The importance of the Basic Periodontal Examination for paediatric orthodontic patients.

Periodontal disease is considered to increase in prevalence around adolescence, owing to pubertal hormonal changes, early presentation in at-risk individuals and the challenges in maintaining patient motivation at this age. Adolescence provides the ideal stage of dental development for orthodontic assessment. Active periodontal disease can increase tooth mobility during orthodontic treatment.

Bonded versus vacuum-formed retainers: a randomized controlled trial. Part 2: periodontal health outcomes after 12 months.

Background: Retainer have the potential to compromise periodontal health.

Objectives: Evaluate the periodontal health implications of upper and lower bonded retainers (BRs) versus upper and lower vacuum-formed retainers (VFRs) over 12 months.

Trial Design: Two-arm parallel group multicentre randomized controlled clinical trial.

Bonded versus vacuum-formed retainers: a randomized controlled trial. Part 1: stability, retainer survival, and patient satisfaction outcomes after 12 months.

Background: There is a shortage of evidence on the best type of retainer.

Objectives: Evaluate upper and lower bonded retainers (BRs) versus upper and lower vacuum-formed retainers (VFRs) over 12 months, in terms of stability, retainer survival, and patient satisfaction.

Trial Design: Two-arm parallel group multi-centre randomized controlled clinical trial.

Giving ourselves a head start: improving the quality of documentation of referrals to neurosurgery.

Referrals to neurosurgical units are regularly made by doctors in the emergency department (ED), intensive care and acute medicine, following brain injuries sustained by both traumatic and non-traumatic processes. Although some centres accept electronic referrals, many still rely on telephone conversations with a specialist registrar. The flaw in this style of communication is that only information volunteered or requested is relayed.