal bone loss following implant placement, or new bone formation. With regard to the residual bone graft, an effect favouring the graft group at 3-4months (P=0.001) and favouring the stem cell group at 6months (P=0.01) was found. Analyses of the subgroup in which the BMAC system extraction method was used in combination with Bio-Oss, revealed no difference in new bone formation; however, the results for residual bone graft at 3months favoured the control graft (Bio-Oss) (P=0.01), but at 6months favoured the stem cells (Bio-Oss+BMAC system) (P=0.01). Based on all findings, the use of stem cells does not contribute significantly to greater implant survival rates or the efficacy of bone regeneration following sinus lift procedures.

Splinted and unsplinted overdenture attachment systems: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Splinted and unsplinted overdenture attachment systems have unique advantages and disadvantages. The aim of the present systematic review was to determine the influence of splinted and unsplinted overdenture attachment systems on the marginal bone loss, prosthetic complications and implant survival rate. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Cochrane databases were searched for articles published up to October 2017, using the following search terms: "overdenture AND attachment OR overdenture AND bar OR overdenture splinted." The PICO question "Do splinted overdenture attachment systems promote better clinical results in comparison to unsplinted systems?" was evaluated. Eligible studies included randomized controlled clinical trials, prospective studies with at least 10 participants and a minimum follow-up of 6 months, and studies published in English that compared splinted and unsplinted attachment systems within the same study. The 95% confidence interval (CI) was considered for all outcomes analysed. After completion of the different steps in the article selection process, nine articles were included in the qualitative and quantitative analyses. A total of 984 implants were placed in 380 patients (mean age: 62.8 years). The meta-analysis demonstrated no statistically significant differences between splinted and unsplinted attachment systems with regard to marginal bone loss (P = .39; MD: -0.11; 95% CI: -0.37 to 0.14), complications (P = .31; RR: 1.26; CI: 0.80-1.99) and implant survival rate (P = .14; RR: 0.37% CI: 0.10-1.36). In addition, splinted and unsplinted overdenture attachment systems achieved similar results with regard to marginal bone loss, prosthetic complications and implant survival rate.

Survival of dental implants placed in HIV-positive patients: a systematic review.

No consensus has been reached on the use of dental implants in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients. This systematic review evaluated dental implants in HIV-positive patients in terms of implant survival and success rates, marginal bone loss, and complications. The review was conducted according to the PRISMA checklist. Two independent reviewers performed a comprehensive search of the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases for studies published until October 2017. Six studies were selected for review. In total, 821 implants were placed: 493 in 169 HIV-positive patients, and 328 in 135 HIV-negative patients. The mean duration of follow-up was 47.9 months. Weighted mean survival rate, success rate, and marginal bone loss values were calculated for the HIV-positive patients. Mean survival and success rates at the patient level (according to the number of patients) were 94.76% and 93.81%, respectively; when calculated at the implant level (according to the number of implants), these rates were 94.53% and 90.37%, respectively. Mean marginal bone loss was 0.83mm at the patient level and 0.99mm at the implant level. Thus, dental implants are suitable for the rehabilitation of HIV-positive patients with controlled risk factors and normal CD4+ cell counts.

Bilateral balanced occlusion compared to other occlusal schemes in complete dentures: A systematic review.

No consensus has been reached regarding the best occlusal scheme for making complete dentures. Thus, the purpose of this systematic review was to compare bilateral balanced occlusion (BBO) with other occlusal schemes (canine guidance, lingualised occlusion and zero degree) in complete dentures. The schemes were compared in terms of quality of life/satisfaction and masticatory performance. Two independent reviewers performed a comprehensive search of studies published in or before October 2017 using the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Cochrane Library databases. The search was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The focused question was: "In conventional complete denture, is BBO better than lingualised occlusion, canine guidance and zero degree in terms of quality of life, patient satisfaction and masticatory performance/muscle activity?" Seventeen studies were selected for analysis. In total, there were 492 patients with a mean age of 64.78 years and a mean follow-up duration of 2.96 months (range: 1-6 months). All studies compared BBO with the other occlusal schemes. Eleven studies evaluated the influence of the occlusal scheme designs on quality of life and satisfaction, and 8 studies evaluated masticatory performance and muscle activity between BBO and the other occlusion schemes. The present systematic review indicated that BBO does not confer better quality of life/satisfaction or masticatory performance and muscle activity. Thus, lingualised occlusion can be considered a predictable occlusal scheme for complete dentures in terms of quality of life/satisfaction and masticatory performance, while canine guidance can be used to reduce muscular activity.

Dental implants in patients with osteoporosis: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

There is currently no consensus regarding the survival rate of osseointegrated implants in patients with osteoporosis. A systematic review with meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the survival rate of implants in such patients. The PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and SciELO databases were used to identify articles published up to September 2016. The systematic review was performed in accordance with PRISMA/PICO requirements and the risk of bias was assessed (Australian National Health and Medical Research Council scale). The relative risk (RR) of implant failure and mean marginal bone loss were analyzed within a 95% confidence interval (CI). Fifteen studies involving 8859 patients and 29,798 implants were included. The main outcome of the meta-analysis indicated that there was no difference in implant survival rate between patients with and without osteoporosis, either at the implant level (RR 1.39, 95% CI 0.93-2.08; P=0.11) or at the patient level (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.50-1.89; P=0.94). However, the meta-analysis for the secondary outcome revealed a significant difference in marginal bone loss around implants between patients with and without osteoporosis (0.18mm, 95% CI 0.05-0.30, P=0.005). Data heterogeneity was low. An increase in peri-implant bone loss was observed in the osteoporosis group. Randomized and controlled clinical studies should be conducted to analyze possible biases.

Immediate implant placement into fresh extraction sockets versus delayed implants into healed sockets: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the survival rate of the implants and the peri-implant tissue changes associated with implants inserted in fresh extraction sockets and those inserted in healed sockets. This review has been registered at PROSPERO under the number CRD42016043309. A systematic search was conducted by two reviewers independently in the databases PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library using different search terms; articles published until November 2016 were searched for. The searches identified 30 eligible studies. A total of 3,049 implants were installed in a total of 1,435 patients with a mean age of 46.68 years and a minimum of 6 months of follow-up. The survival rate of delayed implants (98.38%) was significantly greater than immediate implants (95.21%) (p=.001). For the marginal bone loss (p=.32), implant stability quotients values (p=.44), and pocket probing depth (p=.94) there was no significant difference between the analysed groups. The immediate implants placed in fresh sockets should be performed with caution because of the significantly lower survival rates than delayed implants inserted in healed sockets.

Effects of platelet-rich plasma in association with bone grafts in maxillary sinus augmentation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review evaluated the effect on bone formation and implant survival of combining platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with bone grafts in maxillary augmentation. A comprehensive review of articles listed in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases covering the period January 2000 to January 2015 was performed. The meta-analysis was based on bone formation for which the mean difference (MD, in millimetres) was calculated. Implant survival was assessed as a dichotomous outcome and evaluated using the risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). The search identified 3303 references. After inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, 17 studies were selected for qualitative analysis and 13 for quantitative analysis. A total of 369 patients (mean age 51.67 years) and 621 maxillary sinus augmentations were evaluated. After the data analysis, additional analyses were performed of the implant stability quotient, marginal bone loss, and alveolar bone height measured by MD. The results showed no significant difference in implant stability (P=0.32, MD 1.00, 95% CI -0.98 to 2.98), marginal bone loss (P=0.31, MD 0.06, 95% CI -0.05 to 0.16), alveolar bone height (P=0.10, MD -0.72, 95% CI -1.59 to 0.14), implant survival (P=0.22, RR 1.95, 95% CI 0.67-5.69), or bone formation (P=0.81, MD -0.63, 95% CI -5.91 to 4.65). In conclusion, the meta-analysis indicates no influence of PRP with bone graft on bone formation and implant survival in maxillary sinus augmentation.

Three-dimensional finite element analysis of stress distribution in retention screws of different crown-implant ratios.

The retaining screw of the implant-supported dental prosthesis is the weakest point of the crown/implant system. Furthermore, crown height is another important factor that may increase the lever arm. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the stress distribution in implant prosthetic screws with different heights of the clinical crown of the prosthesis using the method of three-dimensional finite element analysis. Three models were created with implants (3.75 mm × 10 mm) and crowns (heights of 10, 12.5 and 15 mm). The results were visualised by means of von Mises stress maps that increased the crown heights. The screw structure exhibited higher levels of stresses in the oblique load. The oblique loading resulted in higher stress concentration when compared with the axial loading. It is concluded that the increase of the crown was damaging to the stress distribution on the screw, mainly in oblique loading.

Placement of dental implants in the maxillary tuberosity: a systematic review.

The aim of this systematic review was to identify clinical studies on implants placed in the tuberosity region to determine the survival rate of these implants when compared to implants placed in other regions of the maxilla. A search for data published up until March 2014 was undertaken using the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and ScienceDirect databases. Eligible studies were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The first database search revealed 310 titles. After inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, five studies remained for the detailed analysis. A total of 113 patients were followed for a period of 6-144 months; 289 implants were placed in the patients evaluated. There were eight failures/losses of dental implants in the tuberosity region; the overall survival rate was 94.63% for these implants. In controlled studies, the cumulative survival rates for implants placed in the maxillary tuberosity and other maxillary regions were 96.1% and 95%, respectively. In conclusion, implants placed into the maxillary tuberosity are a predictable alternative for the treatment of patients with insufficient bone volume in the maxillary region. However, randomized trials are needed to assess the effectiveness of this treatment.

Fracture resistance of structurally compromised root filled bovine teeth restored with accessory glass fibre posts.

AIM: To evaluate the mechanical behaviour of structurally compromised root filled bovine roots after restoration with accessory glass fibre posts. METHODOLOGY: Fifty roots of bovine teeth received conventional post preparations with a cervical diameter of 3.5 mm. The roots were assigned to five groups (n = 10): group MP - cast metal post, group GP - glass fibre post and group AGP - glass fibre post plus accessory glass fibre posts. In groups GP-R and AGP-R (similar to groups GP and AGP), 2 mm of coronal tooth structure were left intact. All groups were subjected to an elastic limit assay and tested in an universal machine for fracture resistance. Repeated measures anova were performed to examine differences in fracture resistance; fracture modes were analysed by Fischer's exact test. RESULTS: The mean fracture resistance values (kgf) were 61.8 (MP), 63.1 (GP), 55.5 (AGP), 56 (GP-R) and (53.1) AGP-R. No statistically significant difference was found between groups. The Fisher's exact test indicated significant differences (P < 0.05) in the fracture mode amongst groups MP, GP and AGP, indicating 100%, 50% and 10% of catastrophic fractures, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The use of accessory glass fibre posts affected the fracture mode favorably: 90% of fractures in group AGP were in the coronal third.