Comparison of the efficacy of different techniques to seal the alveolus during alveolar ridge preservation: Meta-regression and network meta-analysis.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of different techniques to seal the alveolus (flap advancement [FA], open healing with barrier [OHB], and open healing without barrier [OHNB]) during alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) in terms of horizontal ridge width resorption. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Randomized trials of at least 2 months duration comparing at least two techniques to seal the alveolus against each other or against spontaneous healing (SH) were eligible. Searches were conducted in MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane Central. Conventional meta-analysis, meta-regression, and network meta-analysis (NMA) were conducted, with clinical and tomographic ridge width changes as outcomes. Predictive intervals (95% PI) were reported. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies were included, accounting for 52 study arms. Meta-regression identified that the socket sealing technique and publication year explained the observed heterogeneity. NMA showed that FA and OHB led to significantly lower ridge resorption than SH, resulting in 1.18 mm (95% PI 0.21-2.13) and 1.10 mm (95% PI 0.49-1.69) wide alveolar ridges, respectively. No significant difference between OHNB and SH was found (0.46 mm, 95% PI -0.70 to 1.64). The treatment with the largest probability for ARP was FA (52.7%), followed by OHB (39.1%) and OHNB (8.2%). CONCLUSIONS: FA and OHB are efficacious techniques to seal the alveolus during ARP.

Obesity as a risk factor for tooth loss over 5 years: A population-based cohort study.

AIM: To assess obesity as a risk factor for tooth loss over 5 years in an urban sample of Brazilian adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1586 individuals were surveyed using a multistage probabilistic approach. Five years later, 635 individuals 14-64 years old were re-examined. An incident case of tooth loss was determined for a participant that had lost at least one tooth over time. Obesity was evaluated by calculating body mass index at baseline and by the change in obesity status over time. RESULTS: Incident cases of tooth loss were significantly more frequent among obese (47.1%) than normal-weight individuals (32.4%) (p = .004). Obese individuals had 31% higher risk [relative risk (RR) =1.31; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.04-1.65] for tooth loss than normal-weight individuals adjusting for age, socio-economic status, smoking, dental care and periodontitis. This association was significant for females (RR=1.47, 95%CI 1.08-2.01), but not for males. The risk for tooth loss was also modified by presence of periodontitis at baseline and lifetime smoking exposure. There was an increased risk for tooth loss for those that remained obese than those that remained normal weight. CONCLUSION: Obesity is associated with higher risk for tooth loss. This association was modified by sex, periodontal status and smoking.