Comparative Effectiveness of the Homeopathic Preparation Traumeel S in Third Molar Extraction Surgery: A Preliminary Triple-Blind Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: This preliminary study aimed to evaluate whether a homeopathic preparation (Traumeel S) might be a good option to control post-operative outcomes (pain, edema and trismus) associated with surgical removal of mandibular third molar teeth. The null hypothesis was that Traumeel S is not different from dexamethasone (gold standard) in controlling these post-operative inflammatory complications. METHODS: A randomized, "split-mouth", triple-blind clinical trial was conducted. Seventeen healthy patients with a mean age of 20.94 ( ± 5.83) years had their lower asymptomatic bilateral third molars removed. Patients were randomized to receive Traumeel S or dexamethasone pre-operatively by injection into the masseter muscle; each patient acted as his/her own control. At 24, 48, 72 hours and 7 days after the surgery, the pain was evaluated according to a visual analog scale, edema through linear measurements of the face, and trismus through the maximum buccal opening. Wilcoxon statistics or paired t-test were used, and a significance level of 95% was adopted. RESULTS: For pain, the results for Traumeel S were not different (p > 0.05) from those of dexamethasone after 24 hours, 72 hours, and 7 days. For edema, the results for Traumeel S were not different (p > 0.05) from those of dexamethasone at all post-operative evaluations. For mouth opening, the results for Traumeel S were not different (p > 0.05) from those of dexamethasone at 72 hours and 7 days after third molar extraction. CONCLUSION: With the exception of some early post-operative findings, the null hypothesis is not rejected. Traumeel S might be a good alternative approach to dexamethasone for controlling pain, edema and trismus after third molar removal.

Comparison of Bite Force with Locking Plates versus Non-Locking Plates in the Treatment of Mandibular Fractures: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract Introduction Mandibular fractures represent a high percentage of all facial fractures, and the bite force is a fundamental parameter to measure the actual mandibular function and, subsequently, the masticatory efficiency and quality of life. Objectives The purpose of the present systematic review was to verify if there is any difference in the bite forces of patients with mandibular fractures fixed by locking or non-locking plates, testing the null hypothesis of no difference in this parameter. Data Synthesis A systematic review of the literature was conducted using four databases (PubMed, Virtual Health Library,Web of Science and Science Direct) without restrictions as to publication date or language. We found 3,039 abstracts, and selected 4 articles for this review. Conclusion The overall results show better performance in bite force for the locking plates when compared with the non-locking plates in the incisor region (mean deviation [MD]: 1.18; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.13-2.23), right molar region (MD: 4.71; 95%CI: 0.63-8.79) and left molar region (MD: 10.34; 95%CI: 4.55-16.13). Although the results of this study indicated a better bite force result with the locking plates, there is still no sufficient evidence to support this information safely.

Comparison of Bite Force with Locking Plates versus Non-Locking Plates in the Treatment of Mandibular Fractures: A Meta-Analysis.

Introduction Mandibular fractures represent a high percentage of all facial fractures, and the bite force is a fundamental parameter to measure the actual mandibular function and, subsequently, the masticatory efficiency and quality of life. Objectives The purpose of the present systematic review was to verify if there is any difference in the bite forces of patients with mandibular fractures fixed by locking or non-locking plates, testing the null hypothesis of no difference in this parameter. Data Synthesis A systematic review of the literature was conducted using four databases (PubMed, Virtual Health Library, Web of Science and Science Direct) without restrictions as to publication date or language. We found 3,039 abstracts, and selected 4 articles for this review. Conclusion The overall results show better performance in bite force for the locking plates when compared with the non-locking plates in the incisor region (mean deviation [MD]: 1.18; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.13-2.23), right molar region (MD: 4.71; 95%CI: 0.63-8.79) and left molar region (MD: 10.34; 95%CI: 4.55-16.13). Although the results of this study indicated a better bite force result with the locking plates, there is still no sufficient evidence to support this information safely.

Alfabetização em saúde bucal: uma revisão da literatura / Oral health literacy: a literature review

A necessidade da construção do conhecimento sobre alfabetização em saúde se deve aofato de as pessoas ainda terem dúvidas e dificuldades para tomar decisões relacionadas à suasaúde. O objetivo deste estudo foi revisar o tema alfabetização em saúde, identificando os principaismodelos teóricos que o norteiam, as diferenças/aproximações entre educação para a saúdee alfabetização em saúde, bem como os grupos de pessoas vulneráveis à baixa alfabetizaçãoem saúde. Avaliou-se, ainda, essa alfabetização no âmbito da Odontologia. Foram acessadasas bases de dados Scielo/BVS/Lilacs/PubMed em português e em inglês, independente do anode publicação, utilizando as palavras-chave “Alfabetização em saúde”, “Promoção da saúde”,“Educação em saúde bucal” e “Alfabetização em saúde bucal”. Identificaram-se traduções parao português do Brasil e definições e/ou conceitos do termo “health literacy”. Foi constatada ainterferência da relação profissional da saúde/paciente na eficácia dessa alfabetização, a existênciade instrumentos para a sua mensuração (sendo um deles específico para a Odontologia).Entre os modelos teóricos, destacou-se o de Sorensen et al. (2012), o qual propõe que a alfabetizaçãoem saúde refere-se aos conhecimentos, à motivação e à competência das pessoas paraacessar, compreender, avaliar e aplicar informações relacionadas à saúde. Distinguiram-se comogrupos vulneráveis à baixa alfabetização em saúde as crianças, adolescentes, idosos, pessoascom necessidades especiais, minorias étnicas e os desfavorecidos. No âmbito da Odontologia,constatou-se associação da autopercepção da saúde bucal com a alfabetização em saúde bucal.A informação é essencial para o crescimento e desenvolvimento das pessoas, sendo evidente aimportância da alfabetização em saúde para a melhoria da qualidade de vida das pessoas e dosindicadores de saúde bucal...

The need for building knowledge on health literacy is justified by the fact that people stillhave doubts and difficulties to make decisions related to their own health. This study aimed toreview the health literacy, identifying its principal theoretical models that guide the differences/similarities between health education and health literacy, as well as to identify vulnerablegroups of people with low health literacy. The health literacy in Dentistry was also evaluated.The Scielo / BVS / Lilacs / PubMed in Portuguese and English databases were accessed, regardlessof the year of publication, using “Health literacy”, “Health promotion”, “Oral health education”and “Oral health literacy” keywords. Translations for Brazilian Portuguese language, anddefinitions and/or concepts of the term “health literacy” were identified. Interference of therelationship doctor/patient in the effectiveness of literacy, the existence of tools for its measurement(one specific for Dentistry) were found. The theoretical model proposed by Sorensenet al. (2012) presented health literacy referred to the knowledge, motivation and competenceof people to access, understand, evaluate and apply information related to health. Children,adolescents, elderly, people with special mental needs, ethnic minorities and disadvantagedwere reported as the vulnerable groups related to low health literacy. Association of oral healthself-perception with oral health literacy was also found. Information is essential for growth anddevelopment of people, and the importance of health literacy is clear to improve the quality oflife and oral health indicators...