Influence of occlusal appliances on the masticatory muscle function in individuals with sleep bruxism: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review answers the question: "Does occlusal appliance use influence masticatory muscle function of dentate individuals with sleep bruxism?". The literature search included six databases, grey literature, and manual search for articles. Randomized and non-randomized clinical trials were included comparing muscle function of sleep bruxers before and after receiving occlusal appliances. Risk of bias was assessed with risk of bias assessment for randomized and non-randomized clinical trials tool. Twelve studies, three represent randomized clinical trials, were included. Risk of bias was considered low, moderate, or serious. Meta-analyses indicated that soft and hard appliances did not influence muscle activity and bite force of bruxers. Qualitative analysis showed that occlusal appliance use did not influence masticatory performance and muscle volume. However, it was effective in reducing tongue force. Certainty of evidence was considered very low for muscle activity when evaluated with hard appliances, and for bite force evaluated with both appliance materials. Low certainty of evidence was observed for muscle activity with soft appliances. Based on the findings of this meta-analysis, occlusal appliances do not affect masticatory muscle function of sleep bruxers. Regardless of appliance material, the activity of masseter and temporal, and bite force of sleep bruxers was not influenced.

Effects of different interventions on bruxism: an overview of systematic reviews.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate, qualify, and summarize evidence presented in systematic reviews (SR) on treatments for bruxism. METHODS: The overview was conducted using the PICO strategy: children, adolescents, and adults with bruxism (P) were submitted to different treatments (I) compared to other treatments, placebo, or no treatment (C) in order to evaluate incidence, prevalence, and number of episodes of bruxism (O). The search was carried out in six databases and gray literature up to July 2023. Data were extracted, and the ROBS tool was used, followed by a descriptive synthesis of the results. RESULTS: A total of 31 SR were included. Sixteen showed a positive effect on episodes of bruxism (BE), while two had negative, one had neutral, and nine had inconclusive effects. Using the risk of bias in systematic reviews tool (ROBIS), risk of bias varied from low (n = 23) to high (n = 5) among the SR. Pharmacological treatment, oral rehabilitation, and other therapeutic approaches presented inconclusive or negative effects on BE, while oral appliances showed controversial effects. Biofeedback, physical therapy, laser therapy, and botulinum toxin showed positive effects on the reduction of BE. CONCLUSION: Biofeedback, physical therapy, laser therapy, and botulinum toxin showed positive effects on the reduction of BE; there is still a lack of studies to support the safe and long-term use of these therapies. REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42021273905.

Performance of multiple therapeutic approaches for palatal wound healing after soft tissue graft removal - an overview of systematic reviews.

OBJECTIVE: To overview the literature to answer the following question: "What is the performance of different therapies on wound healing and postoperative discomfort after palatal ASTG removal?" METHODS: SRs that evaluated the wound healing (WH), postoperative pain, bleeding, and analgesic consumption of patients submitted to de-epithelialized/free gingival grafts (FGG) or subepithelial connective tissue grafts (SCTG) removed from the palate were included. The searches were conducted on six white and two gray databases up to December 2023. Methodological quality was evaluated through AMSTAR 2. The synthesis of results was described as a narrative analysis. RESULTS: Ten SRs (involving 25 randomized clinical trials) related to low-level laser therapy (LLLT) (3), platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) (4), cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives (CTA) (2), and ozone therapy (OT) (1) were included in this overview. All techniques demonstrated improvements in WH. LLT, PRF, and CTA reduced pain and analgesic consumption. PRF and CTA reduced bleeding. Regarding methodological quality, the SRs were classified as critically low (2), low (5), moderate (2), or high quality (1). CONCLUSIONS: In SRs related to LLLT, PRF, CTA, and OT, the use of different therapies after palatal ASTG removal improved WH and postoperative discomfort. Due to the studies' low methodological quality and high heterogeneity, data should be interpreted with caution. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The present overview compiles the evidence of SRs related to different therapies for WH and patients' postoperative experience and reveals that different treatments can significantly improve the clinical outcomes of patients who require ASTG removal for periodontal or peri-implant surgeries. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022301257.

Development and psychometric properties of a questionnaire about knowledge of lay people about traumatic dental injury.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The level of knowledge about traumatic dental injuries (TDI) of lay people from a national point of view has never been studied and there is currently a lack of validated research instruments on this issue. The present study aims to develop and validate a questionnaire (TDI-Q) to assess the knowledge of lay people about TDI, including participants from the five regions of Brazil. MATERIAL AND METHODS: TDI-Q was drafted, in Brazilian Portuguese, based on the recommendations of the International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT). Before its application, TDI-Q was evaluated by dentists, lay people, linguists, and psychometrists. The questionnaire was applied to measure temporal stability at two distinct times, with an interval of 15-20 days between the two applications: test (n = 110) and retest (n = 50). The presence of floor and ceiling effects were investigated by analyzing the frequency of responses of the questionnaire; convergent construct validity was tested through Spearman's correlation; the Mann-Whitney test was applied to discriminant construct validity. Temporal stability and internal consistency were evaluated through intraclass correlation coefficient and Cronbach's alpha, respectively. RESULTS: The floor and ceiling effects were not observed (0.9% and 2.7%, respectively); convergent validity analysis indicated a positive and strong correlation (r = 0.50; p < .001). Significant discriminant construct validity (p < .05) was observed. Satisfactory internal consistency (α = 0.7) and temporal stability (ICC = 0.82, p < .001) were also achieved. CONCLUSION: TDI-Q proved to have good psychometric properties and to be a reliable tool for evaluating the knowledge of lay people regarding TDI in the Brazilian population.

World trends in publication for maxillofacial and dental trauma in the elderly.

Aging may increase the risk of maxillofacial and dentoalveolar trauma (MDT). This review assessed global trends in scientific publications on MDT in the elderly. Six databases were searched. Studies about MDT in the elderly (≥60 years old) were included in two text mining stages (S1 and S2). In S1, all studies with elderly subjects were included, while in S2 only studies in which the elderly were assessed in a separate set of data or in a subanalysis by age groups were included. In S1, relevant data were mined using VantagePoint™ software. In S2, data were descriptively analyzed. There were 2265 studies at S1 and 110 at S2. The publication dates spanned from 1963 to 2023. In S1, the most cited keywords and terms were aged (n = 1872), male (n = 1839), female (n = 1777), "mandible fracture" (n = 460), "orbit fracture" (n = 362), and "maxilla fracture" (n = 118). Thirty authors published 10 or more articles with visible collaboration networks. There was a progressive increase in publications, especially in Europe (n = 150). In S2, most studies were case reports/case series (n = 62). The primary etiology was accidental falls (n = 84), the most affected region was the middle third of the face (n = 65), and dental trauma was rarely reported (n = 15). Cone Beam computed tomography was the most used diagnostic tool (n = 67). Of the 81 articles that addressed therapy, 52 opted for surgical treatment. Although there has been an increase in the number of articles on MDT over the years, studies with the elderly population as a specific study group are still needed. Accidental falls were the most reported etiology, while the middle third of the face and the mandible were the anatomic region and bone most affected, respectively. The high number of case reports indicates the need for improvement in the available scientific evidence about MDT in the elderly.

Gingival zenith level, position, and symmetry: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The gingival zenith (GZ) influences the line angle position in the emergence profile and the axial inclination of the crown. Irregularities in GZ symmetry and contour have a negative impact on dental esthetics. GZ location is not consistently distal to the crown's long axis; instead, it tends to be more distal in anterior teeth. The GZ levelling of the lateral incisor is often described as either level with or slightly above the zenith line connecting the central incisor and canine teeth, but there are also reports of GZ being aligned apically to the zenith line. Controversial reports persist regarding GZ positioning, magnitude, and location, potentially leading to inadequate positioning and levelling of the GZ in esthetic restorative therapy. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the scientific evidence related to GZ level, position, and symmetry in maxillary incisors and canines. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study adhered to the population, variable, outcome (PVO) criteria and the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) checklist. Cross-sectional studies involving healthy adults with complete dentition of the maxillary anterior sextant were subjected to prevalence analysis and quantitative measurement to assess the gingival zenith level and position. Data were extracted, and methodological quality was appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist for analytical cross-sectional studies. Certainty of evidence was evaluated through the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) system. RESULTS: The GZs were distally positioned, coinciding with the tooth axis or mesially positioned in, respectively, 96%, 3%, and 1% on central incisors; 84%, 14%, and 1% on lateral incisors; and 43%, 44%, and 5% on canines. GZ distal positioning was greater in central incisors, followed by lateral incisors and canines. In lateral incisors, the GZ was levelled coronally in 82% of the population. Contralateral symmetry was observed for GZ levelling and positioning. The certainty of the evidence was very low for all comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency and magnitude of the distal position of the GZ increased the more anterior the tooth. Axially, the GZ was frequently levelled coronally to the zenith line. The contralateral positioning and levelling of the GZ was symmetrical.

Does occlusal morphology of artificial teeth improve chewing of removable dentures wearers? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This systematic review aimed to verify whether anatomic, semi-anatomic, or nonanatomic occlusal morphology of artificial teeth improves the masticatory function of complete or removable partial denture wearers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: According to the PICO strategy, six databases and the grey literature were searched to identify randomized (RCT) and non-randomized clinical trials (N-RCT) comparing masticatory function, in terms of masticatory performance and efficiency, and muscle activity as primary outcomes; and patient-reported results (O) in individuals using removable dentures (P) with different occlusal morphologies of artificial teeth (I/C). Masticatory ability, satisfaction with the prosthetic treatment, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) were evaluated as secondary outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2.0) for RCT and Risk of Bias for non-randomized studies with intervention (ROBINS-I) for N-RCT studies. Meta-analyses were performed to compare primary outcomes and masticatory ability between the occlusal morphologies of artificial teeth of complete or removable partial dentures (α = 0.05). Certainty of the evidence was verified using the GRADE approach. RESULTS: Eleven studies (seven RCTs and four N-RCTs) were included. The risk of bias was considered low for two studies, some concerns for five, and high for the last four studies. Meta-analyses showed that removable partial dentures with anatomic artificial teeth improved masticatory efficiency for carrot chewing (MD 6.31; 95% CI [3.39, 9.22], I2 = 0%). However, masseter and temporal muscle activities increased when removable partial dentures with nonanatomic teeth were used (MD -756.97; 95% CI [-892.25, -621.68], I2 = 100%). Masticatory ability was not influenced by occlusal morphology during chewing of all foods in complete denture users: Carrot (MD -0.88, 95% CI [-8.98, 7.23], I2 = 57%); sausage (MD -8.86, 95% CI [-23.05, 5.33], I2 = 71%); apple (MD -5.78, 95% CI [-28.82, 17.26], I2 = 87%); and cheese (MD -4.16, 95% CI [-15.14, 6.82], I2 = 62%). The certainty of evidence for all evaluated outcomes was very low, mainly due to very serious problems found in the parameters of inconsistency, indirectness, and imprecision. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the very low certainty of evidence, the occlusal morphology of artificial teeth influences masticatory function. Anatomic teeth improved the masticatory efficiency and muscle activity of removable partial denture wearers. Nonanatomic teeth increased temporal and masseter muscle activity, which negatively affected chewing in removable partial denture users. However, patients using complete dentures with anatomic and semi-anatomic teeth presented similar masticatory ability.

Are low serum levels of Vitamin D associated with dental developmental defects in primary teeth? A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To identify, qualify and synthesize all studies that assessed if low serum level of 25(OH)D (<50 nmol/L) is associated with dental developmental defects (DDD) in primary teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational studies or clinical trials were included if measured 25(OH)D serum levels in pregnant women and/or in their children (up to 3 years old) and evaluated the occurrence of DDD in the primary dentition of offspring associated with the low 25(OH)D levels. Literature reviews, case reports, laboratory and/or animals' studies, conference abstracts, letters to the editor, book chapters and clinical protocols were excluded. Searches were carried out in 6 electronic databases and in the gray literature until March 2023, without restrictions. The study quality was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the certainty of the evidence by GRADE. Data were descriptively synthesized considering the association between DDD and 25(OH)D levels. RESULTS: Seven studies were included. Only developmental enamel defects (DED) were observed after examination of 6651 children. The incidence of DED ranged from 8.9% to 66%. Six studies found no association between low levels of 25(OH)D and DED. However, one reported correlation between hypomineralization of the primary second molar (HSMD) and low levels of 25(OH)D at birth. Methodological flaws were observed in all studies and the certainty of the evidence was very low. CONCLUSION: Although HSMD was the only DDD associated with low levels of 25(OH)D in children, the available evidence is still not conclusive. More robust studies are needed to endorse the biological plausibility of DDD in primary teeth due to low serum levels of 25(OH)D in pregnant women or in their children. FAPERJ financed this study, which was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022357511).

Did the Use of Minimum Interventions for Caries Management Change during the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Cross-Sectional Study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the frequency of use of minimum intervention (MI) techniques for caries management during the COVID-19 pandemic. A questionnaire was applied through the SurveyMonkeyTM platform to evaluate changes in the dentist's frequency of use of noninvasive, microinvasive, minimally invasive, and mixed interventions, nonaerosol or aerosol productive, to manage dental caries before and during COVID-19 pandemic. Differences in the use of MI techniques were analyzed by Wilcoxon test, and the effect size (ES) was calculated. An α = 0.05 was adopted. A total of 781 dentists answered the questionnaire; most of them were female (76.4%), with 30s (76.4%), graduated over 10-24 years ago (38%) in public dental schools (62%), graduated in southwest of Brazil (38%), that work in clinical environment (66.8%) and in private jobs (53.4%). During COVID-19, among the sample, 91 respondents were not working. In relation to the noninvasive techniques, only the use of casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic (p < 0.01; ES = 0.11). The frequency of sealants to repair defective restorations was the only microinvasive technique that increased during the pandemic (p < 0.01; ES = 0.03). Among the minimally invasive techniques, the use of atraumatic restorative treatment increased significantly (p < 0.01; ES = 0.06), while the use of air abrasion decreased (p = 0.02; ES = 0.04) during COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, nonrestorative cavity control (mixed intervention) increased during pandemic period (p < 0.001; ES = 0.11). Although the results demonstrated differences in the use of some procedures, a very small magnitude of the effect was perceived, demonstrating that the influence of COVID-19 pandemic was very little, if any, in the use of MI techniques for caries management. Moreover, the use of MI strategies was already well established between Brazilian dentists before the pandemic period.

Clinical performance of and patient satisfaction with conventional complete dentures with different occlusal schemes: A systematic review of systematic reviews.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The complete denture occlusal scheme may influence clinical performance and patient satisfaction. However, a consensus on which occlusal scheme should be used for complete denture users is lacking. As a result, many dentists choose the scheme based on their preferences and clinical experience. PURPOSE: The purpose of this review was to assess the methodological quality and summarize the scientific evidence from secondary studies about the influence of occlusal schemes on the clinical performance of and patient satisfaction with complete dentures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten sources were surveyed according to the patient, intervention, comparison, outcome (PICO) strategy. Systematic reviews that evaluated the clinical performance and patient satisfaction (O) of rehabilitated edentulous patients with conventional complete dentures (P) under different occlusal schemes (I/C) were included. Methodological quality was assessed by using A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) 2 tool by 2 authors independently. The effect of each occlusal scheme in comparison with others was summarized and classified as positive, neutral, negative, or inconclusive based on the conclusions of the systematic review concerning clinical performance and patient satisfaction outcomes. RESULTS: The search led to the inclusion of 10 systematic reviews. Seven were classified as of critically low, 2 as low, and 1 as moderate methodological quality. The following occlusal designs were included and analyzed: bilateral balanced occlusion, lingualized occlusion, canine guidance, group function, and monoplane occlusion. Bilateral balanced occlusion and canine guidance obtained satisfactory results for both outcomes. Lingualized occlusion showed a trend toward better results than other occlusal schemes for normal and resorbed ridges. Group function presented mainly inconclusive results, and monoplane occlusion did not deliver satisfactory outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The present overview concluded that occlusal schemes might interfere with the clinical performance of and patient satisfaction with complete dentures. Lingualized, bilateral balanced, and canine guidance are preferred compared with monoplane occlusion, but lingualized occlusion tends to show better results in some reviews. However, the results should be carefully considered because of the low quality of the systematic reviews included.

YouTube™ as a source of tooth avulsion information: A video analysis study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Evaluate the informative content in tooth avulsion videos intended for dentists available on YouTube™ and analyse their compliance with the International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) guidelines 2020. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Google Trends was used to identify the most searched term for tooth avulsion. Tooth avulsion-related videos in Brazilian Portuguese intended for dentists were searched on YouTube™ with a 12-month filter. Two raters reviewed these videos to extract their features and evaluate and qualify them with two 9-point checklists based on the IADT 2020 guidelines. The emergency steps for tooth avulsion at the accident site were assessed before, during and after clinical management; each step received 1 point if present and 0 points if absent. The final score ranged from 0 to 9 points on each checklist (18 points total), and the total score was used to classify the videos as having poor, moderate or rich content. Reliability and video quality were evaluated by an adapted version of the DISCERN tool and global quality scale (GQS), respectively. The data were analysed with the Mann-Whitney U-test, Pearson chi-square test, and the Kappa statistic (p < .05). RESULTS: Of 60 videos, 8 were included. All were uploaded by dental professionals or undergraduate students; the average duration was 11 min (range: 0.40-65 min), and the average number of views was 56.75. Half the videos (50%) had maximum completeness scores for questions about emergency dentist referral before clinical management, and more than half (75%) had maximum completeness regarding the steps required during and after treatment. Rich videos had higher GQS scores (p = .049) without significant correlation. CONCLUSIONS: Although most videos in Brazilian Portuguese were considered high-quality according to the IADT checklist, half of them presented partial absence of information regarding orientations at the accident site.

Influence of different presentations of denture adhesives on masticatory function of complete denture wearers: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Denture adhesives improve the mastication of complete denture wearers. However, the impact of denture adhesives with different presentations on mastication remains unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review was to answer the focused question, "Do different presentations of denture adhesives affect the masticatory function of complete denture wearers?". MATERIAL AND METHODS: This review was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Six databases and the non-peer-reviewed literature were searched up to July 2021. Only clinical studies (randomized clinical trials and nonrandomized clinical trials) comparing the use of different denture adhesive presentations (cream, powder, or strips) were included, without language or follow-up restrictions. The risk of bias was assessed by using the Cochrane tools (RoB 2.0 and ROBINS-I). Masticatory performance, by using single and multiple sieves, masticatory performance with color-changing chewing gum (mixing ability), swallowing threshold (particle size and number of cycles), jaw kinematics, and occlusal force were considered. Meta-analyses were conducted to evaluate masticatory performance (single sieve) and occlusal force outcomes (α=.05), and the certainty of the evidence was determined with the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) evaluations. RESULTS: Nine studies (6 randomized and 3 nonrandomized clinical trials) were included. The risk of bias was considered moderate. Meta-analyses showed no differences between cream and powder denture adhesives for masticatory performance (standard mean difference=0.02; 95% CI=-0.46 to 0.50, P=.93) or between cream and strip denture adhesives for occlusal force (mean difference=14.35; 95% CI=-11.14 to 39.84, P=.27). Similarly, in qualitative analysis, cream and powder denture adhesives' performances were similar regarding masticatory performance with color-changing chewing gum (mixing ability), occlusal force, swallowing threshold (particle size and number of cycles), and jaw kinematics (P>.05). However, for resorbed ridges, cream denture adhesive resulted in a higher masticatory performance than strip (P<.05). When comparing powder to strip denture adhesives, the occlusal force was higher in the powder group (P<.05). The certainty of evidence was very low for all evaluated outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Different presentations of denture adhesives seem to improve the masticatory function of complete denture wearers in a similar way. However, the qualitative analysis showed that, in patients with a resorbed ridge, a cream denture adhesive may be better than strips to improve mastication, although the certainty of evidence was very low.

Patient perception of orthodontists with different stereotypes: development, psychometric properties, and application of an assessment instrument.

INTRODUCTION: This research aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire that considers social judgments and, through its application, assesses whether the presence of piercings, tattoos, beards, and loose hair visible in the face and neck region reflect on the patient perception regarding characteristics of the orthodontist's professional scope. METHODS: The developed questionnaire had its psychometric properties evaluated and was applied to 220 young people and adults, aged 18-70 years, who responded according to their perception of 12 manipulated images of orthodontists with different stereotypes, considering the following items: hygiene, care, punctuality, experience and knowledge in orthodontics. RESULTS: The developed questionnaire showed high acceptability, confirmed reliability and validity of the construct, and satisfactory internal consistency. The stereotype interfered with the perception of professionalism (P <0.01), in which the orthodontist with combined characteristics (beard/loose hair, piercing, earrings, and tattoo) obtained the lowest mean scores, both for each item of the questionnaire individually (P <0.01) and in total (P <0.01). Health professional (P = 0.427) and educational level (P = 0.285) status did not influence the perception; however, there was a significant difference for the age groups (P = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: The developed questionnaire proved to be valid and reliable for application. Orthodontists with piercings and tattoos on the face and neck were considered less professional. Being a health professional and educational level status did not influence the perception. However, older subjects (aged 51-70 years) were more critical in judging stereotypes than younger subjects (aged 18-30 years).

Global research trends of studies related to mouthguards and dental injuries in sports activities: a bibliometric analysis.

Mouthguards (MGs) are essential devices for the protection of sports-related orofacial injuries. Mapping of the literature on this subject may help to guide future studies; therefore, this review aimed to characterize the research trends of studies related to MGs and dental injuries in sports activities through bibliometric analysis of in vivo studies concerning the frequency of MG use; knowledge, awareness, perception, and/or attitude about MGs; and adaptation (fit) of MGs in the mouth and/or prevention of traumatic dental injuries (TDIs). A literature search was performed in 6 databases for studies published up to April 2022. Text mining and analysis software was used to extract and evaluate data related to the study author, country, keywords, journal of publication, and year. Additionally, data related to the type of study, outcome, study population, age group, evaluation method, type of MG, sport classification, and sport category were extracted and analyzed. Of 6140 records identified, 222 were included in the analysis. Most of the articles came from the United States (n = 39; 17.5%) and dentistry journals (n = 145; 65.3%). The journal Dental Traumatology (n = 60; 27.0%) presented the highest number of publications. Most studies were observational (n = 195; 87.8%) and evaluated the frequency of MG use (n = 163; 44.4%). Studies were carried out in athletes (n = 181; 82.6%) and adults (n = 169; 49.1%) using questionnaires or interviews for assessment (n = 206; 84.1%). Only 89 (40.1%) studies evaluated the type of MG, mostly involving contact sports. Custom-made MGs were most commonly studied. More studies involving coaches, dentists, and child and teenaged athletes are warranted to help prevent sportsrelated TDIs in young teeth, mainly through interventional studies on the perceptions of and knowledge about MGs among these populations.

The relationship between temperament and dental fear and anxiety: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between temperament traits and dental fear and anxiety (DFA) in children and adolescents by the means of a systematic review (PROSPERO #CRD42020207578). METHODS: The PEO (Population, Exposure, and Outcome) strategy was followed using children and adolescents as the population, temperament as the exposure, and DFA as the outcome. A systematic search for observational studies (cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort) without restrictions on year or language of publication was performed in seven databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Lilacs, Embase, Cochrane, and PsycINFO) in September 2021. Grey literature search was performed in OpenGrey, Google Scholar, and in the reference list of included studies. Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were carried out independently by two reviewers. The Fowkes and Fulton Critical Assessment Guideline was used to assess methodological quality of each study included. The GRADE approach was performed to determine the certainty of evidence of relationship between temperament traits. RESULTS: This study recovered 1362 articles, of which 12 were included. Despite the high heterogeneity of methodological aspects, qualitative synthesis by subgroups showed a positive association/correlation between emotionality, neuroticism, and shyness with DFA in children and adolescents. Different subgroups analysis showed similar results. Eight studies were classified as having low methodological quality. CONCLUSION: The main shortcoming of the included studies is the high risk of bias and a very low certainty of evidence. Within its limitations, children and adolescents with a temperament-like emotionality/neuroticism and shyness are more likely to present higher DFA.

Prevalence of toothache and associated factors in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of toothache in children and adolescents and to verify its association with sociodemographic characteristics and dental caries experience. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Six main and three grey literature databases were searched in February 2021. Observational studies that assessed the prevalence of toothache and associated factors were included. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated following the guidelines by Fowkes and Fulton. Proportion and association meta-analyses were performed in MedCalc and Revman software, respectively. The certainty of the evidence was determined with the GRADE approach. RESULTS: Seventy-one studies met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-two presented high methodological quality and a low risk of bias. The overall pooled prevalence of toothache in children and adolescents was 36.2% (95%CI: 33.0-39.42; I2: 99.72%; P < 0.001). Females (OR: 1.17; 95%CI: 1.08-1.26; I2: 91%; P < 0.001) and children and adolescents whose caregivers had ≤ 8 years of schooling (OR: 1.42; 95%CI: 1.30-1.56; I2: 77%; P < 0.001) presented the higher chance of reporting toothache. Dental caries experience increased the chance of reporting toothache in 3.49 times (95%CI: 2.70-4.51; I2: 92%; P < 0.001). The certainty of the evidence was very low. CONCLUSIONS: The overall pooled prevalence of toothache was considered high. Sociodemographic characteristics (sex and caregivers' educational level) and previous dental caries experience were significantly associated with toothache reports. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Toothache is still a recurrent issue in many countries. Thus, it is essential to understand its possible associated factors to reduce the occurrence of new episodes.

Do smokers have a different gingival crevicular fluid cytokine/chemokine profile than nonsmokers in clinically healthy periodontal sites? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Assessing the evidence and comparing the levels of cytokines in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of periodontal healthy sites of smokers and nonsmokers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven databases were surveyed for observational studies up to April 8, 2021. Studies comparing cytokine levels on GCF in periodontally healthy sites of smokers vs. nonsmokers were included in the study. The risk of bias was evaluated using NIH (2014) tool. For meta-analyses, levels in GCF were analyzed, followed by evidence certainty assessment using the GRADE approach. RESULTS: Eighteen studies were included for qualitative evaluation, and eight were included in meta-analysis. Qualitatively, despite high heterogeneity and risk of bias observed among the studies, most of them presented no significant difference in the gingival crevicular cytokine fluid levels between groups. Regarding meta-analyses, interleukin-8 (IL-8) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in GCF were analyzed. The significant difference was observed only in SOD levels, where heavy smokers had lower levels compared to nonsmokers (MD - 30.06 [- 40.17, - 19.96], p = 0.07, 95%CI), as well as light smokers had lower levels compared to nonsmokers (MD - 15.22 [- 16.05, - 14.39], p < 0.00001, 95%CI). CONCLUSION: No distinct GCF cytokine profiles were detected for smokers and non-smokers. However, despite the limitations observed in the included studies, lower levels of SOD were identified in smokers. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Indicating a distinct GCF profile of cytokines in periodontal healthy smokers may help to understand the mechanism whereby smoking may affect the host response.

Critical appraisal of the information available on traumatic dental injuries found in applications.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Traumatic dental injuries (TDI) are a public health problem and the search for information becomes essential to help in their management. The aim of this study was to search existing TDI applications (Apps) to critically describe the characteristics and main information found in them regarding TDI. METHODOLOGY: Searches were performed in the Play Store (Android) and App Store (iOS), using MeSH terms, synonyms and terms related to dental emergencies and TDI, in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Apps with information on the management of post-TDI emergencies or TDI prevention were included. The type of operating system (Android/iOS), cost (free/paid), target audience (dentist/patient), age of classification (free/>17 years old), language, star rating (1★ to 5★), number of downloads and post-download ratings, type of dentition (primary/permanent), reference used for classification according to TDI type and management (International Association for Dental Traumatology/Andreasen/others/not reported), and available content (prevention/emergency management/preservation/illustrations) were evaluated. RESULTS: Among 486 apps, 13 were eligible: 11 for Android and 2 for iOS. Most were free (92.3%), for patients (38.4%) and had a free age classification (90.9%). The main language was English (53.8%), and most of the Apps either had no information on star ratings (46.1%) or received 4★ (23.1%). The number of downloads was not reported (23.1%) or was fewer than 100 (23.1%). Most of the Apps were for permanent teeth (61.5%) and had explanations about dental management for TDI emergencies (92.3%) and multiple TDIs (61.5%). Most Apps addressed the importance of monitoring TDIs (76.9%) and contained illustrative images (76.9%). However, many did not report the TDI classification (46.1%), and 38.5% reported TDI prevention. CONCLUSIONS: Information on dental trauma management according to dental injury, inclusion of images, target audience, type of TDI and their prevention varied in the available Apps. However, most were focused on permanent teeth and addressed several TDI in English language only.

Patient-reported outcome measures and clinical assessment of implant-supported overdentures and fixed prostheses in mandibular edentulous patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: A consensus based on patients' perceptions as to whether to use overdentures or fixed prostheses to rehabilitate mandibular edentulous arches is limited. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and clinical outcomes associated with implant-supported overdentures and fixed prostheses in edentulous mandibles. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nine electronic databases were searched for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and nonrandomized clinical trials (N-RCTs). The risk of bias was assessed by the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool for RCTs (RoB 2) and N-RCT (ROBINS-I). Data sets for oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), satisfaction, survival rate, implant probing depth, and marginal bone loss were plotted, and the appropriate analyses were applied by using the Rev Man 5.3 software program. Certainty of evidence was also evaluated by means of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. RESULTS: Ten eligible trials were included and evaluated quantitatively. For 3 domains of OHRQoL, fixed prostheses showed significantly higher quality of life when compared with overdentures regarding functional limitation (P<.001), physical disability (P=.001), and physical pain (P=.003). Fixed prostheses also improved satisfaction, when compared with overdentures for comfort (P=.02), ease of mastication (P<.001), retention (P<.001), and stability (P<.001). The same pattern was observed for overall OHRQoL (P=.01) and satisfaction (P=.01) in which fixed prostheses improved patient satisfaction. Only ease of cleaning presented greater satisfaction for the overdenture group. Clinical parameters did not differ statistically (P>.05) between both types of prosthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Fixed rehabilitations for mandibular edentulous patients seem to be a well-accepted treatment from the patients' oral health perspective. However, mandibular overdentures are no less efficient than fixed prostheses in terms of clinical outcomes.

Prevalence of sequelae after traumatic dental injuries to anterior primary teeth: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Clinical and radiographic sequelae are common following traumatic dental injuries to primary teeth. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the prevalence of such sequelae. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Searches were conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and BBO/LILACS databases as well as the gray literature. The outcome of interest was the prevalence of the most common sequelae following traumatic dental injuries to anterior primary teeth. Observational studies that evaluated such sequelae were included. Data were extracted, and methodological quality was appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Studies Reporting Prevalence Data. The number of sequelae per tooth and the total number of teeth evaluated in each study were considered to calculate pooled prevalence rates with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The quality of the evidence was determined using the GRADE approach. RESULTS: Twenty-five articles were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The prevalence of each complication in descending order was as follows: 39.7% crown discoloration (95% CI: 29.52-50.32), 24.3% pulp necrosis with infection (95% CI: 17.34-32.06), 16.2% periapical radiolucency (95% CI: 8.88-25.49), 15.9% premature tooth loss (95% CI: 9.93-23.15), 14.8% pulp canal obliteration (95% CI: 8.46-22.73), 11.9% pathological root resorption (95% CI: 7.68-16.98), 7.1% abscess/fistula (95% CI: 4.4-10.6), and 1.8% ankylosis (95% CI: 0.82-3.17). The certainty of the evidence was very low. CONCLUSIONS: Crown discoloration was the most common sequela in injured primary teeth, but this should be interpreted with caution due to the very low certainty of the evidence. Considerable variation was found in the prevalence of each sequela.