Cochrane

Review question What evidence is available for the safe and effective treatment of openings between the mouth and main sinus caused by dental procedures? Background The floor of the main sinus near the nose is thin and lies directly above the roots of the teeth at the back of the mouth. Sometimes following infection or dental treatment, this structure ...

Background Cleft lip, also known as harelip, is one of the most common birth defects. The surgery to correct this defect can cause moderate to severe pain. Many of the drugs to reduce pain (analgesics) used in adults can have unwanted side effects in children. The treatment of the pain associated with the surgical correction of harelip can therefore ...

Review question Does adding adhesive designed to bond dental amalgam fillings to teeth make the fillings perform better and last longer than fillings without it? Background Tooth decay is a common problem affecting both children and adults. Cavities form in the teeth by the action of acid produced by bacteria present in dental plaque or biofilm. A ...

Review question How well do treatments for bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw bones, or 'BRONJ', work and how safe are they? Background Bisphosphonates are drugs very similar to pyrophosphate (a normal substance found in bone). They are used to lessen symptoms and complications due to the spread of cancer to the bones, and to prevent ...

Review question Are oral antibiotics effective and safe for treating pain in irreversible pulpitis (inflammation of the nerve inside the tooth/nerve damage)? Background Irreversible pulpitis occurs where the dental pulp (tissue inside the tooth which contains the nerve) has been damaged beyond repair. It is characterised by intense pain (toothache), ...

Review question Which approach is most effective at maintaining teeth in their new position after the end of treatment with orthodontic braces? Background Once people finish having their teeth straightened with orthodontic braces, the teeth will tend to get crooked again. Orthodontists try to prevent this by using different retention procedures. ...

Background To stop further damage and restore function of primary molar teeth that are decayed or malformed, a dentist will usually use a filling (a soft material that is placed in the cavity and hardened) to restore the tooth to its original shape. Alternatively the dentist may place a crown over the tooth to cover it. This usually requires an injection ...

Review question We reviewed the evidence about whether antifibrinolytic medicine (drugs that promote blood clotting) such as tranexamic acid or epsilon aminocaproic acid, can prevent oral bleeding in people with haemophilia or Von Willebrand disease undergoing minor oral surgery or dental extractions. Background Haemophilia and Von Willebrand disease ...

Review question This review has been produced to assess whether or not keeping the mouth cold during cancer treatment, by using ice, ice-cold water, ice cream or ice lollies/popsicles, can help prevent mouth soreness and ulcers in children and adults. Background People receiving treatment for cancer are at risk of developing a sore mouth and ulcers ...

Review question This review was carried out to assess how effective different treatments are for treating permanent front teeth that have been damaged and then fused to the bone (ankylosed front teeth). Background Sometimes teeth can fuse to the bone of the jaws after an injury to the tooth, such as when the tooth is knocked and pushed up into the ...