Health professionals' recommendations on the use of fluoride varnish for caries prevention in preschool children.

BACKGROUND: Fluoride varnish (FV) is widely recommended for caries prevention in preschool children, despite its anticaries benefits being uncertain and modest. Dentists often report using clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) as a source of scientific information. AIM: To identify and analyze recommendations for clinical practice on the use of FV for caries prevention in preschool children and to assess the methodological quality of the CPG on this topic. DESIGN: Two researchers independently used 12 search strategies and searched the first five pages of Google Search™ and three guideline databases for recommendations freely available to health professionals on the use of FV for caries prevention in preschoolers. Then, they retrieved and recorded recommendations that met the eligibility criteria and extracted the data. A third researcher resolved disagreements. Each included CPG was appraised using the AGREE II instrument. RESULTS: Twenty-nine documents were included. Recommendations varied according to age, patients' caries risk, and application frequency. Of the six CPGs, only one scored above 70% in the AGREE II overall assessment. CONCLUSION: Recommendations on the use of FV lacked scientific evidence, and CPGs were of poor quality. Application of FV is widely recommended despite recent evidence showing an uncertain, modest, and possibly not clinically relevant anticaries benefit. Dentists should be aware that it is necessary to critically appraise CPGs since they may be of poor quality.

Um ano de e-mails não solicitados: o modus operandi de revistas e editoras predatórias / One year of unsolicited e-mails: the modus operandiof predatory journals and publishers

Objetivo: Quantificar, caracterizar e analisar e-mails de revistas predatórias (RP) recebidos por uma pesquisadora da área de odontologia. Materiais e métodos: E-mails recebidos em 2019 e suspeitos de serem potencialmente predatórios foram pré-selecionados. O checklist do Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) para identificar RP biomédicas suspeitas foi aplicado, incluindo os seguintes critérios: taxa/preço de publicação (TP), fator de impacto falso, a revista estar listada no Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) e no Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Também foram extraídas informações sobre a falta de um fator de impacto no Journal Citations Reports, endereço de contato de e-mail não afiliado à revista, linguajar lisonjeiro, citação pessoal e/ou de um artigo, link de cancelamento de inscrição do tipo unsubscribe, estar listado no catálogo atual da National Library of Medicine (NLM) e estar indexado no Medline. Resultados: Um total de 2.812 e-mails suspeitos não solicitados foram recebidos e 1.837 requisitaram algum tipo de manuscrito; entre eles, 1.751 preencheram algum critério do OHRI. Menos da metade (780/1.837, 42%) referiu-se a alguma área da odontologia. A TP mediana foi de US$ 399. Um falso fator de impacto foi mencionado em 11% (201/1.837) dos e-mails e 27% (504/1.837) correspondiam a periódicos atualmente listados no catálogo da NLM. Os periódicos listados no DOAJ e COPE enviaram 89 e-mails. Conclusão: A campanha editorial das RP, sob a forma de e-mails, foi intensa e recorrente. Os pesquisadores devem estar bem informados sobre o modus operandi das RP para proteger sua própria reputação como autores, assim como a reputação da ciência

Objectives: To quantify, characterize and analyze e-mail from predatory journals (PJ) received by an academic in dentistry. Materials and methods: E-mails received in 2019 and suspected of being potentially predatory were pre-selected. The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) checklist was applied to identify the suspected biomedical PJ, including the following criteria: article processing charge (APC), fake impact factor, the journal being listed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). We also extracted information on the lack of an impact factor on Journal Citations Reports, non-journal affiliated contact e-mail address, flattering language, article and/or personal citation, unsubscribe link, being listed in the National Library of Medicine (NLM) current catalog and indexed on Medline. Results: A total of 2,812 unsolicited suspected e-mails were received, and 1,837 requested some sort of manuscript; among these, 1,751 met some of the OHRI criteria. Less than half (780/1,837, 42%) referred to some area of dentistry. The median APC was US$399. A false impact factor was mentioned in 11% (201/1,837) of the e-mails, and 27% (504/1,837) corresponded to journals currently listed in the NLM catalog. Journals listed in DOAJ and COPE sent 89 e-mails. Conclusions: The email campaign from PJ was high and recurrent. Researchers should be well informed about PJ' modus operandi to protect their own reputation as authors and that of science.

One year of unsolicited e-mails: The modus operandi of predatory journals and publishers.

OBJECTIVES: To quantify, characterize and analyze e-mail from predatory journals (PJ) received by an academic in dentistry. METHODS: E-mails received in 2019 and suspected of being potentially predatory were pre-selected. The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) checklist was applied to identify the suspected biomedical PJ, including the following criteria: article processing charge (APC), fake impact factor, the journal being listed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). We also extracted information on the lack of an impact factor on Journal Citations Reports, non-journal affiliated contact e-mail address, flattering language, article and/or personal citation, unsubscribe link, being listed in the National Library of Medicine (NLM) current catalog and indexed on Medline. RESULTS: A total of 2812 unsolicited suspected e-mails were received, and 1837 requested some sort of manuscript; among these, 1751 met some of the OHRI criteria. Less than half (780/1837, 42 %) referred to some area of dentistry. The median APC was US$399. A false impact factor was mentioned in 11 % (201/1837) of the e-mails, and 27 % (504/1837) corresponded to journals currently listed in the NLM catalog. Journals listed in DOAJ and COPE sent 89 e-mails. CONCLUSIONS: The email campaign from PJ was high and recurrent. Researchers should be well informed about PJ' modus operandi to protect their own reputation as authors and that of science. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Peer review and established academic practices and etiquette contribute to ensuring scientific progress, which is essential to protect the health of patients in particular and of people in general. Predatory journals constitute a threat to peer review and scientific etiquette and, as such, may hinder scientific progress and public health.

Fluoride Varnish and Dental Caries in Preschoolers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of fluoride varnish (FV) in reducing dentine caries at the patient, tooth, and surface levels as well as caries-related hospitalizations in preschoolers. We performed a systematic review of clinical trials of FV, alone or associated with an oral health program, compared with placebo, usual care, or no intervention. Bibliographical search included electronic searches of seven databases, registers of ongoing trials, and meeting abstracts, as well as hand searching. We performed random-effects meta-analyses and calculated confidence and prediction intervals. The search yielded 2,441 records; 20 trials were included in the review and 17 in at least one meta-analysis. Only one study had low risk of bias in all domains. We found no study reporting on caries-related hospitalizations. At the individual level, the pooled relative risk was 0.88 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.81, 0.95); this means that in a population of preschool children with 50% caries incidence, we need to apply fluoride varnish in 17 children to avoid new caries in one child. At the tooth level, the pooled weighted mean difference was -0.30 (95% CI -0.69, 0.09) and at the surface level -0.77 (95% CI -1.23, -0.31). Considering the prediction intervals, none of the pooled estimates were statistically significant. We conclude that FV showed a modest and uncertain anticaries effect in preschoolers. Cost-effectiveness analyses are needed to assess whether FV should be adopted or abandoned by dental services.

Efeito das aplicações periódicas de verniz fluoretado na prevenção de cárie dentária em pré-escolares: revisão sistemática e meta-análise / Effect of periodic fluoride varnish applications on caries prevention in preschoolers: systematic review and meta-analysis

O objetivo desta revisão sistemática com meta-análises foi avaliar o efeito das aplicações de verniz fluoretado na prevenção de cárie dentária em pré-escolares. A busca eletrônica foi realizada em sete bases de dados, sem restrição de idiomas, e em banco de teses e registros de ensaios clínicos controlados entre outubro e novembro de 2016. A busca manual foi feita em onze periódicos especializados sendo dois deles da área médica e incluiu resumos apresentados em congressos da International Association for Dental Research (IADR) e da European Organisation for Caries Research (ORCA). Foram incluídos ensaios clínicos controlados e randomizados ou quasi-randomizados de estudos com crianças de zero a 71 meses de idade, que avaliaram o efeito anticárie da aplicação profissional de verniz fluoretado versus placebo, nenhuma intervenção ou cuidado padrão. O risco de viés dos estudos foi avaliado de acordo com o instrumento da Cochrane. Os desfechos de interesse foram a incidência de cárie dentária em dentina, medida pelo incremento de lesões de cárie e pela proporção de crianças que desenvolveram novas lesões de cárie, o número de internações hospitalares devido à cárie dentária e os efeitos adversos relacionados ao uso do produto. Os dados foram sintetizados e analisados através de meta-análise. Após exclusão das duplicatas, 2070 títulos e resumos foram lidos de forma independente por dois avaliadores previamente treinados para a identificação dos estudos que preenchessem os critérios de inclusão. Destes, 77 artigos foram selecionados para serem lidos na íntegra. Esta revisão incluiu 19 estudos que cumpriram os critérios de inclusão. A avaliação do risco de viés identificou um estudo com baixo risco. As meta-análises apontaram que o uso do verniz fluoretado não apresentou diferença estatisticamente significativa quando comparado ao uso do placebo ou a não intervenção quanto ao incremento de cárie no nível do dente (-0,31; IC 95% -1,67 a 1,06) e mostrou diferença estatisticamente significativa entre esses grupos, mas com pequena importância clínica, no nível de superfície (-0,68; IC 95% -1,01 a -0,35). O risco relativo combinado em estudos que utilizaram placebo também não apresentou diferença estatisticamente significativa (0,87; IC 95% 0,74 a 1,03). Por outro lado, o risco relativo global apontou o benefício do uso do verniz e uma proteção de 12% (0,88; IC 95% 0,81 a 0,96). De acordo com os resultados observados no gráfico de funil e na regressão de Egger, o viés de publicação não pode ser descartado. Assim, novos ensaios clínicos de melhor qualidade ainda são necessários para que se alcance uma evidência conclusiva sobre o tema(AU)

The aim of theses systematic review and meta-analyses was to evaluate the effect of fluoride varnish applications on the prevention of dental caries in preschoolers. The electronic search was performed in seven databases, without language restriction, as well as in thesis database and registries of controlled clinical trials between October and November 2016. Handsearching was performed in eleven specialized journals, two of them from the medical area and also included abstracts presented at The International Association for Dental Research (IADR) and the European Organization for Caries Research (ORCA). Controlled randomized or quasi-randomized clinical trials with children ranging from zero to 71 months, evaluating the anticaries effect of the professional application of fluoride varnish versus placebo, no intervention or usual care were included. The risk of bias in the studies was assessed according to the Cochrane tool. The outcomes of interest were the incidence of dental caries in dentin, measured by the increase of caries lesions and the proportion of children who developed new caries lesions, and the number of hospital admissions due to dental caries, as well as adverse effects related to the use of the product. Data were synthesized and analyzed through meta-analysis. After exclusion of the duplicates, 2070 titles and abstracts were independently assessed by two evaluators previously trained to identify the studies that meet the inclusion criteria. Of these, 77 articles were selected to be read in full. This review included 19 studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The risk of bias assessment identified one study with low risk. Meta-analyses showed that the use of fluoride varnish did not present a statistically significant difference when compared to the use of placebo or no intervention in the increase of caries at the tooth level (-0.31; 95% CI -1.67 to 1.06) and showed a statistically significant difference between these groups, with little clinical importance, at surface level (-0.68; 95% CI -1.01 to -0.35). The pooled relative risk in studies using placebo also showed no statistically significant difference (0.87; 95%CI 0.74 to 1.03). On the other hand, the overall relative risk pointed to the benefit of using the varnish and a 12% protection (0.88; 95% CI 0.81 to 0.96). According to the results observed in the Funnel Plot and Egger regression, the publication bias cannot be dismissed. Thus, better quality clinical trials are still needed to reach conclusive evidence on this issue(AU)

Evidence-based pediatric dental practice within the clinician's reach: the case of the esthetic effect of topical silver diamine fluoride for caries control in primary dentition / Prática odontopediátrica baseada em evidência científica ao alcance do clínico: o caso do efeito estético do uso tópico de diaminofluoreto de prata para o controle da cárie na dentição decídua

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this paper was to demonstrate how a general dental practitioner tried to answer, based on scientific evidence, to the question: "Does the darkening of caries lesions caused by silver diamine fluoride treatment contribute to reducing parents' acceptance of such treatment?". Methods: The dentist adopted the following approach: formulation of a specific question; bibliographic search using controlled vocabulary and free terms; selection of full-text articles for reading; reading and critical appraisal of selected articles; summary of the available evidence; translation of the evidence into clinical practice. The dentist identified 45 studies and selected 20 to be read in full, but only three could be used; two controlled trials from China and one from Brazil. Results: Results showed that the esthetic effect was neither a major issue nor a decisive factor for the indication of the proposed treatment. However, although there is robust scientific evidence on the effectiveness of silver diamine fluoride in arresting and preventing caries lesions, there is scarce information about its esthetic effect. Thus, the lack of studies assessing the impact of the darkening of caries lesions and the esthetic effect of the treatment on the quality of life of children and their parents must be emphasized. Conclusion: The dentist concluded that there is insufficient evidence about the esthetic effect of silver diamine fluoride applications on primary teeth and opted to inform it to his/her patients' caregivers and to share with them the decision whether to use it or not in each specific case.

RESUMO Objetivo: Mostrar como um cirurgião-dentista clínico geral procurou responder, com base em evidência científica, à pergunta: "O escurecimento das lesões de cárie em dentes decíduos tratados com diaminofluoreto de prata contribui para a redução da aceitação desse tipo de tratamento pelos pais?". Métodos: O dentista seguiu o seguinte roteiro: formulação de uma pergunta específica; realização da busca bibliográfica utilizando descritores e termos livres; seleção dos artigos científicos completos para leitura; leitura e avaliação crítica dos artigos selecionados; resumo da evidência disponível e aplicação da evidência à sua prática clínica. O dentista localizou 45 trabalhos e selecionou 20 para leitura na íntegra, mas apenas três puderam ser utilizados, sendo dois ensaios controlados realizados na China e um no Brasil. Resultados: Os resultados mostraram que a estética não foi uma questão importante nem um fator decisivo para a indicação do tratamento proposto. No entanto, embora haja evidência científica robusta sobre a efetividade do diaminofluoreto de prata em paralisar e prevenir lesões de cárie, há pouca informação sobre seu efeito estético. Assim, a falta de estudos que avaliam o impacto do escurecimento das lesões de cárie e o efeito estético do tratamento sobre a qualidade de vida das crianças e seus familiares deve ser ressaltada. Conclusão: O dentista concluiu que não existe evidência suficiente sobre o efeito estético das aplicações de diaminofluoreto de prata em dentes decíduos e optou por informar os responsáveis por seus pacientes a respeito e compartilhar com eles a decisão sobre a indicação do mesmo para cada caso específico.