Autologous platelet concentrates in oral surgery: protocols, properties, and clinical applications.

Autologous platelet concentrates (APCs) are a relatively new phenomenon, with initial reports of their regenerative potential published as recently as 1998. Despite their relative infancy, a huge body of evidence exists in support of their capacity to promote osseous and soft tissue regeneration through the physiologic processes of platelet activation and subsequent growth factor release. APCs have transformed many areas of healthcare and are now considered an essential component of the surgical milieu.

Teaching acute hospital staff and students about patient flow.

Good patient flow in an acute hospital is concerned with ensuring patients experience minimal delays throughout the hospital journey, from the emergency department to the wards, outpatients and to a suitable discharge destination. Good flow requires effective processes, staff buy-in and staff education. This study aimed to explore ways in which this topic is currently taught in an Irish acute hospital group.

The rationale for orthodontic retention: piecing together the jigsaw.

Retaining teeth in their corrected positions following orthodontic treatment is one of the most challenging aspects of orthodontic practice. Despite much research, the rationale for retention is not entirely clear. Teeth tend to revert to their pre-treatment positions due to periodontal and gingival, soft tissue, occlusal and growth factors.

Variations in reporting of clinician-reported outcome measures in third molar surgery: A focused review.

Clinician-reported outcome measures (ClinRO measures) play a fundamental role in quality assurance throughout healthcare systems. With commissioners turning ever more frequently to ClinRO data to evaluate and compare individual hospital performance and casemix, and funding decisions increasingly relying on these data, agreed core outcome sets (COS) are essential for the collection of standardised specialty-specific outcomes. Beyond their role in service commissioning, COS enable standardisation of outcomes in clinical studies, allowing comparisons to be drawn between similar trials as well as pooling of data for systematic reviews and metaanalyses.

Patient reported outcome measures in trigeminal neuralgia - A systematic review of psychometric performance.

Background: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a rare condition for which there are multiple treatment options available. To date, there has been difficulty in comparing the outcomes of treatment due to the variety of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and their inadequate psychometric testing. The aim of this review was to assess the psychometric properties of PROMs used to date in TN and make recommendations for their use in future studies.

Measuring the impact of systemic sclerosis on oral health-related quality of life in a UK population.

Background: The objective of the present study was to identify the impact of systemic sclerosis (SSc) upon oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of affected individuals resident in the UK.

Methods: A total of 100 patients and their partners or carers were invited to complete questionnaires regarding the impact of SSc on quality of life and psychological well-being using valid and reliable patient-reported outcome measures (OHIP-14, MHISS, OIDP, MDAS and HADS). A total of 50 patients with SSc and 18 partners or carers who acted as controls returned the completed questionnaires.

Psychosocial impacts of oral epithelial dysplasia.

Background: The psychosocial impact of receiving the diagnosis of oral epithelial dysplasia, which presents up to 3.5% increased annual risk of mouth cancer, remains unknown. Using validated instruments, the present study aimed to investigate the prevalence and existing correlations between anxiety, depression and dental anxiety symptoms and burden on oral health-related quality of life.

Validity and responsiveness of pain rating scales in patients with chronic oral mucosal diseases.

Objectives: To validate the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for measuring pain intensity in chronic oral mucosal diseases.

Methods: Secondary analyses of data including the VAS, NRS, demographic, clinical and quality-of-life outcomes at baseline and 4-month follow-up were retrieved from a clinical study of chronic oral mucosal diseases. Construct and criterion validity and responsiveness of the VAS and NRS were assessed through testing hypotheses based upon strength of Spearman's correlation coefficients.

Brief Report: Analysis of Dental Treatment Provided Under General Anaesthesia for Children and Young Adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Identification of Challenges for Dental Services.

Dental treatment provided under general anaesthesia (DGA) is an expectation for many children and young adults (CYA) diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Planning and delivery of DGA requires consideration of morbidity and mortality risks and implications for families and healthcare services. One hundred patient records of CYA with special healthcare needs were analysed to examine characteristics and experience of DGA revealing that 79% of CYA had a diagnosis of ASD.

Exploring 12-Year trends in childhood obesity prevalence for the Republic of Ireland - a national study using survey data from 2002 and 2014.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children may have reached a plateau in some developed countries, including Ireland. The aim of this study was to examine 12-year trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among primary-school-aged children in the Republic of Ireland between 2002 and 2014. Two large-scale oral health cross-sectional surveys of primary-school-aged children aged 4-13 years were conducted 12 years apart in 2002 (n=14,055; response rate=68%) and 2014 (n=5,223; response rate=67%).

Impact of Reducing Water Fluoride on Dental Caries and Fluorosis.

Guidance intended to reduce fluoride toothpaste ingestion in early childhood was introduced in Ireland in 2002. In 2007, water fluoride concentration was adjusted from 0.8-1.

Web-based information on the treatment of the mouth in systemic sclerosis.

Background: To categorise the content and assess the quality and readability of the web-based information regarding treatment of the mouth in systemic sclerosis.

Methods: An online search using three different search terms regarding the treatment of the mouth in SSc was undertaken using the Google search engine. The first 100 websites from each search were selected for analysis.

The patient acceptable symptom state in oral lichen planus: identification of cut-off threshold scores in measures of pain and quality of life.

Objectives: To establish thresholds of pain and quality of life scores corresponding to patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and to assess demographic and clinical factors associated with achieving the PASS.

Methods: Prospective data from baseline and 4-month follow-up including Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and 15-item and 26-item Chronic Oral Mucosal Disease Questionnaire (COMDQ-15; COMDQ-26) were collected from 281 patients with OLP. An anchoring approach based upon the patient's opinion on acceptability of OLP status was applied.

Information needs and oral epithelial dysplasia: Development and psychometric evaluation of a novel instrument.

Objectives: Oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) can lead to significant information needs (IN) related to the risk of cancer development, the need for long-term monitoring and potential intervention. The present study aimed to develop and perform preliminary psychometric testing for a novel IN instrument specific to OED.

Subjects And Methods: Patients diagnosed with OED were invited to complete the Oral Epithelial Dysplasia Informational Needs Questionnaire (ODIN-Q), which was developed based on a known theoretical framework and with items generated via expert input and the literature.

Periodontal and oral health status of people with Cystic Fibrosis: a systematic review.

Introduction And Objectives: People with Cystic Fibrosis (PWCF) may be presumed to be at lower risk of periodontal disease due to long term antibiotic use but this has not been comprehensively investigated. The oral hygiene and periodontal status of PWCF in comparison to the general population is not well established. The objective of this systematic review was to critically evaluate the literature on periodontal and oral hygiene status in PWCF to see if this group are at increased risk of periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis).

Current uses of chlorhexidine for management of oral disease: a narrative review.

Objectives: Chlorhexidine (CHX) is a commonly used antiseptic mouthwash, used by dental practitioners and the public, due to its antimicrobial effects. The aim of this article was to provide a narrative review of current antimicrobial uses of CHX relevant to dentistry in the context of oral diseases, highlighting need for further studies to support its safe and appropriate use.

Study Selection, Data And Sources: Randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews and national (UK and US) guidelines were consulted where available, with search terms for each subject category entered into MEDLINE, PubMed, Google Scholar and the Cochrane database.

Multicenter study to develop and validate a risk assessment tool as part of composite scoring system for erosive tooth wear.

Objectives: (i) To develop, validate, and apply in practice a new risk assessment tool for erosive tooth wear (ETW) including a risk factors questionnaire and a saliva secretion evaluation, which combined with a clinical index, can be part of an ETW composite scoring system; (ii) to assess ETW lesions and current and past erosive challenges in younger age groups.

Methods: The Tooth Surface Loss/Erosion Working Group of the European Association of Dental Public Health consisted of an international panel of experts designed the survey component of the new tool (Erosive Wear Assessment of Risk-EWAR) and confirmed its construct and content validity. After receiving ethical approvals and informed consents, the EWAR tool (questionnaire + saliva secretion evaluation) was applied in a multicenter cross-sectional study with 207 participants aged 15-21 years old from four countries (Finland, Greece, Romania, the USA).

Contemporary Challenges and Management of Dental Caries in the Older Population.

The prevalence of caries is set to increase in the coming years as a result of a growing ageing population and a concomitant reduction in levels of edentulousness. Evidence for management of caries in older adults is scarce compared to that for the child population, however, similar principles of risk assessment, prevention and minimal intervention should be applied by dental health professionals. Early identification of high-risk older adults facilitates the implementation of risk reduction strategies, such as topical fluoride regimes.

Tooth replacement options for partially dentate older adults: a survival analysis.

Objectives: To compare the success of two different tooth replacement strategies for partially dentate older adults; namely resin bonded bridgework (RBB) provided to restore patients according to the principles of the shortened dental arch concept (SDA) and conventional full-arch rehabilitation with removable dental prostheses (RDPs).

Methods: A randomised controlled clinical trial (RCT) was conducted with partially dentate adults aged 65 years or older. Each patient from the RDP group had all missing natural teeth replaced with cobalt-chromium framework RDPs.

Health-related quality of life and its associated predictors in patients with oral lichen planus: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To investigate levels of quality of life (QoL) and determine associated predictors in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP).

Materials And Methods: A total of 300 patients with OLP at one tertiary Oral Medicine clinic in the UK were recruited in a cross-sectional study from January 2018 to July 2019. The 15-item Chronic Oral Mucosal Disease Questionnaire (COMDQ-15) and 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) were used to assess the level of QoL related to OLP.

The patient experience of dental implant surgery: a literature review of pertinent qualitative studies.

This review aims to identify and summarise the findings of published qualitative studies relating to patients' experiences of dental implant surgery, by means of textual narrative synthesis. A comprehensive two-stage electronic and manual search of the literature identified relevant qualitative studies up to January 2020. Included primary studies (n = 15) used qualitative research methods including interviews and focus groups to investigate patients' experiences of dental implant treatment.

Resin bonded bridges in patients with hypodontia: Clinical performance over a 7 year observation period.

Purpose: Resin bonded bridges (RBBs) are considered a conservative option in the management of hypodontia. This study targeted to analyze the survival of resin bonded bridges provided to patients with Hypodontia by staff and students at the Department of Restorative Dentistry, University Dental School and Hospital Cork, Ireland. It was also to determine the factors that may influence the survival of RBBs in patients with hypodontia.

Barriers and facilitators to discussing HPV with head and neck cancer patients: A qualitative study using the theoretical domains framework.

Objective: The incidence of human papillomavirus-associated head and neck cancers (HPV-HNC) is increasing worldwide. Research in other clinical contexts has shown that healthcare professionals (HCPs) can find discussing HPV with patients challenging. However, limited research has been conducted in HNC.

Meaningful improvement thresholds in measures of pain and quality of life in oral lichen planus.

Objectives: To evaluate the responsiveness of measures of pain and oral health-related quality of life (OH-QoL) in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and to determine thresholds for minimal important change (MIC) and minimal important difference (MID) for use in this patient population.

Methods: Data from baseline and 4-month follow-up including Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), 15-item and 26-item Chronic Oral Mucosal Disease Questionnaire (COMDQ-15; COMDQ-26) were collected from 157 patients with OLP. Responsiveness was assessed by testing hypotheses and calculating the area under the curve.