Effectiveness of a comprehensive oral management protocol for the prevention of severe oral mucositis in patients receiving radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy for oral cancer: a multicentre,phase II,randomized controlled trial

The aim of this phase II, multicentre, randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive oral management protocol for the prevention of severe oral mucositis in patients with oral cancer receiving radiotherapy alone or chemoradiotherapy. In total, 124 patients with oral cancer were enrolled from five institutions. Of these, 37 patients undergoing radiotherapy were randomly divided into an intervention group (n = 18) and a control group (n = 19). The remaining 87 patients, who were undergoing chemoradiotherapy, were also randomized into an intervention group (n = 42) and a control group (n = 45). During radiotherapy, patients in the control group received only oral care, while those in the intervention group additionally received spacers to cover the entire dentition, pilocarpine hydrochloride, and topical dexamethasone ointment for oral mucositis. The primary endpoint was the incidence of severe oral mucositis. The intervention was significantly associated with a decreased incidence of severe oral mucositis in patients receiving radiotherapy alone (P = 0.046), but not in those receiving chemoradiotherapy (P = 0.815). These findings suggest that an oral management protocol can prevent severe oral mucositis in patients with oral cancer undergoing radiotherapy without concurrent chemotherapy.     

Effect of oral iron supplementation on unstimulated salivary flow rate: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND: No treatment is known to permanently increase salivary flow in patients with hyposalivation. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of iron supplementation on salivary flow rate. METHODS: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was carried out on 50 individuals with a low unstimulated whole salivary flow rate and low serum ferritin. Half the individuals received 60 mg iron orally twice a day for 3 months, while the other half received placebo. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found between the groups after treatment for the unstimulated flow rate and in the subjective assessments of oral dryness. The serum ferritin values increased significantly in the iron group but not in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: Oral supplementation with iron for 3 months has no effect on salivary flow rate among individuals with hyposalivation and low serum ferritin values.     

Short-term clinical effects of adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in periodontal treatment: a randomized clinical trial

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) in chronic periodontitis. Material and Methods: Twenty patients with untreated chronic periodontitis were included. All teeth received periodontal treatment comprising scaling and root planing. Using a split‐mouth design, two quadrants (test group) were additionally treated with aPDT. Sulcus fluid flow rate (SFFR) and bleeding on probing (BOP) were assessed at baseline, 1 week and 3 months after treatment. Relative attachment level (RAL), probing depths (PDs) and gingival recession (GR) were evaluated at baseline and 3 months after treatment. Results: Baseline median values for PD, GR and RAL were not different in the test group and control group. Values for RAL, PD, SFFR and BOP decreased significantly 3 months after treatment in the control group (median delta RAL: ?0.35 mm, inter‐quartile range: 0.21 mm), with a higher impact on the sites treated with adjunctive aPDT (median delta RAL: ?0.67 mm, inter‐quartile range: 0.36 mm, p<0.05). GR increased 3 months after treatment with and without adjunctive aPDT (p<0.05), with no difference between the groups (p>0.05). Conclusions: In patients with chronic periodontitis, clinical outcomes of conventional subgingival debridement can be improved by adjunctive aPDT.     

Effects of a composition containing lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase on oral malodor and salivary bacteria: a randomized,double-blind,crossover, placebo-controlled clinical trial

We report a clinical trial of the effects of test tablets containing bovine lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase on oral malodor and salivary bacteria. Fifteen subjects with volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) in mouth air above the olfactory threshold (H₂S >1.5 or CH₃SH >0.5 ng/10 ml) as detected by gas chromatography were enrolled in the trial. Either a test or a placebo tablet was ingested twice at 1-h intervals in two crossover phases. Mouth air was monitored for VSC levels at the baseline before ingestion of a tablet, 10 min after the first ingestion, 1 h (just before the second ingestion), and 2 h after the first ingestion. Whole saliva was analyzed at the baseline and at 2 h for bacterial numbers. At 10 min, the level of CH₃SH was significantly lower in the test group (median [interquartile range] = 0.28 [0.00–0.68] ng/10 ml) compared to that in the placebo group (0.73 [0.47–1.00] ng/10 ml; P = 0.011). The median concentration of CH₃SH in the test group was below the olfactory threshold after 10 min until 2 h, whereas the level in the placebo group was above the threshold during the experimental period. No difference in the numbers of salivary bacteria was detected by culturing or quantitative PCR, but terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism detected one fragment with a significantly lower copy number at 2 h in the test group (mean ± standard error, 4.89 ± 0.11 log₁₀ copies/10 μl) compared to that in the placebo group (5.38 ± 0.15 log₁₀ copies/10 μl; P = 0.033). These results indicate a suppressive effect of the test composition on oral malodor and suggest an influence on oral bacteria.     

Beneficial effect of methylprednisolone after mandibular third molar surgery: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled split-mouth trial

Objectives

Third molar (M3) removal is the model most frequently used for pain trials in oral surgery. Corticosteroids are frequently administered to reduce trismus and swelling after dentoalveolar surgical procedures. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the influence of a single, preoperative oral application of methylprednisolone on postoperative trismus, pain intensity, and the subjective need for analgesic medication after surgical removal of impacted mandibular M3 (LM3).

Materials and methods

Sixteen healthy patients requiring similar bilateral surgical LM3 removal were included in a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study in a split-mouth design. At random, each patient received either weight-dependent methylprednisolone (40–80 mg) or a placebo orally 1 h prior to surgery. In each case, the right and left LM3 were treated in independent visits. Trismus, swelling, pain measured on a 100-mm visual analog scale, and the postoperative demand of analgesics were assessed.

Results

Statistical analysis indicates a significant reduction of trismus, swelling, pain intensity, and patient-controlled intake of analgesics during the whole postsurgical period of investigation (first to seventh day).

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that a single preoperative weight-dependent administration of methylprednisolone is a safe and effective concept for diminishing postoperative discomfort, pain intensity, and the total intake of analgesics after wisdom tooth extractions.

Clinical relevance

In case of missing contraindications, the preoperative administration of methylprednisolone is recommended, a routine medication for more extended procedures in oral surgery.     

The efficiency of extended postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis in orthognathic surgery: A prospective,randomized, double-blind,placebo-controlled clinical trial

Postoperative antibiotics are commonly administered in orthognathic surgery, despite the fact that there is no consensus regarding their efficacy. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of postoperative antibiotics in orthognathic surgery by conducting a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.Patients were randomly allocated into one of two study groups: the intervention group (treated with 1 g of intravenous (IV) amoxicillin-clavulanate TID) or the placebo group (treated with 50 mL of IV 0.9% NaCl TID). The infection rate was assessed using clinical and laboratory parameters.The intervention group included 38 patients, with 40 patients in the placebo group. Baseline and surgical characteristics were comparable between both groups. Mean postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) and temperature were similar for both groups. Serous discharge was observed in two patients (both in the placebo group), and one of them required surgical intervention. Overall, infection rate was similar in both groups (p-value > 0.1).To conclude, administration of postoperative antibiotics in healthy, young patients undergoing orthognathic surgery did not show a significant advantage in reducing surgical infection rate.     

化疗患者口腔白假丝酵母菌的分布及基因分组研究

目的研究以白假丝酵母菌（S.albicans）为代表的假丝酵母菌在化疗肿瘤患者口腔中的分布情况,并对检出的白假丝酵母菌进行基因分组。方法从390例接受化疗1年以上的肿瘤患者口腔中取样,采用颊黏膜拭子法,CHROMagar CandidaTM鉴定培养基初步鉴定,根据白假丝酵母菌25S rDNA基因多态性设计引物,根据PCR产物多态性进行基因分组。结果肿瘤患者口腔假丝酵母菌检出率为53.85％（210/390）,白假丝酵母菌的检出率为48.21％（188/390）,其余为光滑假丝酵母菌5.64%（22/390）;白假丝酵母菌基因分组A、B、C组均有检出,其中以B组为主,59.57%（112/188）。结论肿瘤患者口腔的假丝酵母菌以白假丝酵母菌为主,与健康人群的口腔白假丝酵母菌A组占有绝对多数的情况不同,B组白假丝酵母菌在化疗患者口腔中占主导地位。     

The effect of fluoride gel use on bleaching sensitivity: a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Fluoride has been recognized as a desensitizer; however, no study has addressed its effects to decrease tooth sensitivity when compared with a placebo in a double-blind randomized clinical study. METHODS: The authors divided 30 participants into two groups: one that received a placebo and another that was treated with fluoride. All patients used 16 percent carbamide peroxide (CP) in a custom-fitted tray until their teeth achieved shade A1 or lighter. After daily removal of CP, the patients wore a tray containing either sodium fluoride or placebo for four minutes. The authors statistically analyzed the perception of the intensity of tooth sensitivity and the weekly shade changes for both groups, as well as the intensity of tooth sensitivity (alpha = .05). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The use of fluoride gel did not affect the whitening efficacy of the CP. The authors observed no difference between the groups receiving the placebo and the fluoride treatment in terms of tooth sensitivity experience (P > .05); however, patients who received the placebo had a higher-intensity tooth sensitivity than that of patients who received the fluoride (P < .001). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS. The use of 1.23 percent sodium fluoride after each bleaching regimen does not affect the bleaching efficacy of CP. Also, the use of sodium fluoride gel reduces the intensity of tooth sensitivity.     

Efficacy of topical Aloe vera in patients with oral lichen planus: a randomized double‐blind study

J Oral Pathol Med (2010) 39 : 735–740 Background: Different treatments have been used in application to symptomatic oral lichen planus (OLP), with variable results, perhaps caused by the refractory nature of the disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the topical application of aloe vera (AV) in OLP compared with placebo. Methods: A total of 64 patients with OLP were randomized in a double‐blind study to either AV (32 patients) or placebo (32 patients), at a dose of 0.4 ml (70% concentration) three times a day. A Visual Analog Scale was used for rating pain, with the application of a clinical scale for scoring the lesions, the Oral Health Impact Profile 49 (OHIP‐49), and the Hospital Anxiety–Depression (HAD) scale. The patients were evaluated after 6 and 12 weeks. Results: No statistically significant differences were recorded between both groups in relation to pain after 6 and 12 weeks. In the AV group, complete pain remission was achieved in 31.2% of the cases after 6 weeks, and in 61% after 12 weeks. In the placebo group, these percentages were 17.2% and 41.6%, respectively. There were no adverse effects in any of the groups. In relation to quality of life, significant differences were observed between the two groups in the psychological disability domain and total OHIP‐49 score. Conclusion: The topical application of AV improves the total quality of life score in patients with OLP.     

Effect of electric toothbrush on residents' oral hygiene: a randomized clinical trial in nursing homes

A single‐blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial was performed to investigate the effect of electric toothbrushes (ET) compared with manual toothbrushes (MT) on residents in nursing homes and to evaluate the caregiver's opinion on ET. A sample of 180 nursing‐home residents were given either a new ET or a new MT. Oral examinations were performed to measure dental hygiene, using the Oral Hygiene Index‐Simplified (OHI‐S). Both groups received the same instructions for use. After 2 months participants were re‐examined. Questionnaires were then sent to their caregivers. Participants' mean age was 86.1 ± 7.7 yr, and the mean number of remaining teeth was 20 ± 5.6. No specific intervention effect was found for ET. Both groups showed identical improvements in the OHI‐S, from 1.27 ± 0.63 at baseline (the mean value for all participants) to 1.01 ± 0.53 after 2 months. Of 152 caregivers who responded to the questionnaire, the majority evaluated ET to be beneficial and less time‐consuming compared with MT, also for demented residents. In a frail population, no difference is found in the effect of ET compared with MT. However, the ET appears to be a useful aid for residents who receive assistance with dental hygiene.     

The effect of implant placement in patients with either Kennedy class II and III on oral health‐related quality of life: a prospective clinical trial

There is little evidence of the effect of implants restored with fixed partial dentures on oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) in partially edentulous Kennedy class II and III patients. The aim of this study was to determine the change in OHRQoL in Kennedy classification II and III patients treated with a two‐implant‐supported fixed dental prosthesis (FDP). Kennedy class II and III patients received dental implants and an FDP. Oral health‐related quality of life was measured by administration of the Oral Health Impact Profile‐14 (OHIP‐14NL) questionnaire at intake (T1), 2 weeks after surgery (T2) and after 1 year of loading (T3). The mean OHIP score at T1 was 6·5 ± 1·2, 2·4 ± 1·0 at T2, and 0·9 ± 0·3 at T3. There was a statistically significant difference between T1 and T2 (P = 0·002) and T1 and T3 (P < 0·001) but not between T2 and T3 (P = 0·407). The OHIP score in Kennedy II patients decreased from 4·8 ± 3·2 at T1 to 1·5 ± 2·0 at T2 and 1·1 ± 1·8 at T3, and that in Kennedy III patients decreased from 8·9 ± 9·6 at T1 to 3·6 ± 8·9 at T2 and 0·8 ± 2·2 at T3. There were no statistically significant differences in the reductions in Kennedy II and III patients. Oral health‐related quality of life changed positively in patients treated with implants and an FDP in both groups. There was no change in OHRQoL between the times of implant placement and FDP placement.