Overview of systematic reviews on periodontal-orthodontic interactions: A comprehensive literature analysis.

The aims of this research were to investigate the methodological quality of systematic reviews on periodontal-orthodontic interactions (i.e. reviews of primary research broadly defined as any including both periodontic and orthodontic components) and to provide a mapping of the researched topics. We searched four major databases (PubMed, Lilacs, Web of Science, and Embase) for systematic reviews of periodontal-orthodontic interactions. We used the AMSTAR-2 tool (the acronym is derived from 'a measurement tool to assess systematic reviews') to assess the methodological quality of the included systematic reviews. Individual AMSTAR-2 ratings were tabulated, and the percentage per item was calculated. To assess the association between the AMSTAR-2 percentage score and the overall confidence in the systematic review results, an ordinal regression model was used. We initially retrieved 973 documents, and 43 systematic reviews were included. Systematic reviews of interventions were the most prevalent (n = 26, 60.5%). Most of the systematic reviews did not report a meta-analysis (n = 25, 58.1%). In addition, most of the studies included in the systematic reviews had an unclear or high risk of bias. Most of the systematic reviews were rated as having critically low or low overall confidence (n = 34, 79.1%). A significant correlation was found between the AMSTAR-2 percentage score and overall confidence in the results. The methodological quality of systematic reviews on periodontal-orthodontic interactions can be improved. The limitations of our study include potential language bias and an arbitrary classification of the topics researched.

Impact of COVID-19 on the future career plans of dentists.

BACKGROUND: It is important to complement the scientific literature with the data regarding the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the social, work and health practices as well as on the daily life of dentists, and to promote adequate public policies. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the career plans of dentists in Colombia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: As part of global research on the impact of COVID-19 on dentistry, a crosssectional survey was administered via digital media to dentists in Colombia. The validated questionnaire included inquiries regarding sociodemographic variables, the perception of the risk of contagion with COVID-19 and the impact of COVID-19 on the dentists' career plans. The variables were summarized in absolute and relative frequencies, and a binomial logistic regression analysis was carried out to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on career plans according to the independent variables. RESULTS: A total of 5,370 dentists answered the survey (women: 3,878; median age: 45 years; response rate: 16.85%). Most of the dentists (96%) believed that COVID-19 infection was a risk for them and 81.96% reported that the COVID-19 pandemic had some impact on their career plans, including reducing working hours (77.96%), retiring early (26.54%) and changing their career away from dentistry (18.15%). The regression model showed that older adults (OR = 1.62; 95% CI: 1.16, 2.26), general practitioners (OR = 1.21; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.44), private practice owners (OR = 2.33; 95% CI: 1.94, 2.79), private practice associates (OR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.84, 2.63), and those with 'very probable' risk perception (OR = 4.29; 95% CI: 1.35, 13.60) had a significantly greater chance of the pandemic having an impact on their future career plans. CONCLUSIONS: The pandemic has had a great impact on dentists' career plans. Dentists who are most fearful of the risk of contagion, those who are older and those who have their private practice are thinking about reducing working hours, retiring early or changing their career.

Systematic reviews in orthodontics: Impact of the PRISMA for Abstracts checklist on completeness of reporting.

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated and compared the completeness of reporting of abstracts of orthodontics systematic reviews before and after the publication of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) extension for Abstracts Checklist (PRISMA-A). METHODS: Abstracts of systematic reviews and meta-analyses in orthodontics published in PubMed, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews databases before March 23, 2018, that met the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, were evaluated using the 12 items of PRISMA-A, scoring each item from 0 to 2. Abstracts were classified into 2 groups: before and after publication of the PRISMA-A checklist. Three calibrated evaluators (intraclass correlation coefficient and kappa > 0.8) assessed the scores for compliance with the checklist. The number of authors, country of affiliation of the first author, performance of meta-analysis, and topic of the article were recorded. A regression analysis was performed to assess the associations between abstract characteristics and the PRISMA-A scores. RESULTS: Of 1034 abstracts evaluated, 389 were included in the analysis. The mean PRISMA-A score was 53.39 (95% CI, 51.83-54.96). The overall score for studies published after the publication of the checklist was significantly higher than for studies published before (P ≤ 0.0001). The components returning significantly higher scores after publication of PRISMA-A were title (P = 0.024), information from databases (P = 0.026), risk of bias (P ≤ 0.0001), included studies (P ≤ 0.0001), synthesis of results (P ≤ 0.0001), interpretation of results (P = 0.035), financing and conflict of interest (P ≤ 0.0001), and registration (P ≤ 0.0001). These results showed the positive effect of PRISMA-A had on the quality of reporting of orthodontics systematic reviews. Nevertheless, the poor adherence revealed that there is still need for improvement in the quality of abstract reporting. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of reporting of abstracts of orthodontic systematic reviews and meta-analyses increased after the introduction of PRISMA-A.

Treatment of Class III malocclusion using Hybrid Hyrax, Face Mask and Alt-RAMEC Protocol: A Case Report in a Latin-American patient.

The management of Class III malocclusion is one of the greatest challenges of orthodontics. Current treatments offer the possibility of using direct skeletal anchorage to improve clinical outcomes. This case shows the results of using a Hyrax hybrid palatal anchorage, Alt-RAMEC (Alternate Rapid Maxillary Expansion and Contraction protocol) and a facemask to treat a maxillary hypoplasia Class III malocclusion in a Latin-American patient. The appliance design and the protocol used are widely described. Clinical and cephalometric results suggest that it is a good treatment option for this Latino patient, with moderate malocclusion and limitations in the dental anchorage. Key words:ALT-RAMEC, Angle Class III, malocclusion, maxillary expansion, mini-screws, orthodontic anchorage, TADs.

Sensitivity and Specificity of Cephalometric Measures for the Diagnosis of Sagittal Skeletal Malocclusion

Objective: To evaluate and compare sensitivity and specificity of ANB, Wits, APDI and AF-BF to diagnose sagittal skeletal malocclusions, in children between 6 to 12 years old, using ROC curves, a widely accepted method for the analysis and evaluation of diagnostic tests. Material and Methods: A descriptive-comparative study of diagnostic tests was conducted. From a population of 3,000 children, a non-probabilistic sample of 209 was selected. The clinical classification of the patients as class I, II or III, made by a group of experts based on the visual inspection of models and photographs, was chosen as the gold standard. After calibration (ICC>0.94) the variables were measured in cephalograms. Eight ROC curves were plotted (I vs II, and I vs III for each one of the variables). The area under the curve was measured and compared (Ji-square test). Cut points were established. Results: To discriminate Class I from II, ANB showed the largest area under the curve (AUC) (0.876) and the cut point (best sensitivity and specificity) was at 5.75°. To discriminate class I from III, Wits showed the largest AUC (0.874) with a cut point of -3.25 mm. There were no statistical differences between the AUC for the four variables (p=0.48 y p=0.38 for class I-II and I-III). Conclusion: ANB and Wits performed better for the diagnosis of class II and III, respectively. Cut points in children were different from those reported in adults.

Comparación de los efectos de tres enjuagues en el manejo de la mucositis oral secundaria al tratamiento de leucemia linfoblástica aguda en niños / Comparison of the effects of three mouth rinses in the management of oral mucositis secondary to the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children

Introducción: el presente estudio se hizo con el propósito de comparar los efectos de tres enjuagues en el tratamiento de la mucositis oral secundaria al tratamiento de la leucemia linfoblástica aguda en niños en edades entre 3 y 15 años, que estaban hospitalizados en el Pabellón de Hematooncología Infantil del Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl de Medellín. Métodos: se usaron tres enjuagues: triconjugado conformado por: lidocaína en gel al 2%, hidróxido de aluminio e hidróxido de magnesio con simeticona en suspensión (MylantaMR) e hidrocloruro de difenhidramina en jarabe (BenadrylMR); sucralfato constituido por sucralfato de sacarosa de aluminio en suspensión (Dip SucralfatoMR) y lidocaína en gel al 2%, y un tercer enjuague denominado control conformado por lidocaína en gel al 2%; a los tres enjuagues se les adicionó nistatina genérica (100.000 UI) en suspensión para prevenir la sobreinfección fúngica. La asignación de enjuagues fue al azar haciendo a cada paciente tres enjuagues diarios con el asignado; se hizo un registro diario de la severidad de la mucositis y la duración del episodio con el fin de establecer diferencias entre ellos. El tipo de estudio fue cuasi experimental de tipo comparativo y ciego, con una muestra de catorce casos (seis con triconjugado, cuatro con Sucralfato y cuatro de grupo control) recolectados en un periodo de 32 meses, entre abril de 2005 y noviembre de 2007. Resultados y conclusiones: no se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la duración ni en la severidad de la mucositis que presentaron los grupos de pacientes con la utilización de los enjuagues estudiados.

Introduction: the present study was conducted to compare the effects of three mouth rinses in the treatment of oralmucositis induced by chemotherapy in children between 3 and 15 years of age, with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and who were hospitalized at the Pediatric Hemato oncology Pavilion of the San Vicente de Paul University Hospital in the city of Medellin. Methods: three mouth rinses were compared: Triconjugate diphenhydramine, milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide) and lidocaine in gel; Sucralfate comprising sucralfate suspended and lidocaine in gel; and a third rinse, called Control consisting of lidocaine in gel; nistatin was added to the mouth rinses to avoid fungal infection. Each group had 3 daily rinses with the assigned mouth rinse and a daily log was made with information related to the severity of mucositis and duration of the episode. The type of study was a quasi-experimental comparative blind design, the sample had 14 cases (triconjugate with 6 cases, 4 in the sucralfate group and 4 in the control group) and collection of the sample was made over a period of 32 months between April 2005 and November 2007. Results and conclusion: no statistically significant differences were found in the severity nor on the length of mucositis among the rinses used by the patients.