Selective vs stepwise removal of deep carious lesions in primary molars: 24 months follow-up from a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: For well-defined deep (> 2/3 dentin extension) carious lesions, selective (SE) or stepwise (SW) carious tissue removals have been recommended, while there is limited comparative evidence for both. We compared SE and SW over 24 months in a randomized controlled trial.

Methods: A two-arm superiority trial was conducted comparing SW/SE in primary molars without pulpal symptoms but well-defined deep lesions.

Selective vs stepwise removal of deep carious lesions in primary molars: 12-Months results of a randomized controlled pilot trial.

Objectives: For deep carious lesions, selective or stepwise carious tissue removal (SE, SW) seem advantageous compared with non-selective removal. For primary molars, there is insufficient evidence comparing SE against SW. This randomized pilot trial compared SE and SW over 12 months.

Sealing or infiltrating proximal carious lesions.

Objectives: Micro-invasive treatment (sealing, infiltration) seems more efficacious to arrest early (non-cavitated) proximal carious lesions than non-invasive treatment (NI). Uncertainty remains as to the efficacy of sealing versus infiltration and the robustness of the evidence. We aimed to review and synthesize this evidence using pairwise and network meta-analysis (NMA) and to perform trial sequential analysis (TSA).

The impact of demographic, health-related and social factors on dental services utilization: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Regular and/or preventive dental services utilization is an indicator of healthcare access and associated with improved health outcomes. We assessed the proportion of individuals regularly/preventively utilizing dental services, and how this was affected by demographic, health-related and social factors.

Sources: Three electronic databases (Medline, Embase, Central) were searched (2005-2017).

In vitro performance of the DIAGNOcam for detecting proximal carious lesions adjacent to composite restorations.

Objectives: To assess the accuracy of near-infrared-light transillumination (DIAGNO) compared to visual-tactile (VT) and radiographic (RA) evaluation of proximal carious lesions adjacent to composite restorations in vitro.

Methods: Two hundred extracted posterior permanent human teeth with occluso-proximal composite restorations were allocated to 50 groups of four posterior teeth, and mounted in a pilot-tested diagnostic model in a dummy head. The teeth were independently assessed by two examiners.

Inequality in Utilization of Dental Services: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Dental diseases are among the most prevalent conditions worldwide, with universal access to dental care being one key to tackling them. Systematic quantification of inequalities in dental service utilization is needed to identify where these are most pronounced, assess factors underlying the inequalities, and evaluate changes in inequalities with time.

Objectives: To evaluate the presence and extent of inequalities in dental services utilization.

Global burden of molar incisor hypomineralization.

Objectives: We aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the global, super-regional, regional and national prevalence of molar-incisor-hypomineralization (MIH) and to determine the numbers of prevalent and incident cases on different spatial scales. The review was registered (PROSPERO CRD42017063842).

Sources: Five electronic databases (Medline, EMBASE, LILACS, Web of Science, Google Scholar) were searched systematically.

Oral manifestations, dental management, and a rare homozygous mutation of the PRDM12 gene in a boy with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type VIII: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type VIII is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disorder. Chen et al. recently identified the causative gene and characterized biallelic mutations in the PR domain-containing protein 12 gene, which plays a role in the development of pain-sensing nerve cells.

Cost-effectiveness of caries-preventive fluoride varnish applications in clinic settings among patients of low, moderate and high risk.

Objectives: The total body of evidence finds fluoride varnish effective to prevent caries. However, most trials were conducted in high-risk populations, with more recent trials on low-risk groups finding a lower efficacy. We aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of fluoride varnish application in clinic setting in populations with different caries risk.

Industry sponsorship in trials on fluoride varnish or gels for caries prevention.

Objectives: Fluoride is effective for caries prevention, but trials on fluoride varnish or gels are often industry-sponsored. We assessed trial design and findings in sponsored and nonsponsored trials on fluoride varnish and fluoride gels for caries prevention.

Methods: Data on trials included in the most recent Cochrane Reviews on fluoride varnish and fluoride gels were extracted.