Aron Naimi-Akbar

Longevity of posterior resin composite restorations in adults - A systematic review

OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic review of the literature on the longevity of posterior resin composite restorations in adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted according to pre-determined criteria for inclusion and exclusion. The studies selected were prospective clinical trials with a minimum follow-up time of 4 years, 40 restorations per experimental group and an annual attrition rate of less than 5%. Initially, abstracts and full-text articles were assessed independently and the assessment was subsequently agreed on by five reviewers. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed according to the Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment (SBU) standard checklist for determining the extent to which studies meet basic quality criteria. RESULTS In all, the literature search identified 4275 abstracts and 93 articles were read in full-text. There were eighteen studies which met the criteria for inclusion, eight of which were included in the analysis. There were 80 failures of restorations with a total follow-up time at risk for failure of 62,030 months. The overall incidence rate for all causes of failure was 1.55 lost restorations per 100 restoration years. The most common biological reason for failure (a total of 31 restorations) was secondary caries, with or without fracture of the restoration. The quality of the evidence was low. CONCLUSIONS In an efficacy setting, the overall survival proportion of posterior resin composite restorations is high. The major reasons for failure are secondary caries and restoration fracture which supports the importance of adequate follow-up time. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The overall survival proportion of posterior composite restorations was high, but the results cannot be extrapolated to an effectiveness setting. The importance of adequate follow-up time is supported by the finding that secondary caries often occurred after 3 years or later.

Complex systematic review ‐ Perioperative antibiotics in conjunction with dental implant placement

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to revisit the available scientific literature regarding perioperative antibiotics in conjunction with implant placement by combining the recommended methods for systematic reviews and complex systematic reviews. MATERIAL AND METHODS A search of Medline (OVID), The Cochrane Library (Wiley), EMBASE, PubMed and Health technology assessment (HTA) organizations was performed, in addition to a complementary hand-search. Selected systematic reviews and primary studies were assessed using GRADE and AMSTAR, respectively. A meta-analysis was performed. RESULTS The literature search identified 846 papers of which 10 primary studies and seven systematic reviews were included. Quality assessment of the systematic reviews revealed two studies of moderate risk of bias and five with high risk of bias. The two systematic reviews of moderate risk of bias stated divergent numbers needed to treat (NNT) to prevent one patient from implant failure. Four of the primary studies comparing antibiotic prophylaxis with placebo were estimated to be of low, or moderate, risk of bias and subjected to meta-analysis. The NNT was 50 (pooled RR 0.39, 95% CI 0.18, 0.84; P = 0.02). None of these four studies individually show a statistical significant benefit of antibiotic prophylaxis. Furthermore, narrative analysis of the studies eligible for meta-analysis reveals clinical heterogeneity regarding intervention and smoking. CONCLUSION Antibiotic prophylaxis in conjunction with implant placement reduced the risk for implant loss by 2%. However, the sub-analysis of the primary studies suggests that there is no benefit of antibiotic prophylaxis in uncomplicated implant surgery in healthy patient.

Arginine and Caries Prevention: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: To evaluate the available evidence that the use of arginine-containing dental care products prevents the development of new caries lesions and the progression of existing lesions. Search Methods: We performed a systematic literature search of databases including PubMed, the Cochrane Library and EMBASE. Selection Criteria: We selected randomized controlled trials of treatment with arginine in fluoride-containing dental products measuring dental caries incidence or progression in children, adults and elderly subjects. Data Collection and Analysis: Two review authors independently assessed trials for risk of bias and evaluated overall study quality using the GRADE classification. Main Results: Due to conflicts of interest and weak transferability to Swedish conditions, no conclusions can be drawn from studies on the effects of arginine-fluoride toothpaste in children. Arginine-containing toothpaste costs about 40% more than basic fluoride toothpaste; to determine whether it is more cost-effective, the higher cost must be considered in relation to any additional caries-preventive effect. The literature review also disclosed some questionable research ethics: in several of the studies, the children in the control group used non-fluoride toothpaste. Toothpaste without fluoride is not as effective against dental caries as the standard treatment - fluoride toothpaste - which has a well-documented effect. This contravenes the fundamental principles of research ethics. Conclusion: At present there is insufficient evidence in support of a caries-preventive effect for the inclusion of arginine in toothpastes. More rigorous studies, and studies which are less dependent on commercial interests, are required.

Cognitive function among sons of women who worked in dentistry.

OBJECTIVE Exposure to elemental mercury vapor can impair neurological function as it is neurotoxic in doses higher than usually found in dentistry. Little is known about the potential effects of fetal exposure to elemental mercury among offspring of female dental workers. We investigated cognitive function among offspring of women working in dentistry at the time of their pregnancy. METHODS We compared results for cognitive function examinations taken by the majority of young men in Sweden at the time of compulsory military enlistment (age 17-18 years). Sons of female dentists (N=365) and dental nurses (N=3181) born during the 1960-1970s were compared with sons of female physicians (N=378) and assistant nurses (N=12 667). RESULTS Analysis by linear regression showed that sons of dental workers had similar or higher cognitive function test results compared to their matched cohorts. CONCLUSION We found no evidence of poorer cognitive function among male offspring of female dentists or dental nurses.

Study on self-assessment regarding knowledge of temporomandibular disorders in children/adolescents by Swedish and Saudi Arabian dentists

Abstract Objective. To estimate the degree of self-assessed knowledge among dentists in Sweden and Saudi Arabia regarding temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in children and adolescents using a summative form of assessment and further to investigate the possible factors that may influence the self-assessed knowledge. Materials and methods. A questionnaire survey covering four domains (Etiology; Diagnosis and classification; Chronic pain and pain behavior; Treatment and prognosis) regarding TMD knowledge was used. Out of 250 questionnaires (125 in each country) a total of 65 (52%) were returned in Sweden and 104 (83%) in Saudi Arabia. Results. Self-assessed individual knowledge was significantly associated to the level of actual knowledge among the Swedish groups in the domains Etiology; Diagnosis and classification and Treatment and prognosis (p < 0.05). However, in the Saudi Arabian groups a corresponding significant association was only found in the domain Diagnosis and classification (p < 0.05). Conclusions. This study showed that there is a difference in the accuracy of self-assessment of own knowledge between the dentists in Sweden and Saudi Arabia. The Swedish dentists have a better ability to assess their level of knowledge compared to Saudi Arabian dentists regarding TMD in children and adolescents. This difference could be related to several factors such as motivation, positive feedback, reflection, psychomotor, and interpersonal skills, which all are more dominant in the Swedish educational tradition.

Approximal caries increment in adolescents after a visual aid in combination with a comprehensive open discussion

Abstract Objective. To achieve greater motivation for behavioural changes; educating, motivating and supporting the patients ability to change lifestyle factors related to the caries disease are important tasks in the prevention of the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a visual aid (Visual Caries Dialogue, VCD) in combination with a comprehensive open discussion has a beneficial effect on approximal caries development among a population of young adolescents. Materials and methods. The study subjects were randomized to either an intervention group (n = 118), where VCD was conducted, or a control group (n = 112) receiving traditional oral healthcare information, at the annual dental health examination. The number of caries lesions reaching through the entire enamel (D2) and dentin caries reaching through the enamel into the dentin (D3) were recorded from bitewing radiographs each year, from 2001–2004. Differences between the study groups regarding at least two new approximal surfaces with caries (D2–D3) were tested using logistic regression. Results. The caries increment was lower in the intervention group compared to the control group. During the 3-year follow-up, 18 (15.3%) patients in the intervention group and 40 (35.7%) patients in the control group demonstrated a DS-approximal increment of at least two surfaces with a risk ratio of 2.34 (95% CI = 1.43–3.83). Conclusion. Visual Caries Dialogue in combination with a comprehensive open discussion reduced approximal caries increment among young individuals. The method provides an innovative simple and low-cost way of delivering information to patients and guides busy dental healthcare personnel in the approach.

Are there early signs that predict development of temporomandibular joint disease

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJD) involve orofacial pain and functional limitations that may limit important daily activities such as chewing and speaking. This observational case-control study attempted to identify factors associated with TMJD development, particularly inflammation. The study participants were patients treated at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. The cases were patients who received a diagnosis of TMJD, chronic closed lock, or painful clicking and were treated surgically during the period from 2007 through 2011. The control group was randomly selected from among patients who had undergone tooth extraction and was matched by age and sex. A total of 146 cases and 151 controls were included in the analyses. The response rate was 55.3% for the case group and 21.8% for the control group. The male:female ratio for patients with TMJD was 1:4.4. TMJD was significantly associated with pneumonia (odds ratio [OR], 2.1), asthma (OR, 2.1), allergies (OR, 1.8), headache (OR, 3.1), general joint hypermobility (OR, 3.8), orofacial trauma (OR, 3.9), rheumatism (OR, 2.5), and orthodontic treatment (OR, 2.4) (P < 0.05 for all outcomes). In conclusion, autoimmune diseases and inflammatory conditions are associated with increased risk of TMJD. Moreover, certain lung disorders may predict subsequent development of TMJD.

Neurological disease or intellectual disability among sons of female Swedish dental personnel

Abstract Objective: Prenatal exposure to elemental mercury may be a potential hazard for the offspring of female dental personnel working with dental amalgam. The aim of this study was to investigate whether potential in utero exposure to mercury might have affected the development of nervous system of the sons of Swedish female dental personnel leading to an increased risk of neurological disease or intellectual disability. Material and methods: We used national Swedish registers to investigate risks for diseases potentially related to adverse effects on neurodevelopment. Sons of female dentists (n=1690) and dental nurses (n=10,420) were compared with cohorts consisting of sons of other female healthcare personnel. Due to changes in mercury exposure in dentistry during the study period, analyses were stratified by decade of birth. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using Cox proportional hazard models. Results: We found no elevated risk for neurological disease, epilepsy or intellectual disability among the sons of dental personnel during any of the decades studied. HRs for neurological disease among the dental nurse cohort were even below 1.00 during the 1970s and 1980s. A low number of events resulted in uncertainty regarding results in the dentist cohort. Conclusions: We did not find any support for the hypothesis that mercury exposure in Swedish dentistry during the 1960s, 1970s or 1980s had any effect on the incidence of neurological disease or intellectual disability among the sons of female dental personnel. Our results imply that current use of dental amalgam should not represent an elevated risk for neurological disease or intellectual disability among the offspring of dental personnel.

Mortality among sons of female dental personnel : a national cohort study

Abstract Aims: Dental personnel are exposed to mercury when using dental amalgam. This exposure constitutes a potential hazard to offspring of women working in dentistry. The present study examined increased mortality risk in offspring of mothers working in dentistry. Methods: Mortality was compared between sons of dental personnel and sons of nondental health-care personnel. Hazard ratios were calculated for three decades (1960s–1980s), when the magnitude of mercury exposure in dentistry was likely to have varied. Results: During the 1960s, there was a statistically significant increase in the risk of neonatal mortality for sons of dental nurses when compared with sons of assistant nurses: hazard ratio (HR) 1.82 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.04–3.22). There was no increased risk in the subsequent decades, but a trend test demonstrated a consistent decrease in the risk over the three decades: HR for trend 0.63 (95% CI: 0.44–0.90). The raised mortality risk was limited to neonatal mortality. The comparison between dentists and physicians had insufficient statistical power. Conclusions: There is no increased mortality risk among sons of female dentists after the 1960s. Although the results should be interpreted with caution, they suggest a modestly raised risk of neonatal mortality, during the 1960s, when exposure to mercury was thought to be highest.

Antibiotic prophylaxis in orthognathic surgery: A complex systematic review

Objective In orthognathic surgery, antibiotics are prescribed to reduce the risk of postoperative infection. However, there is lack of consensus over the appropriate drug, the dose and duration of administration. The aim of this complex systematic review was to assess the effect of antibiotics on postoperative infections in orthognathic surgery. Methods Both systematic reviews and primary studies were assessed. Medline (OVID), The Cochrane Library (Wiley) and EMBASE (embase.com), PubMed (non-indexed articles) and Health Technology Assessment (HTA) publications were searched. The primary studies were assessed using GRADE and the systematic reviews by AMSTAR. Results Screening of abstracts yielded 6 systematic reviews and 36 primary studies warranting full text scrutiny. In total,14 primary studies were assessed for risk of bias. Assessment of the included systematic reviews identified two studies with a moderate risk of bias, due to inclusion in the meta-analyses of primary studies with a high risk of bias. Quality assessment of the primary studies disclosed one with a moderate risk of bias and one with a low risk. The former compared a single dose of antibiotic with 24 hour prophylaxis using the same antibiotic; the latter compared oral and intravenous administration of antibiotics. Given the limited number of acceptable studies, no statistical analysis was undertaken, as it was unlikely to contribute any relevant information. Conclusion With respect to antibiotic prophylaxis in orthognathic surgery, most of the studies to date have been poorly conducted and reported. Thus scientific uncertainty remains as to the preferred antibiotic and the optimal duration of administration.