Low level laser therapy for burning mouth syndrome

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This review to evaluate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on burning pain, quality of life, and negative emotions in patients with burning mouth syndrome included 14 RCTs only two of which were at low risk of bias.While the findinds suggest that LLLT has a positive effect the quality of evidence means the findings should be interpreted cautiously.

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Recurrent aphthous stomatitis – topical interventions

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This review of the efficacy and safety of topical interventions used for recurrent aphthous stomatitis included 72 studies assessing 29 different interventions. Most of the interventions did not demonstrate significant differences with limitednumbers of studies for some interventions and overal limitations in the quality of the evidence.

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Enamel demineralisation during multi-bracketed fixed orthodontic treatment

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This overview of systematic reviews of evidence for the prevention of enamel demineralization during fixed appliance orthodontic treatment included 29 reviews. Most of the reviews were considered to have methodological issues with the findings suggesting that professional fluorides, sealants, reminders, and lasers might be useful interventions to prevent enamel demineralization.

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Lasers for treatment of dentine hypersensitivity?

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This Cochrane review of the effectiveness of lasers in the treatment of dentine hypersensitivity included 23 RCTs. The findings suggest that lasers may reduce pain intensity at short, medium, or long term when compared to placebo/no treatment. However the evidence is limited and of low to very low certainty.

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Third molar surgery: Does low-level laser therapy reduce post-operative morbidity?

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This review of whether low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is effective in reducing postoperative morbidity in patients undergoing surgical removal of mandibular third molars included 17 RCTs. The findings suggest a reduction in post-operative swelling but not pain or trismus.

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Photodynamic therapy as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal treatment

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This review of the adjunctive effects of lasers or antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) to non-surgical periodontal treatment included 17 RCTs. The studies were small and hetrogeneous including just 701 patients in total and of low quality providing very limited evidence.

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Dentine hypersensitivity: lasers v topical desensitising agents

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This review comparing the effectiveness of lasers and topical desensitising agent treatments for dentine hypersensitivity included 13 studies. None of the studies was at low risk of bias so the evidence is of low-quality and insufficient to draw any conclusions on the superiority of lasers or conventional topical desensitising agents.

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Top Dental Elf Blogs Jul – Sep 2019

The Dental Elf brings you daily updates of evidence-based dentistry research

Pulpotomy of permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis, the management of direct anticoagulant agents for invasive dental treatments and laser preparation of tooth surfaces for fissure sealant placement were out most popular blogs in July, August and September.

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Lasers for dentine hypersensitivity a network meta-analysis

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This review of the effects of different types of lasers on dentine hypersensitivity included 11 RCTs suggesting no significant differences between Er,Cr:YSGG, Nd:YAG, Er:YAG, and GaAlAs lasers both in the immediate term and at 1 month.

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Laser preparation of tooth surfaces before fissure sealant placement

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This review of laser preparation compared to other types of tooth surface preparation before fissure sealant placement included 5 RCTs. While the review suggested that retention rates with laser preparation were similar to acid etching the included studies were small and at high risk of bias. Thefore the findings should be considered very cautiously.

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