Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post-radiotherapy dental complications.

Background: Radiotherapy as part of head and neck cancer treatment leaves patients requiring much dental rehabilitation in a compromised environment that is difficult for the patient and the dental team to manage.

Objectives: To assess the effects of maintaining the patient's natural dentition during radiotherapy in comparison to extracting teeth before radiotherapy in areas that are difficult to access by the patient and the dentist, should reduction in mouth opening occur after radiotherapy to the jaws.

Search Methods: We searched the Cochrane Oral Health Group's Trials Register (to 22 November 2012), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2012, Issue 11), MEDLINE via OVID (1946 to 22 November 2012), EMBASE via OVID (1980 to 22 November 2012), CANCERLIT via PubMed (1950 to 22 November 2012), CINAHL via EBSCO (1980 to 22 November 2012) and reference lists of articles.

Bleaching and bonding for the older patient.

Unlabelled: Older people who remain reasonably well may wish to maintain or enhance their dental and oral appearance, preferably at minimal biologic and financial costs. Bleaching and bonding represents a very good treatment option and a sensible strategy for this group. Bleaching addresses the discoloration, while direct composite bonding can improve the shape of worn, or otherwise unaesthetic, teeth without damaging the structure or health of the residual tooth tissue.

Antimicrobial irrigants in endodontic therapy: 1. Root canal disinfection.

Unlabelled: This paper highlights the importance of root canal disinfection. It discusses the different endodontic irrigants available and comments on how these can be used most effectively.

Clinical Relevance: Eliminating bacteria from the root canal system is an essential stage in endodontic therapy.

Antimicrobial Irrigants in Endodontic Therapy. 2: Clinical Tips for Isolation and Irrigant Use.

This second article will concentrate on the clinical use of root canal irrigants, highlighting why commonly used techniques may be suboptimal and result in ineffective disinfection during endodontic therapy.

Antenatal factors in the development of the lumbar vertebral canal: a magnetic resonance imaging study.

Study Design: The lumbar vertebral canal was measured in two cohorts of 10-year-old children (n = 161) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and compared with obstetric records.

Objective: To investigate whether there are identifiable obstetric factors that determine the size of the lumbar vertebral canal.

Summary Of Background Data: The most rapid period growth for the lumbar vertebral canal is between 12 and 32 weeks in utero, with the midsagittal diameter of L1-L4 already 70% of adult dimension at birth.