Comparative assessment of scientific reach and utilization of the International Association of Dental Traumatology 2020 guidelines: An altmetric and citation analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The updated version of the International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) guidelines was published online in May 2020 in the form of four papers. They are extensively used in dental trauma education in textbooks, undergraduate and postgraduate programs, and clinical workshops. Hence, this study aimed to assess the impact, global scientific reach, and utilization of these guidelines through altmetric and citation analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The protocol was prepared after an expert group discussion. Dimensions database was used to derive the altmetric and citation data on April 10th, 2023. The data was extracted by using a self-designed pre-piloted form by two authors independently. The citing articles were further categorized into the type of study and the domains and subdomains of dental traumatology. The VOSviewer program was utilized to explore the correlation between the subdomains and the overlap of citations was assessed by creating a citation matrix. RESULTS: A total of 552 citations had been collectively received by the four papers. The highest was seen for the guidelines for fracture and luxation in permanent teeth (FL), avulsion in permanent teeth (AV), general introduction (GI), and primary teeth (PT). Dental Traumatology had the maximum number of citing papers for each guideline. They were from 52 countries with English being the commonest language. Overall, the maximum number of citations had been received in narrative reviews (n = 104) and the majority of cited papers were categorized in the therapeutic domains. The most common subdomain for the papers that cited GI, FL, and AV was "treatment protocols in permanent teeth", while it was "awareness of prevention and emergency management of traumatic dental injuries" for the papers that had cited PT. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis highlighted that the IADT 2020 guidelines are globally popular resources, which are widely used by the researchers across specialities and are intended towards clinical application.

Effect of wire diameter and extent of wire composite splint on the mobility of luxated and anchor primary teeth: A typodont study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The recommendations for splinting are well established for the injuries of permanent dentition; however, ambiguity still exists for the injuries in primary dentition. Hence, this study aimed to determine the most appropriate dimensions of stainless steel wire and its extent, for achieving the physiologic mobility in primary dentition. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was designed as an in vitro experiment by using a typodont model of primary dentition. The baseline mobility of primary maxillary incisors was calibrated to the physiologic mobility of natural primary incisors by using a Teflon tape wrapped around the roots of resin teeth. Splinting was done using a stainless steel wire of 0.2 mm (Group I), 0.3 mm (Group II), and 0.4 mm (Group III). These groups were subdivided (a, b, and c) on the basis of the extent of the splint, and pre splint mobility (Pre-PV) and post-splint mobility (Post-PV) were tested by Periotest M. The splint effect was calculated by subtracting Post-PVs and Pre-PVs. RESULTS: The normal values of mobility in healthy human volunteers ranged from 10.5 to 13. The overall splint effect was higher in Group III irrespective of the extent of the splint, whereas it was found to be the lowest in Group I (b and c). The splint effect increased with the extent of the splint in all the groups. Among all the groups, the splint effect on the anchor teeth was observed to increase with the extent of the splint and the diameter of the wire. CONCLUSION: The mobility of the injured and anchor teeth splinted with 0.2-mm stainless steel wire was similar to the pre-splint and physiologic mobility. The most favorable extension was one tooth adjacent to the injured tooth on each side for both 0.2- and 0.3-mm wires.

Risk factors associated with traumatic dental injuries in individuals with special healthcare needs-A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Individuals with special healthcare needs (SHCN) are more likely to sustain traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) due to distinct risk factors. The aim of this review was to assess various risk factors associated with TDIs in individuals with SHCN. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The protocol was designed according to the recommendations of the Cochrane-handbook, Joanna Briggs Institute, and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022357422). A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, LILACS, Web of Science, EMBASE and Scopus using a pre-defined strategy without any limitation of language and year of publication. It was last updated on 25 April 2023. Studies addressing the TDIs in individuals with SHCN were included. Data extraction and analyses were performed, risk of bias (ROB) assessment was done using the Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal tool, and a meta-analysis was performed using random-effects model. RESULTS: A total of 21 studies were included in the review. They were categorized according to the target disease/condition: cerebral palsy (n = 5), ADHD and autism spectrum disorders (n = 5), visually impaired (n = 4), and multiple disorders (n = 7). The studies showed variability in the design and methods; however, 17 out of 21 studies showed moderate to low ROB. Increased overjet and lip incompetence were the main risk factors reported in the studies. The commonest injuries were observed to be enamel and enamel and dentine fractures. CONCLUSION: The overall pooled prevalence of TDI in individuals with special healthcare needs was 23.16% with 20.98% in males and 27.06% in females. Overjet >3 mm and inadequate lip coverage were found to be associated with a higher risk of TDI in all the categories of individuals with special healthcare needs except ADHD and ASD. Falls at home in cerebral palsy, falls while walking and self-harm in ADHD and ASD, falls at home and collision in visual impairment, and unspecified falls in multiple disorders could be identified as the most common cause of TDI.

Effectiveness of various methods of educating children and adolescents for the maintenance of oral health: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: School-based oral health education has emerged as one of the most effective methods to instill a positive attitude toward oral health in children. AIM: This systematic review (SR) aimed to assess the effectiveness of different methods of oral health education in children and adolescents. DESIGN: Systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, LILACS, Scopus, and EMBASE on January 29, 2023. Review included only randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and their risk of bias (ROB) was assessed by Cochrane RoB-2. Data were extracted and analyzed by expert group. The GRADE approach was used to assess the quality of evidence for each outcome. Every step was conducted in duplicate, and disagreements were resolved by consulting the third reviewer. RESULTS: The SR included 10 RCTs with majority showing a high ROB. They included 12 methods with the commonest being the use of leaflets/flash cards. Most interventions were effective in improving oral hygiene, gingival health, and knowledge except conventional teaching methods, lecture by using PowerPoint by dentists, and e-learning interventions. The grade of evidence in the majority of outcomes was found to be low or very low. CONCLUSION: Interventions using the interactive methods such as games, motivational-experiential learning, and audiovisual methods were found to be more effective than controls and other interventions. Variabilities in study methods and outcome variables must be addressed in the future.

Global prevalence of teething problems in infants and children-A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Eruption of primary teeth is associated with local and systemic manifestations. Understanding the global prevalence is necessary to formulate the standard guidelines for management. AIM: To evaluate the global prevalence of problems associated with teething in infants and children aged 0-36 months. DESIGN: PubMed, LILACS, Web of Science, Scopus, and EMBASE were searched on May 31, 2023, and it was updated on January 31, 2024. Gray literature and reference search were performed. Cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies done in hospital or community settings, reporting the prevalence of signs and symptoms during the eruption of primary teeth in infants aged 0-36 months, were included. Two reviewers extracted data using a pre-piloted sheet. Data were analyzed and pooled by using random-effects meta-analyses. RESULTS: Twenty-five studies were included. The global prevalence of teething problems was 80.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 67.8-89.9). The most common local symptom was increased biting (65.9%, 95% CI 37.5-89.3), and irritability (60.7%, 95% CI 50.6-70.3) was the most common general symptom. CONCLUSION: The pooled prevalence of teething problems was estimated to be 80%. There was a variability in the prevalence of teething problems based on geographic location.

The risk of bonded fragment loss in crown-fractured anterior teeth managed by fragment reattachment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To identify the factors affecting the risk of bonded fragment loss in crown-fractured anterior teeth managed by fragment reattachment. METHODS: The study protocol followed the best practices of evidence-based medicine and was registered in PROSPERO. A comprehensive literature search was performed electronically in six databases (PubMed, Embase, SCOPUS, Web-of-Science, Lilacs, and Cochrane) on 18-09-2023. It was saved in EndNote-online and duplicates were removed. Selection of articles was performed in two stages, followed by data-extraction, risk of bias assessment, data-analysis, and meta-analysis. The quality of evidence for the outcomes was assessed by the GRADE-approach. RESULTS: The study included six articles that had similar selection protocols with variations in duration from trauma to treatment and the observation period. Only one study employed pre-attachment fragment preparation and three performed post-attachment reinforcements. Overall loss of fragment was 20% (95%CI-13,30%). When the risk ratio for loss of restoration or fragment was compared, it was found to be 2.21 (95%CI-1.52,3.21) in uncomplicated crown fractures, 2.54 (95%CI-1.35,4.79) in complicated crown fractures. The risk of bias was found to be low in two and moderate in four studies. Grade of evidence for all the outcomes was very low. CONCLUSION: Fragment loss was lowest in uncomplicated crown fractures where reinforcement had been performed, and highest when bonding was done in complicated crown fractures without reinforcement. The risk of fragment loss was higher than the loss of composite restorations.

Inflammatory mediators for predicting the risk of trauma-induced root resorption: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND/AIM: External inflammatory root resorption (EIRR) and external replacement root resorption (ERRR) are the most common adverse outcomes after luxation injuries or dental injuries. They are usually detected radiographically after considerable progression. It can be envisaged that evaluation of inflammatory mediators might serve as an objective and reliable method of predicting the risk of resorption. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the evidence regarding the risk of resorption and to provide future research directions. METHODS: An a priori protocol was prepared by a multidisciplinary expert group, as per the Cochrane handbook and PRISMA guidelines. The systematic search was conducted in six databases and grey-literature sources. Scrutiny of titles and abstracts, and later full-text articles was performed, and data were extracted. Risk of bias analysis was done by using the Joanna Briggs Institute's Critical Appraisal Checklist for analytical cross-sectional and cohort studies. RESULTS: Eight studies were included in the systematic review and could be categorized as per the source of biomarkers, namely epithelial cells from mucosa, gingival crevicular fluid and extracted teeth. The studies utilizing epithelial cells had been conducted between 2015 and 2018 in Brazil and did not find any correlation with EIRR. Two of the studies with extracted teeth found differences in the immunologic profiles of teeth with resorption. Three studies evaluating gingival crevicular fluid found increased levels of dentine sialoprotein and Interleukin-1-α. CONCLUSION: Among the three sources, the inflammatory gingival crevicular fluid appeared to be the most non-invasive source of biomarkers for predicting trauma-induced root resorption, although the evidence about this came from two studies with moderate and one study with high risk of bias. The primary studies in this systematic review showed variability in terms of the sample sizes, age of the patients, the grading/classification of trauma-induced resorption and the evaluation methods which must be addressed by future researchers.

Evaluation of two rehydration protocols for fractured tooth fragments for characteristics of penetration of resin tags using confocal laser scanning microscopy.

BACKGROUND: Fragment reattachment is the recommended treatment modality in uncomplicated crown fractures. There is a paucity of literature regarding the mechanisms responsible for increased resistance to fracture after fragment rehydration in such cases. Hence, the aim of this proof-of-concept study was to decipher the microscopic changes in the penetration characteristics of resin in tooth fragments after different rehydration protocols. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty bovine incisors free of structural deformities were fractured as per a standard protocol and the fragments were stored in saline at 4°C. They were randomly allocated into three groups (n = 20)-Group 1: negative-control, no-rehydration, Group 2: rehydration by immersion in distilled water for 15 min, Group 3: rehydration by humidification for 15 min. They were subjected to the "experimental bonding protocol" using an eighth-generation bonding agent mixed with rhodamine-B dye. The samples were subjected to decalcification and sectioned into cubical blocks (2 × 2 × 2 mm3 ). They were embedded in paraffin wax, sectioned by an ultramicrotome and evaluated by using a confocal laser scanning microscope. The depths and width of the resin tags were assessed by image analysis software, and the number of tags was counted manually by blinded evaluators. Statistical analysis was done with Stata-14. RESULTS: The depth of penetration of the resin tags was greatest in Group 2 (927.81 ± 280.38 µm) followed by Group 3 (902.03 ± 371.85 µm) and Group 1 (287.74 ± 124.80 µm). Similarly, the width of the penetrated resin tags was greatest in Group 2 (58.29 ± 21.15), followed by Group 3 (35.53 ± 22.15) and Group 1 (23.89 ± 6.88). The number of resin tags in the majority of the samples in Group 1 had less than 25 tags (65%), whereas there were more than 25 tags in Group 2 (70%) and Group 3 (75%). These differences were statistically significant (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The resin penetration, as observed by the number of tags and their depth and width, was significantly affected by the rehydration of the fragments. The fragments rehydrated in the distilled water had greater penetration of resin tags than those rehydrated in a humidification chamber.

Cone-Beam Computed Tomographic Assessment of Maxillary Sinus Characteristics in Patients With Cleft Lip and Palate: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the maxillary sinus characteristics of patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP).The study included manuscripts which met the following criteria: (1) study of individuals with CLP in any age group or gender and (2) study of individuals in whom assessment of maxillary sinus characteristics had been done by cone-beam computed tomography. Studies with (1) individuals having special health-care needs and (2) individuals with any syndrome affecting the development of the head and neck were excluded.In total, 11 articles were included in the review, based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Pooled maxillary sinus volume (MSV) on the cleft sides of patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) was found to be 9433.14 mm3 (95% CI, 7453.99-11 412.30), which was significantly smaller than that of controls. The meta-analyses also revealed significantly reduced MSV on the cleft sides of patients with UCLP. The differences between cleft and noncleft sides of the patients with UCLP were not found to be statistically significant. Strength-of-evidence was found to be moderate in 4 characteristics, along with 10 out of 11 articles showing low risk-of-bias.It was concluded that MSV was reduced and mucosal thickening was increased/present in patients with CLP as compared with controls. The differences between MSV of cleft and noncleft sides of the patients with UCLP could not be established. However, heterogeneity was found in terms of sample size, stratification of samples by age, and evaluation of some confounding factors.

Does dental trauma have impact on the oral health-related quality of life of children and adolescents?

RESEARCH QUESTION: Does dental trauma have impact on the oral health-related quality of life of children and adolescents? RESEARCH PROTOCOL: Protocol was designed as per the best practices of evidence-based medicine, guidelines for umbrella reviews and registered in PROSPERO. LITERATURE SEARCH: PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Sciences and Lilacs were searched for studies meeting the inclusion criteria from start of databases to 15th July 2021. Grey literature and registries of systematic review protocols were also searched. Hand searching of the references of included articles was also performed. The literature search was updated on 15th October 2021. Scrutiny of the titles and abstracts and later full text was done as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria. DATA EXTRACTION: Self-designed pre-piloted form was used by two reviewers. QUALITY APPRAISAL: AMSTAR-2 was used to assess the quality of systematic reviews, PRISMA was used to check reporting-characteristics and citation-matrix was used to evaluate study-overlap. Quality of evidence was assessed by using Kohler's-criteria. DATA ANALYSIS: Qualitative synthesis was performed for describing the study characteristics, details of sampling and the tool of OHRQoL used. The meta-analytic data was used for evaluating the evidence and its strength for each of the outcomes. RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION: A significant impact of all types of TDI on OHRQoL in children and adolescents was observed. The effect of uncomplicated TDI on OHRQoL in children and all ages showed no difference from controls. Though the quality of evidence in these interpretations was weak.

Global status of knowledge of parents for emergency management of traumatic dental injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

RESEARCH PROTOCOL: The protocol was developed as per the recommendations of the Cochrane-handbook and PRISMA and was registered in PROSPERO. LITERATURE SEARCH: Search was performed by using MeSH-Terms and keywords in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Sciences, Lilacs, and Cochrane databases and gray literature sources 15th July 2022. There were no limits regarding the year of publication and language. Hand-searching of included articles was also performed. Titles and abstracts and later full texts were screened as per strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. DATA EXTRACTION: Self-designed pilot-tested form was used. QUALITY APPRAISAL: Risk of bias was analyzed through Joanna-Brigg's-Institute's-critical appraisal checklist. The evidence analysis was done by using the GRADE approach. DATA ANALYSIS: Qualitative synthesis was performed for describing the study characteristics, details of sampling, and results of various questionnaires. It was discussed by the expert group and presented using KAP heat map. Meta-analysis was done by using Random Effects Model. RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION: The risk of bias was found to be low in seven and moderate in one study. It was observed that >50% of parents knew about the urgency to seek professional advice after TDI. Only <50% of parents were confident of their ability to identify the injured tooth, clean the soiled avulsed tooth, and perform the replantation. Appropriate responses regarding immediate action after tooth avulsion were given by 54.5% (95% CI: 50.2-58.8, p = 0.042) of parents. The knowledge of the parents regarding the emergency management of TDI was found to be inadequate. The majority of them were interested in obtaining information about dental trauma first aid.

Comparative evaluation of fragment reattachment protocols for the management of teeth with crown-root fractures.

BACKGROUND/AIM: A crown-root fracture is a fracture of both the crown and the root of a tooth. The International Association of Dental Traumatology (2020) guidelines recommended fragment reattachment and stabilization of loose fragments as an immediate management protocol for uncomplicated crown-root fractures. However, the lack of evidence and unpredictability make it a less popular treatment option. The aim of this study was to compare three protocols of fragment reattachment for the management of teeth with crown-root fractures. METHODOLOGY: Eighty mandibular bovine incisors with similar dimensions and no structural deformities were selected and randomized into four groups: Group I (Control/sound teeth); Group II (no rehydration); Group III (rehydration in distilled water for 15 min) and Group IV (rehydration in a humidification chamber for 15 min). A fracture was simulated to extend from the labial side of the middle-third of the crown to the palatal side of the cervical-third of the root. Fragments were exposed to the environment under normal temperature and pressure. Fragments were later reattached as per the standard protocol following the rehydration as specified for each group. Samples were subjected to thermocycling, and the force required to fracture them was evaluated by using a universal testing machine. RESULTS: The highest mean force required to fracture was seen in Group IV (208.27 ± 75.99 N) followed by Group III (182.01 ± 90.13 N) and Group II (158.85 ± 68.04 N). These differences were statistically significant. Comparison of the mean difference of force required to fracture between pairs of groups revealed statistically significant mean differences only between the controls and each experimental group. CONCLUSION: The force required to fracture the reattached fragments in teeth with crown-root fractures was affected by rehydration of the fragments. The force was higher in fragments reattached after rehydration, and the highest force was required in the teeth that had been rehydrated in a humidification chamber.

Comparison of three protocols for the management of re-fracture of teeth with uncomplicated crown fractures.

BACKGROUND: Crown fractures restored by fragment reattachment are liable to re-fracture, which may cause fragment dislodgement. There is a paucity of literature regarding management of fragment reattachment cases following a further fracture. Hence the aim of the present in-vitro study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of three different management protocols for such scenarios. METHODOLOGY: Eighty maxillary bovine incisors without structural deformity and with similar dimensions were fractured as per the standard protocol. They were subjected to drying for 24 hours and the fragments were rehydrated by placing them in a humidification chamber for 15 minutes. They were then reattached by using flowable light-cured composite resin. The teeth (n=20) were fractured again by fixing them in a mechanical frame and using a mallet. They were randomly allocated to three experimental groups. (Group I mechanical abrasion and fragment reattachment, Group II mechanical abrasion, humidification and reattachment, Group III mechanical abrasion and composite restoration, and Group IV positive control with no re-fracture). The samples were thermocycled and the force required to fracture was tested by using a universal testing machine (Instron-3360, USA). This was done by applying a tangential load with a speed of 1 mm/min to the teeth with a 500-kg load cell. Statistical analysis of the results was performed using ANOVA and the independent t-test. RESULTS: The highest force required to fracture was reported in Group IV (333.26 ± 66.69N) while the lowest was in Group II (254.86 ± 105.23N). The forces in Group I and Group II were 258.36 ± 65.78N and 298.02 ± 97.94N, respectively (p=0.016, F=3.68). The independent t-test between the groups revealed a significant difference between Group I and Group IV (p= 0.001) and Group II and Group IV (p=0.009). CONCLUSION: The force required to fracture was significantly lower in the groups involving attachment of the re-fractured fragments. Among the experimental groups, the group with composite restoration required the highest force to fracture.

'CARE compliance' of case reports published in Dental Traumatology in the past two decades: A bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The journal Dental Traumatology (DT) is one of the best resources in the field of dental traumatology. It has always encouraged publication of case reports of good quality. The CARE statement (2011) was developed for uniform and transparent reporting of cases in medical sciences. Since case reports are inseparable from the DT literature, the aim of this bibliometric-analysis was to evaluate the case reports published in the DT in the last two decades (2001-2021) and assess their compliance regarding CARE guidelines for elucidating the trends in DT and the reporting quality of these papers. METHODOLOGY: Two authors independently observed the tables of contents in all issues of DT from 2002-2021 and identified case reports. Selected articles were scrutinized to determine their eligibility. Data extraction was performed, case reports were segregated into domains, and their CARE compliance was evaluated by using a self-designed-validated method. Differences between the case reports published in two decades (2002-2011 and 2012-2021) were analysed with the Chi-square test. RESULTS: A total of 1612 articles published between February 2002 and October 2021 were scrutinized to identify 357 case reports with 277 from the period of 2002-2011 and 80 between 2012 and 2021. The highest number of case reports originated from Asia (2002-2011:135, 2012-2021:28). The CARE compliances of the majority of reports in the decade of 2002-2011 were between 75 and 85% (good) while the CARE compliances of the majority of reports from 2012-2021 were between 85 and 95% (very good) or >95% (excellent). These differences were statistically significant (p < .005). CONCLUSIONS: The number of case reports published in the decade of 2002-2011 were more than three times the number of case reports published in the decade of 2012-2021. The highest number of reports in both decades were from Asia and belonged to the therapeutic and prognostic domains. The CARE compliances of the reports in the decade of 2012-2021 were better than those from 2002-2011.

Success of medicaments and techniques for pulpotomy of primary teeth: An overview of systematic reviews.

BACKGROUND: Pulpotomy is an effective, vital pulp therapy procedure for caries-affected or traumatized primary teeth. Though its efficacy is widely accepted, the superiority of medicaments and techniques remains debatable. AIM: The aims of this review were to compare the success rates of various pulpotomy medicaments or techniques, assess the methodological quality of reviews, and grade the level of evidence for each comparison. DESIGN: This review followed the principles of evidence-based medicine and recommendations for the overview of systematic reviews. An a priori protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42021244489). A comprehensive literature search was performed by two reviewers, and studies were selected from various databases according to predefined criteria. Two reviewers independently used a self-designed pilot-tested form to extract data from the selected studies. A quality analysis was performed using A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews-2 (AMSTAR-2) and the ROBIS tool. Reporting characteristics and overlap of the primary studies were also assessed. We used modified Köhler's criteria for evaluating the quality of evidence for outcomes of included systematic reviews and meta-analyses. RESULTS: The scrutiny of 62 full-text articles resulted in the inclusion of eight systematic reviews. The quality of four of the reviews was found to be critically low, and the overlap of primary studies in the meta-analyses was found to be high. Pulpotomy medicaments/techniques, except calcium hydroxide, had success rates of more than 80% for all domains and time periods. Most of the comparisons revealed no differences in the clinical, radiographic, or overall success rates. Mineral trioxide aggregate, however, was found to have better radiographic and overall success rates than calcium hydroxide at periods greater than 12 and 18 months. It also had a greater radiographic success rate than full-strength/1:5 diluted and full-strength formocresol at 24 months. Formocresol was found to have better overall success rates than calcium hydroxide at all time periods and better radiographic success rates at 12 months. Only 12 of the 63 comparisons had suggestive or weak evidence, whereas all others had either negligible evidence or insufficient data. CONCLUSIONS: The pulpotomy medicaments/techniques, except calcium hydroxide, showed success rates of more than 80%, whereas most comparisons revealed no differences. Mineral trioxide aggregate, however, was found to be better than calcium hydroxide and formocresol in several respects. This study highlights the lack of evidence regarding the choice of pulpotomy agents for the treatment of caries-affected primary teeth and elucidates the domains that require primary studies in the future.

Replantation of a Iatrogenically Avulsed Mandibular Premolar Undergoing Orthodontic Therapy: A 5 Year Follow-Up.

The succedaneous permanent teeth develop in close proximity to primary teeth. They can get accidentally luxated or avulsed during the extraction of primary teeth. The purpose of this paper was to describe a case of a 14-year-old boy with an "iatrogenic avulsion" of an immature mandibular second premolar during the extraction of a primary mandibular second molar. The case was managed successfully with replantation technique within 30 minutes of extra oral period and followed up for 5 years. The replanted tooth remained clinically asymptomatic, showed continued root development and eruption and remained vital. This paper had also discussed about the modifications in extraction technique to avoid the iatrogenic avulsion of permanent tooth bud during extraction of primary teeth.

Evidence mapping and quality assessment of systematic reviews in dental traumatology.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Evidence mapping of systematic reviews (SRs) systematically and comprehensively identifies, organizes, and summarizes the distribution of scientific evidence in a field. The aims of this study were to delineate domains in dental traumatology (DT), evaluate the existing SRs within the domains, and identify the paucity of evidence for future research. METHODS: Domains and sub-domains of DT were established according to the methods of qualitative research. The protocol for evidence mapping was prepared as per the guidelines of GEM and PRISMA. The search strategy was formulated using words and MeSH terms in eight databases without restriction of languages and year of publication. Gray literature, protocol registries, and references of selected articles were also searched. Duplicates were removed, and the final selection of SRs was completed. Data extraction and quality analysis using the ROBIS tool and the PRISMA checklist were performed. RESULTS: The overall search resulted in 64 SRs from 1999 to 2020 with 44 published in last six years. The highest number of SRs had been performed in the Prognostic domain (n = 19) followed by the domains of Epidemiology (n = 15), Therapeutics (n = 10), Oral Biology (n = 7), Diagnostics (n = 6), Preventive (n = 5), and Research Methods (n = 2). Within each domain, there were variabilities in the number of reviewers, a priori protocols, search limitations, risk of bias methods, and meta-analysis. Of the SRs, including 4 Cochrane reviews, 28.4% were inconclusive. A low risk of bias was found in 48.4% of the SRs. Among the registered and ongoing SRs, six were from the domain of epidemiology, two in the domain of therapeutics, five from prognostics, and one each in the domains of prevention and research methods. CONCLUSION: The SRs in DT could be mapped in seven domains with variabilities in the methods. The majority had an a priori registered protocol and a low risk of reporting errors. Within the Epidemiology and Preventive domains, SRs were present in all the sub-domains with the majority demonstrating low-risk of bias (ROB). The domain of prognosis had SRs in most sub-domains but with a high ROB. Insufficient numbers of SRs were present in most sub-domains of the Diagnostics, Therapeutics, Research Methods and Oral Biology domains.

Global status of knowledge for prevention and emergency management of traumatic dental injuries in dental professionals: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Dental professionals are the primary care providers for traumatic dental injuries (TDI). The dental traumatology literature has a number of studies evaluating the knowledge of dental professionals from different parts of the world but its global status is unknown. Hence, the aim of this systematic review was to assess the global status of knowledge for the prevention and emergency management of TDI in dental professionals and to provide recommendations for future research. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The protocol was designed as per the PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020192381). A broad-based search using text words and MeSH terms was performed in established databases as per a pre-defined strategy without any distinction of language and year of publication. Studies without details of the questionnaire, knowledge score, validity and reliability were excluded. Data extraction was performed, risk of bias assessment was done using the Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal tool, and a meta-analysis was performed. RESULTS: Sixteen studies, which had been published between 2008 and 2020, were included for qualitative synthesis. Most of them were cross-sectional, used convenience sampling and evaluated knowledge for avulsion. Previous dental trauma training was undertaken by <50% of the participants of five studies, <50% knew about the correct approach in management of complicated crown fractures in three studies and ≤60% in four studies knew the critical time for replantation. There was insufficient level of knowledge in >50% of the included studies. High risk of bias was found in three studies. CONCLUSION: The knowledge level in several areas of the world was unknown. The studies lacked uniformity in methods and well-designed questionnaires and they revealed insufficient levels of knowledge among dental professionals.

Global status of knowledge for prevention and emergency management of traumatic dental injuries in sports persons and coaches: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Sports-related dental injuries can cause pain, disfigurement, and broken teeth which may affect the athlete's well-being and psychological status. Such injuries may also lead to the fear of re-injury and other problems. Since a delay in adequate emergency treatment can have adverse effects, it is imperative that athletes and coaches have sufficient awareness of emergency treatment options. Hence, the aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the global status of knowledge among athletes and coaches regarding the prevention and emergency management of traumatic dental injuries. METHODS: The protocol was designed using the PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020184956). A broad-based search using text words and MeSH terms was performed in established databases according to a predefined strategy without any distinction of language and year of publication. Studies without details of the questionnaire, knowledge score, validity, and reliability were excluded. Data extraction was performed and risk-of-bias assessment was done by means of the Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal tool. RESULTS: Nine studies published between 2005 and 2020 were included for qualitative synthesis. They were primarily from Asia with none from North America and Australia. Most of them were cross-sectional, used convenience sampling, and were interview-based. Less than 10% of the participants in two studies had adequate knowledge of the immediate emergency management of tooth avulsion, while only 2.4% of basketball players and coaches knew that it was necessary to collect the avulsed tooth or broken tooth fragments. The overall level of knowledge was reported as poor or insufficient in all studies, with moderate or high risk-of-bias in six studies. CONCLUSION: The knowledge regarding emergency management of TDI was found to be low globally. Along with the choice of the sport, there was a high level of variability in the study design and sampling characteristics.

Global status of knowledge for prevention and emergency management of traumatic dental injuries among school teachers: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The majority of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) in childhood and adolescence occur in schools. Since school teachers are often the first responders, their knowledge about the emergency management of TDI needs to be adequate. The aim of this systematic review was to assess and analyse the global status of this knowledge as reported in previous studies and to provide recommendations for future research. METHODS: The protocol was designed as per PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO. A broad-based search using text-words and MeSH terms was performed in established databases as per a predefined strategy. Cohort-studies, cross-sectional, case-control studies and randomized/non-randomized trials without any distinction of language and year of publication were included while those without details of sampling strategy, validity and reliability were excluded. Data extraction was performed, risk of bias assessment was done by the Joanna-Briggs-Institute's critical appraisal checklist and meta-analysis was performed for four question stems using a random effects model. RESULTS: Twenty-three studies were included for qualitative analysis. Most of the studies had been conducted in Asia from 2009 to 2019. Ten studies used case-based questionnaires, mostly adapted from previous studies. Moderate to high risk of bias was observed in 14 studies. Less than 50% of teachers had witnessed a TDI in 8 studies and >75% desired to know more about TDI management in most studies. Less than 50% of teachers in 5 out of 6 studies knew about immediate replantation of avulsed permanent teeth, <25% knew about storage of an avulsed tooth in 16 studies and <50% knew about cleaning of a dirty avulsed tooth in 8 studies. Meta-analysis revealed I2 values of >95% with 17% of teachers having previous dental-trauma first-aid training and 38% knowing about replantation within 30 minutes. CONCLUSION: The awareness level in several areas of the world is unknown. Studies lacked well-designed questionnaires and teachers exhibited low self-belief and knowledge level in the majority of studies.