The registries: what do they tell us about knee arthroplasty? A narrative review of six national arthroplasty registers

Joint replacement registers are well established and have an important influence on decision-making and clinical practice. The objectives of this paper were to review orthopaedic registries in order to consider aspects of patient demographics, implant usage and revision outcomes in relation to knee replacement surgery. Six national arthroplasty registers with over 10 years of data were selected for review. Despite the geographical diversity, the demographics of patients presenting for surgery and subcategories of surgery were remarkably similar. For total knee replacement cemented, minimally stabilized devices were preferred in most countries and a revision-free outcome can be expected in greater than 94% of cases at 10 years. Some commonly used devices achieved revision rates of about half of this. Partial replacements were used in between 6% and 15% of primary cases and had higher revision rates than total replacements but had lower post-surgery mortality and fewer infections. Patellofemoral replacements are used in 1% or less of cases and have high revision rates.     

Management of the premaxilla in the treatment of bilateral cleft of lip and palate: what can the literature tell us?

Objective

In the treatment of bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) patients, there is discussion about the management of the position of the premaxilla. This literature analysis summarises the literature on managing this condition.

Materials and methods

A PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library search was conducted resulting in 4465 articles which were screened on title and abstract.

Results

Seventy-one articles were available in full text, 16 of which were included in this literature analysis. We searched on keywords timing and technique, complications, growth of the maxilla and results after bone grafting the alveolar process. This literature analysis has shown that there are various ways to correct the position of the premaxilla. These can be divided into primary, early, late secondary and tertiary intervention before the age of 8 years, between the ages of 8 and 12 years and older than 12 years. Correction is done with surgery, orthodontics or a combination, with or without bone grafting.

Conclusions

An osteotomy of the premaxilla in combination with secondary alveolar bone grafting appears to be the most successful technique. Combining early secondary alveolar bone grafting with osteotomy creates more room to ensure a watertight closure of the nasal mucosa resulting in fewer postoperative complications. Before surgery, the orthodontist should try to optimise the position of the premaxilla for its surgical correction prior to bone grafting.

Clinical relevance

The treatment of BCLP patients is still based on experience and expert opinions. This literature analysis tries to give a summery on how to handle the protruded and displaced premaxilla.

     

Combined fixed–functional treatment of skeletal class II malocclusions with the EVAA appliance

Objectives

The aim of this study was to compare the skeletal and dental effects of the EVAA appliance with those of an activator appliance in growing children with skeletal Class II anomalies.

Materials and methods

A total of 34 subjects with Class II anomalies were recruited for this study. They were divided into three groups: the EVAA group (n=13; mean chronological age: 11 years 9 months), activator group (n=13; mean chronological age: 11 years 8 months) and control group (n=8; mean chronological age: 10 years 8 months). Lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken at the beginning and end of functional therapy. Fixed orthodontic treatment was completed in the EVAA group. A statistical software program (SPSS 18) was used for one-way analysis of variance and multiple comparisons with the Duncan test.

Results

We observed a significant decrease in the ANB, convexity, and 1┴NA (°), while a significant increase appeared in upper anterior facial height, posterior facial height, 1┴NB (mm), SN-lower occlusal plane values in the EVAA and activator groups after treatment (p<0.05). No significant difference in study parameters in the control group during the treatment period except for the increase in SNA and 1┴NA (mm) values (p<0.05) were observed. There were no significant differences between EVAA and activator treatment groups in terms of study parameters except for the articular angle, which was significantly higher in the EVAA group after therapy (p<0.05).

Conclusion

The effects of EVAA appliances were similar to those of activator treatment.     

What do different tests tell about the mechanical and biological properties of bioceramic materials?

A wide selection of commercial bioceramic (MTA-type) materials is now available for dentin replacement, pulp capping, pulpotomy, creation of apical barriers in teeth with open apices, repair of root perforation and resorptive defects, as well as orthograde or retrograde root canal fillings. A variety of experiments with different models and methods employed by researchers in the endodontic community have been developed for studying the properties of bioceramic materials in order to understand and predict their bioactive behavior and how they fulfill the mechanical, chemical, and microbiological goals set to these materials. Objective criteria for testing bioceramic materials should be developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) or the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) to accurately describe the biological, chemical, and mechanical characteristics of the bioceramic cements and sealers that are available for use in various endodontic applications. This article is an overview of those methods and devices that have been and will be used in the literature for testing bioceramic materials.     

Dental caries experience in older people over time: what can the large cohort studies tell us?

BACKGROUND: Little was known of the natural history of dental caries among older adults until recently, but reports from a number of large cohort studies have now enabled better understanding of the nature and determinants of dental caries in older people. The aim of this review is to examine and compare findings from established population-based longitudinal studies of older adults in order to determine their preventive implications. METHODS: The dental literature was reviewed in order to identify reports on dental caries incidence from large, population-based dental longitudinal studies of older adults (age 50+) with at least 3 years of follow-up. RESULTS: Reports were identified from four studies (in Iowa, North Carolina, Ontario and South Australia) which met the criteria; four reports dealt with coronal caries, and five with root surface caries. When annualised, coronal and root surface caries increments were combined and compared with those reported for adolescents, the caries experience of older people over time (between 0.8 and 1.2 new surfaces affected per year) exceeded that reported from cohort studies of adolescents (between 0.4 and 1.2 surfaces per year). The only caries risk factor common to all four studies was the wearing of a partial denture (for root surface caries only). CONCLUSIONS: Older people are a caries-active group, experiencing new disease at a rate which is at least as great as that of adolescents. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Dentate older people should be the target of intensive monitoring and preventive efforts at both the clinical practice and public health levels. There is no easily identifiable 'magic bullet' for preventing caries in that age group, but the use of evidence-based preventive interventions (such as fluoride) should suffice.     

Learning curves: what do dental students learn from repeated practice of clinical procedures?

It is generally accepted that repetition of procedures is necessary to develop clinical skill in dentistry. Although there is a rich empirical research tradition in medicine establishing competency levels for new procedures, investigations of the shape of learning curves for clinical techniques are rare in dental education. Data were reviewed from three classes (n=465) of students at the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in seventeen clinical skills in five departments for which test case (independent performance) data were available. It was hypothesized that a learning curve would be observed with gradually rising scores as a function of amount of repeated test case work and general practice experience. Other factors, such as faculty ratings and clinical GPA, could be expected to modify this curve. No evidence was found that test case performance was affected by number of previous test cases, number of practice (ungraded) procedures previously completed, faculty ratings of technical skill in the discipline by quarter, faculty ratings of patient management and of clinical judgment competencies, overall clinical GPA, and performance on initial licensure examinations. The absence of a pattern showing that amount of prior experience improves clinical performance raises questions about the practice of setting "requirements" for graduation and challenges dental educators to better explain the presumed relationship between practice and performance and the validity of clinical evaluation of performance based exclusively on the objective technical quality of work samples. The literature on learning curves and on competency-based education offer alternative insights into what students are actually learning but schools are failing to measure in the clinical experience.     

Bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw: what do we currently know? A survey of knowledge given in the recent literature

Increasing application of bisphosphonates for therapy of osteopathies has led to reports of the severe associated adverse effects of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). We reviewed recent literature to assess several aspects of bisphosphonate-associated ONJ, and to provide healthcare professionals with an overview of treatment and preventive options. Literature databases were searched using keywords. Information of 54 articles were discussed and completed by additional literature. High-risk factors were application of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates, teeth extractions, and ill-fitting dentures. Treatment included non-surgical options and radical surgery. Success and failure were described for all treatment options; further studies investigating long-term recovery and recurrence are warranted. Paying attention to effective prevention of ONJ before, during, and after treatment is essential.     

Which one closes extraction spaces faster: en masse retraction or two-step retraction? A randomized prospective clinical trial

Objectives:To compare the time to close extraction spaces between en masse (ER) and two-step retraction (TSR).Materials and Methods:Forty-eight patients with bimaxillary protrusion underwent treatment with extraction of four first premolars. All patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups: ER (n = 24) or TSR (n = 24). The main outcome was the time required to close spaces between ER and TSR; the closing time of spaces between females and males was a secondary outcome. The size of premolars was measured on the models and data were collected on clinical records at the following times: retraction start date (T1) and space closure completion date (T2). The total time to close the extraction spaces was calculated for each extracted premolar (T1 to T2). The Kaplan Meier method and the Log-Rank test were used to compare the groups.Results:The time to close extraction spaces showed significant differences between the ER and TSR groups. While ER took between 12.1 and 13.8 months, TSR took between 24.7 and 26.8 months. The TSR group showed a significant difference between sexes; male patients took 5.5 months longer than female patients for the extraction spaces to close.Conclusions:TSR takes between 1.8 and 2.2 times longer than ER to close the extraction spaces and it took longer in males than females.     

Does bite-jumping damage the TMJ? A prospective longitudinal clinical and MRI study of Herbst patients

The aim of this prospective longitudinal study of 62 consecutively treated Class II malocclusions was to determine whether bite-jumping causes temporomandibular disorders (TMD). The function of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) was assessed anamnestically, clinically, and by means of magnetic resonance images (MRIs) taken before (T1), after (T2), and 1 year after (T3) Herbst treatment. Average treatment time with the Herbst appliance was 7.2 months. In all subjects, Herbst treatment resulted in a Class I or overcorrected Class I dental arch relationship. Thereafter, treatment was continued with a multibracket appliance. The condyle was positioned significantly forward during treatment but returned to its original position after removal of the Herbst appliance. A temporary capsulitis of the inferior stratum of the posterior attachment was induced during treatment. Over the entire observation period from before treatment to 1 year after treatment, bite-jumping with the Herbst appliance: (1) did not result in any muscular TMD; (2) reduced the prevalence of capsulitis and structural condylar bony changes; (3) did not induce disc displacement in subjects with a physiologic pretreatment disc position; (4) resulted in a stable repositioning of the disc in subjects with a pretreatment partial disc displacement with reduction; and (5) could not recapture the disc in subjects with a pretreatment total disc displacement with or without reduction. A pretreatment total disc displacement with or without reduction did not, however, seem to be a contraindication for Herbst treatment. In conclusion, bite-jumping using the Herbst appliance does not have a deleterious effect on TMJ function and does not induce TMD on a short-term basis.     

How do patients perceive the British orthodontic society online information resource about orthognathic treatment? A qualitative study

Objectives: To explore the accessibility, usability and relevance of the British Orthodontic Society (BOS) online information resource (OIR), Your Jaw Surgery.

Design: Qualitative, cross-sectional study.

Setting: 5 UK sites.

Participants: Patients before, during and after treatment for non-cleft skeletal discrepancy.

Methods: Patients were identified at joint clinics and recruited after having time to view the OIR. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 patients (aged 16–46 years). The interviews were transcribed and thematic analysis was undertaken using a framework approach.

Results: The main themes identified were the overall usefulness, personal relevance and positive perceptions of the OIR. The OIR was seen to be useful for patients considering treatment, and potentially useful for patients undergoing treatment. Participants were looking for a personally relevant resource that would give them the best possible idea of how they would look and feel after surgery. The OIR was perceived as trusted, positive and reassuring.

Conclusions: Patients at different stages of treatment found the OIR helpful and reassuring. Clinicians may find it useful to direct patients to the OIR to complement a professional consultation, but should be aware that patients may perceive it as presenting a positive image of the long-term benefits of orthognathic surgery.     

Is there a difference in treatment effect of different intra-articular drugs for temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis? A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

A systematic review based on the PRISMA guidelines was conducted to investigate and compare treatment with hyaluronic acid (HA), corticosteroids, and blood products in patients with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA). The MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for articles published until September 25, 2019. Articles met the inclusion criteria if they reported patients with TMJOA, a comparison group, and a follow-up period of at least 6 months. The mean and standard deviation for TMJ pain and maximum mouth opening (MMO) were reported. Nine studies involving 443 patients were included. Injectables and Ringer’s lactate solution or normal saline were reported to significantly improve TMJ pain and MMO. Regarding TMJ pain, two studies showed a significant superiority of plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF)/platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections with or without arthrocentesis over HA, but HA showed a significant improvement compared to corticosteroids. For MMO, no injectable was found to be superior to Ringer’s lactate or a normal saline control, but arthrocentesis + PRP resulted in MMO improvement compared to arthrocentesis + HA. Overall, all injectables in conjunction with arthrocentesis were efficient in alleviating pain and improving MMO in TMJOA patients; however, a meta-analysis was not possible due to heterogeneity across studies.     

Is the at-home bleaching treatment applied only on the lingual surface as effective as that on the buccal surface? A randomized clinical trial

Clinical Oral Investigations - This double-blind randomized clinical trial compared the effectiveness and bleaching sensitivity (BS) of at-home dental bleaching performed on the buccal surface and...     

How do carious root lesions develop after the end of professional preventive measures?—Preliminary findings of a randomized clinical trial

Odontology - Aim of this randomized clinical trial was to assess the development of root caries lesions with and without (adjuvant) professional prevention treatment over 24&nbsp;months. 20...     

How to measure the effects of fluoride treatments in clinical trials? Assessment: modern versus traditional methods

In recent years there has been a pronounced change in the epidemiology and disease pattern of dental caries. In the current context, traditional methods of caries assessment, discriminating lesions at cavitation, are clinically inappropriate, and obsolete for research requiring detection of a very early phase of mineral loss. Modern prospective caries studies require sensitive methods permitting the measurement of small changes in tooth mineral content, and objective, quantitative measurements of such changes are now possible in a single caries lesion. For longitudinal studies there are noninvasive methods for assessment of new lesions as well as quantitative changes (progression or regression) in existing lesions. Among as yet unresolved issues are improved methods to assess the current activity of a lesion, methods for detection and quantification of secondary caries and root caries, calibration of methodologies between different research institutes, and methods capable of assessment of the whole continuum in the development of a caries lesion, from initial loss of mineral to cavitation.     

Is the routine practice of antibiotic prescription and microbial culture and antibiotic sensitivity testing justified in primary maxillofacial space infection patients? A prospective,randomized clinical study

Purpose

The purpose of this prospective, randomized, comparative clinical study was to compare treatment outcome of removal of foci and incision and drainage, with or without oral antibiotic therapy, in the management of single primary maxillofacial space infection with a known focus.

Routine oral examinations in primary care: Which predictors determine what is done?: A prospective clinical case recording study

OBJECTIVES: Elements of a routine oral examination (ROE) in dental practice may be determined by patients' oral status, as recommended by prevailing knowledge, as well as by other factors. Our aim was to identify patient and GDP characteristics associated with aspects of oral health assessment (OHA) and clinical management (CM) in patients with various oral conditions. METHODS: A prospective observational study was performed, based on clinical case recording of 1059 ROEs by 128 GDPs. A clinical case recording form was used to record oral health assessment, diagnoses made, and clinical management for each ROE. Multilevel logistic regression analyses (with random coefficients) were performed. RESULTS: Overall, 'patients' age' in domains OHA as well as CM was the most salient predictor, while 'positive attitude to periodontal screening' showed to be a prominent GDP-factor. Patient characteristics mostly involved in OHA and CM were 'disease-free period' (odds ratios from 0.21 to 0.66), 'oral health compliance' (odds ratios from 0.32 to 0.65) and 'risk for periodontal disease' (odds ratios from 1.79 to 4.97). 'Continuing professional development' (odds ratios from 2.54 to 4.95), 'mean reading hours' (odds ratios from 2.25 to 4.48) and 'cooperation with peers' (odds ratios from 2.78 to 3.72) showed to be significant GDP-predictors. CONCLUSIONS: ROEs are determined by patient oral health status, particularly by aspects of oral health compliance and risk for oral disease, but also by GDP characteristics. The latter may reflect perceptions of a professional role, which need to be considered in efforts to improve the quality of ROE in oral care.