Effects of respiratory exercises in sleep bruxism and associated obstructive sleep apnea: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to assess the effects of respiratory exercises (inspiratory and expiratory) in individuals with sleep bruxism (SB) and associated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). METHODS: This is a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial including individuals with SB and associated respiratory events in OSA. Respiratory physical therapy was performed using inspiratory (Threshold® IMT), expiratory (Threshold® PEP) muscle training, and compared with a placebo group. A total of 30 daily respiratory cycles (inspiration and expiration) were performed five times a week for 12 weeks. Individuals were reassessed at two times, at baseline (T1) and after 12 weeks of training (T2) by means of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Polysomnography. RESULTS: Awakening was significantly different (p ≤ 0.05) between the inspiratory group and placebo 12 weeks after respiratory physical therapy. The number of contractions of the masseter muscle differed between the inspiratory, expiratory, and placebo groups (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: Respiratory physical therapy for OSA improved awaking levels in 80 and 67% of the number of masseter muscle contractions, when compared to placebo. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (No. RBR-9F6JKM).

Effect of bar designs on peri implant tissues health in implant-supported removable prostheses: a systematic review.

Different characteristics of bars (cross-sectional shape, diameter, distal extension etc.) lead to different biomechanical behavior (retention and stress) with implants and peri-implant tissues.Aim: To evaluate the impact of implant-supported removable prostheses bar designs in fully edentulous arch (in the maxilla and/or mandibula), with 4 implants or more, on the peri-implant soft and hard tissues.Two reviewers searched for observational studies, RCT and in vitro studies, published on five main databases and three from the grey literature, without restrictions on November 2023.Of the 3049 selected articles, four met the inclusion criteria. Four RCT evaluated peri-implant health tissues in full edentulous arches with 4 or 6 implants rehabilitated with implant bar overdentures. One prospective study with 5 years follow-up evaluated the success/survival rate of implants and implant bar overdentures. Overall, 261 subjects were enrolled in our systematic review with 1176 implants. Overdentures' survival rate was 100%. There was a trend that plaque indices and gingival indices were low in all of the studies, however no statistical analysis was done due to the lack of information.Due to the lack of information in the included studies, we cannot confirm if bar characteristics affect the peri-implant tissues health.

Is burning mouth syndrome associated with stress? A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Some studies have shown burning mouth syndrome (BMS) as comorbid psychosocial and psychiatric disorders, and as well, pointed at stress as a major risk factor. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this meta-analysis was to answer the following question: 'Is there an association between BMS and stress, compared to healthy controls?' METHODS: Two reviewers searched for the effect of stress in BMS and published on five main databases and three from the grey literature. Various questionnaires and biomarkers were analysed. Of the 2489 selected articles, 30 met the inclusion criteria. Studies englobed questionnaires, such as Perceived Stress Questionnaire, Lipp Stress Symptoms Inventory, Holmes-Rahe scale, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Recent Experience Test; and various biomarkers, such as cortisol, opiorphin, IgA, α-amylase and interleukins. RESULTS: In all studies with questionnaires, stress was significantly increased in the BMS group vs. control. Patients with BMS presented 25.73% higher cortisol levels, 28.17% higher IgA levels and 40.62% higher α-amylase levels than controls. Meta-analysis found that BMS subjects presented 3.01 nmoL/L [0.53; 5.50] higher cortisol levels, 84.35 kU/L [15.00; 153.71] higher α-amylase levels, 29.25 mg/mL [9.86; 48.64] higher IgA levels and 258.59 pg/mL [59.24; 457.94] higher IL-8 levels than control. No differences were found for opiorphin concentration in ng/mL [-0.96; 2.53]. For interleukins, no differences were founded for IL-1 ß, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-α. CONCLUSION: Based on the available evidence, this meta-analysis suggests more stress factors in questionnaire-based studies, and higher levels of cortisol, α-amylase, IgA and IL-8 biomarkers in BMS subjects than controls.

Anterior open bite self-correction after cessation of non-nutritive sucking habits: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Non-nutritive sucking habits likely may cause occlusal changes such as anterior open bite (AOB) if they persist over extended time. OBJECTIVES: To assess if there is self-correction of AOB after cessation of non-nutritive sucking habits in children older than 4 years old, through a systematic review. SEARCH METHODS: Data sources included PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences (LILACS) databases, gray literature as Google Scholar, the database System for Information on Gray Literature in Europe (OpenGrey) and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Database, also hand searches of the included studies references. SELECTION CRITERIA: Studies assessing occlusal changes in children aged 4-12 years with AOB traits and non-nutritive sucking habits after the discontinuation of the habit were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently assessed eligibility and extracted data. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale and the Joanna Briggs Critical Appraisal Checklist for quasi-experimental studies. The confidence in cumulative evidence was assessed using the GRADE criteria. RESULTS: Over 3100 studies, only 5 met the inclusion criteria. There is often self-correction of AOB after discontinuing the non-nutritive sucking habit, even in cases older than 4 years old. The improvement ranged between 50 and 100%. The overall quality of evidence was very low. CONCLUSIONS: AOB self-correction after discontinuing a non-nutritive sucking habit is possible, even after 4 years old, although with very low certainty in the body of evidence. It is not clear after what age the removal from the habit is unlikely to facilitate AOB self-correction. REGISTRATION AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST: International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews code: CRD42016052171. There was no conflicting interest from the review authors.

Comparison of tobacco and alcohol consumption in young and older patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the proportion of young (up to 45 years of age) and older (over 45 years of age) oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients who report tobacco and alcohol consumption. METHODS: Observational studies reporting tobacco and alcohol consumption among young and older OSCC patients were selected in a two-phase process. Search strategies were conducted on five main electronic databases and complemented by grey literature. The risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute's Critical Appraisal Checklist for Studies Reporting Prevalence Data. Synthesis of results was calculated with the software R Statistics version 4.0.2 (The R Foundation). RESULTS: From 6675 records identified, 38 studies met the eligibility criteria and were selected for qualitative synthesis and meta-analysis, encompassing 2439 young and 13,393 older patients. Tobacco smoking was reported by 39.5% (confidence interval (CI) = 31.7% to 47.9%, I2 = 78%) of the young patients and 48.4% (CI = 37.8% to 59.2%, I2 = 94%) of the older patients. Alcohol consumption was reported by 30.9% (CI = 22.7% to 40.5%, I2 = 83%) of the young and 45.8% (CI = 35.6% to 56.5%, I2 = 95%) of the older patients (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The comparison in the proportion of individuals reporting tobacco and alcohol consumption demonstrated that these habits were more prevalent in the older group (48.4% and 45.8% respectively) than in the young group (39.5% and 30.9%, respectively). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: As a significant proportion of patients with OSCC reported no habits, novel risk factors for OSCC need to be investigated in further research.

Association between obstructive sleep apnea and health-related quality of life in untreated adults: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: The objective of this systematic review was to answer the question: "Is there association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in untreated adults?" METHODS: We included observational studies that evaluated the health-related quality of life of patients with OSA vs control groups, through generic and disease-specific questionnaires. The searches were conducted in six databases: Embase, Lilacs, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Additional search in the grey literature and hand search were performed, and also experts were consulted. Risk of bias was performed by using Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies. We analyzed the data using a narrative synthesis. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation evidence profile was used to verify the overall certainty of the assessed evidence. RESULTS: Nineteen studies were included for qualitative analysis. Generic questionnaires showed worse HRQoL in the OSA group compared to the control group in at least one domain of the HRQoL questionnaires. The affected domains that showed statistical and clinically relevant differences were physical functioning, physical role, pain, general health, vitality, emotional role, and mental health. The certainty of evidence assessment was very low. CONCLUSION: The available literature suggests that OSA in untreated adults is associated with worse HRQoL. However, this association seems to disappear when we consider only studies adjusted for related covariates. REGISTRATION: CRD42018114746.

Incidence of root resorption after concussion, subluxation, lateral luxation, intrusion, and extrusion: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Traumatic dental injuries often affect the dental hard tissues, periodontal tissues, and dental pulp. Root resorption (RR) is a significantly concerning phenomenon that could lead to loss of the traumatized tooth. The purpose of this systematic review was to analyze the incidences of different types of RR after concussion, subluxation, lateral luxation, intrusive luxation, and extrusive luxation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seven databases were electronically and manually searched for the identification of observational studies that evaluated the incidence of RR after luxation injuries. Following study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment through MAStARI checklist, the GRADE quality of available evidence was assessed. RESULTS: In total, 14 studies were included in the present systematic review. Ten and four studies presented a moderate and low RoB, respectively, and the overall GRADE quality of evidence was "very low" for all outcomes. The highest incidence rates of RR were observed for teeth with intrusive luxation, followed by those with extrusive luxation, lateral luxation, subluxation, and concussion. In general, the most common type of RR documented for all injuries was inflammatory RR, followed by replacement RR, surface RR, and internal RR. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that RR most commonly occurs in association with intrusive luxation and by inflammatory RR. Awareness regarding the incidence of RR after injuries is useful for clinicians to minimize the risk and severity of its occurrence, because a late diagnosis of RR may limit treatment alternatives and result in tooth loss. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Knowledge about the incidence of RR in teeth with concussion and different types of luxation injuries can ensure appropriate follow-up protocols and favorable outcomes.

Prevalence of dentofacial injuries among combat sports practitioners: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Combat sports might result in injuries to the face and teeth. However, it is unclear how often they occur and which sports presents the highest rates. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of dentofacial injuries in combat sports participants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic review was performed. Six main electronic databases and three grey literature databases were searched. Studies were blindly selected by two reviewers based on pre-defined eligibility criteria. Studies that evaluated the prevalence of dentofacial injuries (teeth, alveolar bone, jaw, lips, and/or cheekbones) among combat sports participants were considered eligible. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist. The software r statistics version was used to perform all meta-analyses. Cumulative evidence of the included articles was evaluated using GRADE criteria (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation). RESULTS: From 1104 articles found on all databases, 27 were finally included. Eighteen studies were judged at low, seven at moderate, and two at high risk of bias. The following sports were investigated: boxing, capoeira, fencing, jiu-jitsu, judo, karate, kendo, kickboxing, kung fu, muay thai, sumo, taekwondo, wrestling, and wushu. Results from the meta-analysis suggested a dental pooled prevalence of 25.2% (12.3%-40.8%, i2  = 100%) and dentofacial pooled prevalence of 30.3 (18.1%-44.1%, i2  = 100%). Considering the sports' categories individually, jiu-jitsu had the highest pooled prevalence of dentofacial injuries (52.9% [37.9%-67.8%, i2  = 92%]), while judo was the sport with the lowest pooled prevalence (25.0% [7.6%-48.2%, i2  = 98%]). Among Panamerican sports, boxing had the highest prevalence of dental injuries (73.7% [58.7%-86.3%, i2  = 0%]). For dentofacial injuries, the GRADE criteria were considered low. CONCLUSIONS: Overall pooled prevalence of dentofacial injuries in combat sports was approximately 30%. Raising awareness regarding the frequency of these injuries might encourage the use of protective devices and reduce complications related to these incidents.

Prevalence of oral mucosal disorders during pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of oral mucosal disorders during pregnancy. METHODS: Observational studies were selected by two reviewers in a two-phase process. Search strategies were applied at CINAHL, LILACS, LIVIVO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, OpenGrey, and ProQuest. The risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute's Critical Appraisal Checklist for Studies Reporting Prevalence Data. Synthesis of results was calculated by the software R Statistics version 3.5.1 (The R Foundation, Vienna, Austria). Confidence in cumulative evidence was assessed by using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria. RESULTS: Fifteen studies met the eligibility criteria and were selected for qualitative synthesis and meta-analysis, of which 5935 participants were enrolled. The overall prevalence of oral mucosal disorders was 11.8%. Gingival hyperplasia (17.1%), morsicatio buccarum (10%), oral candidiasis (4.4%), pyogenic granuloma (3%), and benign migratory glossitis (2.8%) were the most prevalent lesions. The overall risk of bias was considered moderate, and the quality of evidence was very low. CONCLUSION: Disorders of the oral mucosa were present in approximately 1 out of 10 pregnant women. Gingival hyperplasia was the most prevalent lesion. Further studies should apply homogeneous methodology to improve the quality of evidence.

Interventions to obstructive long-term central venous catheter in cancer patients: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this systematic review was to identify the interventions used to treat obstructive events, whether thrombotic or non-thrombotic, in long-term central venous catheters (LT-CVC) in cancer patients. METHODS: This review included clinical trials and observational studies reporting the drugs used to treat obstructive catheter events in cancer patients. The authors developed specific search strategies for CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, LILACS, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Open Grey, and ProQuest. The authors evaluated methodological quality of included studies using criteria from Cochrane's Collaboration Tool and the Methodological Index for non-randomized studies (MINORS). The quality of evidence was analyzed by using GRADE's software. RESULTS: More than 9000 articles were found across the databases. After duplicates removed, the studies were selected in 2 phases. After that, only 15 studies were included. The drugs used to restoration of catheter function were urokinase (53.3%), alteplase (20%), tenecteplase (13.3%), reteplase (6.7%), recombinant urokinase (6.7%), and staphylokinase (6.7%). The results of meta-analysis of 14 studies showed an overall restoration rate of ~ 84%. The drug type meta-analysis demonstrates a success rate of ~ 84%, ~ 92%, and ~ 84% for urokinase, alteplase, and tenecteplase groups, respectively. The main methodological problem in included articles concerns the sample. The quality of evidence ranged from very low to high. CONCLUSION: The most common interventions used to treat thrombotic catheter occlusion in cancer patients were urokinase and alteplase. No evidence was found about the treatment for non-thrombotic occlusion, thus elucidating an important gap to be investigated.

Diagnostic accuracy of panoramic radiography in the detection of calcified carotid artery atheroma: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of panoramic radiography (PR) in detecting calcified carotid artery atheroma (CCAA) compared with Doppler ultrasonography or angiography (the reference standard). SOURCES: Cochrane, LILACS, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Open Grey, and ProQuest were searched. The reference lists of the included studies were also screened. DATA: Observational studies. METHODS: Only studies comparing the diagnostic accuracy of PR in detecting CCAA to Doppler ultrasonography or angiography (the reference standard) were included. The primary outcome measures were sensitivity and specificity. The secondary outcomes were negative predictive values, positive predictive values, diagnostic odds ratios, likelihood ratios (positive and negative), receiver operating characteristic curves, accuracy, and Youden's index. Two reviewers independently participated in the study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment without language restriction. Risk of bias was assessed thought QUADAS-2, and the level of evidence was assessed through GRADE. RESULTS: A total of 773 citations were identified after duplicates were removed, and 12 studies including 1002 patients were included in the final study. The sensitivity and specificity of the different selected studies varied substantially, with sensitivity ranging from 0.31 to 0.95 and specificity from 0.19 to 0.99. CONCLUSIONS: Most studies reported excellent sensitivity and good specificity. The diagnostic accuracy of PR was good or excellent in 50% of the studies. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The identification of CCAA by PR can be a risk predictor for stroke when used as a secondary screening tool.

The influence of apical extent of root canal obturation on endodontic therapy outcome: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review (SR) aimed to investigate the influence of obturation extent on the final outcome of root canal treatment (RCT), by answering the question "among patients requiring RCT on fully formed permanent teeth, is there an association between obturation extent and the final treatment outcome?" MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five electronic databases and three gray literature searches were performed. Observational studies investigating the association between obturation extent and RCT outcome in fully formed permanent teeth with a minimum follow-up of 12 months were included. We evaluated the risk of bias (RoB) in with MAStARI for cohort studies. The overall quality of the evidence was assessed with the GRADE-tool. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies were included, 2 had high RoB, 7 moderate RoB, and 13 low RoB. Underextended obturation demonstrated increased odds of an unfavorable outcome in seven studies, in which the odds varied between 6.94 (95%CI 2.20-21.87) and 1.73 (95%CI 1.02-2.95). Overextended obturation also demonstrated this association in four studies, with odds varying from 1.90 (95%CI 1.23-2.94) to 23.00 (95%CI 5.58-94.75). Due to heterogeneity and the very low level of evidence found in the GRADE analysis, the results from this SR should be interpreted with caution. CONCLUSIONS: Obturation extent seems to influence RCT outcome; overextended and underextended obturations showed higher chance of association with less favorable outcomes than adequate obturation; however, this association was not categorically supported. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This SR provides information about obturation extent influence on RCT outcome and guides clinicians to make evidence-based decisions during endodontic practice.

Prevalence of degenerative joint disease of the temporomandibular joint: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate evidence about the prevalence of degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed search on electronic databases and gray literature from their inception to January 2018. Studies reporting prevalence data of DJD on TMJ were included. DJD was assessed through clinical and imaging diagnosis. Studies risk of bias was evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Checklist for Studies Reporting Prevalence Data. RESULTS: From 1082 studies, 32 were identified, and the sample size included 3435 subjects. They were clustered into two groups: the first comprised studies that reported prevalence of DJD in TMJ secondary to rheumatic systemic diseases like juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the second group comprised studies that reported prevalence of DJD on temporomandibular disorder patients. The prevalence of DJD on JIA patients ranged from 40.42% (n = 47) to 93.33% (n = 15) and on RA patients from 45.00% (n = 20) to 92.85% (n = 56). Among TMD patients, the prevalence of DJD reported according to patients ranged from 18.01% (n = 1038) to 84.74% (n = 118) and reported according to joints ranged from 17.97% (n = 178) to 77.23% (n = 224). CONCLUSION: This review attempts to high prevalence of DJD in patients with systemic rheumatic disease and a less prevalent, but still high, occurrence in patients with TMD without systemic involvement. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Specialist doctors and dentists should be alert to not underestimate and to correctly diagnose DJD of the TMJ early in patients with rheumatic disease and TMD.

Bruxism: An umbrella review of systematic reviews.

OBJECTIVES: To synthesise available knowledge about both sleep (SB) and awake bruxism (AB) as depicted by previous published systematic reviews (SR). METHODS: SR investigating any bruxism-related outcome were selected in a two-phase process. Searches were performed on seven main electronic databases and a partial grey literature search on three databases. Risk of bias of included SR was assessed using the "University of Bristol's tool for assessing risk of bias in SR". RESULTS: From 1038 studies, 41 SR were included. Findings from these SR suggested that (a) among adults, prevalence of AB was 22%-30%, SB (1%-15%), and SB among children and adolescents (3%-49%); (b) factors consistently associated with bruxism were use of alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, some psychotropic medications, oesophageal acidification and second-hand smoke; temporomandibular disorder signs and symptoms presented a plausible association; (c) portable diagnostic devices showed overall higher values of specificity (0.83-1.00) and sensitivity (0.40-1.00); (d) bruxism might result in biomechanical complications regarding dental implants; however, evidence was inconclusive regarding other dental restorations and periodontal impact; (e) occlusal appliances were considered effective for bruxism management, although current evidence was considered weak regarding other therapies. CONCLUSIONS: Current knowledge from SR was mostly related to SB. Higher prevalence rates were found in children and adolescents than in adults. Associated factors and bruxism effects on stomatognathic structures were considerably heterogeneous and inconsistent. Overall good accuracy regarding portable diagnostic devices was found. Interventions' effectiveness was mostly inconclusive regarding the majority of available therapies, with the exception of occlusal appliances.

Association between sleep bruxism and anxiety symptoms in adults: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the association between sleep bruxism (SB) and anxiety symptoms in adults. METHODS: A systematic review was performed and studies assessing SB by means of questionnaires, clinical examination and/or polysomnography (PSG), and validated questionnaires to assess anxiety, were included. Search strategies were developed for seven main electronic databases. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies, and confidence in cumulative evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation criteria. RESULTS: Eight cross-sectional studies were included, of which five were judged with low and three with moderate risk of bias. No association with SB was observed in three studies that investigated generic levels of anxiety, while other two papers that evaluated generic anxiety levels through the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) found a positive association with probable and definite SB in both STAI-1 and STAI-2 subscales. Only one study evaluated dental anxiety in particular and an association with probable SB was observed regarding very anxious or extremely anxious scores. Two studies assessed specific symptoms of anxiety using the panic-agoraphobic spectra evaluation (PAS-SR) questionnaire. Significantly higher PAS-SR total scores were observed in both studies with regard to SB. No study with definitive assessment of SB was identified. CONCLUSION: Current literature is controversial regarding an association between SB and generic symptoms of anxiety in adults. It seems that some specific symptoms of the anxiety disorders spectrum might be associated with probable SB.

Placebo and nocebo response magnitude on temporomandibular disorder-related pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this systematic review (SR) was to answer the following question: "In adult patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD)-related pain, what is the placebo or nocebo effect of different therapies?" METHODS: A SR was performed with randomised clinical placebo-controlled trials on diagnosed painful TMD studies from five main databases and from three grey literature. Studies included must have sample older than 18 years, with painful TMD, which diagnosis was done by Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC/TMD) or Diagnostic Criteria (DC/TMD). RESULTS: Out of 770 articles obtained, 42 met the inclusion criteria for qualitative and 26 for quantitative analysis. Meta-analysis indicated mean variation on pain intensity for placebo therapy was higher on laser acupuncture with 45.5 mm point reduction, followed by avocado soya bean extract with 36 mm and amitriptyline 25 mg with 25.2 mm. Laser showed a 29% of placebo effect, as well medicine with 19% and other therapies with 26%. Possible nocebo effect of 8% pain increase was found for intra-articular injection of Ultracain. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the available data, the placebo response could play a major effect on TMD pain management and may be responsible from 10% to 75% of pain relief. Laser acupuncture, avocado soya bean and amitriptyline promoted the higher placebo effect. Possible nocebo effect was found only for Ultracain injection with 8%. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinicians could apply such evidence to optimise pain management and judgement about treatment efficacy, and researches may find it useful when designing their investigations.

Prevalence of oral potentially malignant disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) are chronic conditions, which have a higher risk of transformation to oral squamous cell carcinoma. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to answer the question: "What is the prevalence of oral potentially malignant disorders among adults?" Studies reporting the prevalence of these conditions (leukoplakia, erythroplakia, oral submucous fibrosis [OSMF], and actinic cheilitis) were selected, only studies in which a clinical assessment and histopathological confirmation were performed were included. Of the 5513 studies, 22 met the inclusion criteria for qualitative and quantitative analyses. The risk of bias (RoB) of the selected studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Studies Reporting Prevalence Data. Seven studies were classified as high risk, 12 as moderate risk, and 3 as low RoB. The meta-analysis showed that the prevalence of OPMD was 4.47% (95% CI = 2.43-7.08). The most prevalent OPMDs were OSMF (4.96%; 95% CI = 2.28-8.62) and leukoplakia (4.11%; 95% CI = 1.98-6.97). OPMDs were identified more commonly in males (59.99%; 95% CI = 41.27-77.30). Asian and South American/Caribbean populations had the highest prevalence rates of 10.54% (95% CI = 4.60-18.55) and 3.93% (95% CI = 2.43-5.77), respectively. The overall prevalence of OPMD worldwide was 4.47%, and males were more frequently affected by these disorders. The prevalence of OPMD differs between populations; therefore, further population-based studies may contribute to the better understanding of these differences.

Does an Association Exist Between the Presence of Lower Third Molar and Mandibular Angle Fractures?: A Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: The current data suggest that the presence of lower third molars predisposes the patient to a greater risk of mandibular angle fracture. Thus, the present review sought to determine whether an association exists between the presence of a lower third molar and the occurrence of a mandibular angle fracture in adults and to assess the influence of third molar position according to the Pell and Gregory classification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was a systematic review and meta-analysis of analytical observational studies. The present review included all reports of the relationship between mandibular angle fractures and lower third molars. No restriction regarding year, language, or publication status was used. The review protocol was registered at the PROSPERO database (registration no. CRD42016047057). Electronic searches unrestricted for publication period and language were performed in the PubMed, Scopus, SciELO, and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences databases. Google Scholar and OpenGrey databases were used to search the "gray literature," avoiding selection and publication biases. The entire search was performed by 2 eligibility reviewers. Association and proportion meta-analyses were planned for the studies with sufficient data. The primary predictor variable was the relationship between the presence of a lower third molar and the development of mandibular angle fractures. The secondary outcome variables were the vertical and horizontal positions of the lower third molar, according to the Pell and Gregory classification and their relationship to the susceptibility to developing a mandibular angle fracture. RESULTS: The search strategies resulted in 411 studies, from which 16 were selected for qualitative and quantitative review. The association meta-analysis included all the selected studies and showed that patients with lower third molars are 3.16 times more likely to develop mandibular angle fractures. The proportion meta-analysis included 5 studies and showed that the overall rate of mandibular angle fractures was 51.58% and that positions III and C are more likely to result in fracture, with a rate of 59.84 and 63.67%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study have shown that the presence of impacted third molars increases by 3.16 times the risk of mandibular angle fractures in adults, with the greatest risk present when third molars are classified as IIIC according to Pell and Gregory. The available evidence is not sufficiently robust to determine whether third molar presence or the level of impaction is the main causative factor for the occurrence of mandibular angle fractures.

Association between obstructive sleep apnea and alcohol, caffeine and tobacco: A meta-analysis.

The aim of this systematic review was to answer the focused question, "Is there an association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and alcohol, caffeine or tobacco use?" Five electronic databases (Cinahl, Literatura Latth American and Caribbean, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) and 3 grey literature (Google Acadêmico, ProQuest, OpenGrey) were searched, as well as search on reference list of included papers and contacts with study authors. Observational studies were included. The Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument (MAStARI) tool assessed the potential risk of bias (RoB) among the studies, while the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach determined the level of evidence. Meta-Analysis was performed with RevMan 5.3 software. Among 3,442 identified studies, 14 were included. Eleven studies were classified as moderate RoB and 3 as high RoB. Meta-analysis showed OSA has no association with tobacco and presented a positive association with alcohol. The odds ratio for OSA increased almost 1.33 times (95% confidence interval [CI]; 1.10-1.62) for alcohol users. There was insufficient published data to evaluate whether OSA is associated with caffeine. The overall quality of evidence ranged from low to very low. OSA was associated with the use of alcohol, however there is not enough evidence to confirm the association with tobacco or caffeine. Due to the very low GRADE level of evidence, caution should be applied when considering these findings.

Association of sleep bruxism with ceramic restoration failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Ceramic restorations are popular because of their excellent optical properties. However, failures are still a major concern, and dentists are confronted with the following question: is sleep bruxism (SB) associated with an increased frequency of ceramic restoration failures? PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess whether the presence of SB is associated with increased ceramic restoration failure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational studies and clinical trials that evaluated the short- and long-term survival rate of ceramic restorations in SB participants were selected. Sleep bruxism diagnostic criteria must have included at least 1 of the following: questionnaire, clinical evaluation, or polysomnography. Seven databases, in addition to 3 nonpeer-reviewed literature databases, were searched. The risk of bias was assessed by using the meta-analysis of statistics assessment and review instrument (MAStARI) checklist. RESULTS: Eight studies were included for qualitative synthesis, but only 5 for the meta-analysis. Three studies were categorized as moderate risk and 5 as high risk of bias. Clinical and methodological heterogeneity across studies were considered high. Increased hazard ratio (HR=7.74; 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.50 to 23.95) and odds ratio (OR=2.52; 95% CI=1.24 to 5.12) were observed considering only anterior ceramic veneers. Nevertheless, limited data from the meta-analysis and from the restricted number of included studies suggested that differences in the overall odds of failure concerning SB and other types of ceramic restorations did not favor or disfavor any association (OR=1.10; 95% CI=0.43 to 2.8). The overall quality of evidence was considered very low according to the GRADE criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this systematic review, the overall result from the meta-analysis did not favor any association between SB and increased odds of failure for ceramic restorations.