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Aim: To evaluate oral environmental changes in cannabis users.Material and Methods: The MEDLINE and Cochrane Central register of controlled trails (CENTRAL) were searched up to April 2007 to identify appropriate studies.Results: Independent screening of 982 titles and abstracts (MEDLINE-Pubmed) and (Cochrane) papers resulted in seven eligible publications.Conclusion: Based on the limited data, it seems justified to conclude that with increasing prevalence of cannabis use, oral health care providers should be aware of cannabis-associated oral side effects, such as xerostemia, leukoedema and an increased prevalence and density of Candida albicans.

Objective: To review the literature on whether a hand-held triangular woodstick, as compared with no adjunct or other interdental cleaning device in addition to daily toothbrushing, can improve clinical parameters of gingival inflammation.Material and Methods: MEDLINE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were searched through February 2008 to identify appropriate studies. Plaque and gingivitis were selected as outcome variables.Results: Independent screening of the titles and abstracts of 181 MEDLINE and 65 CENTRAL papers yielded seven publications with eight clinical experiments that met the eligibility criteria. The improvement in gingival health, as observed in seven studies, represents a significant incremental benefit realized by the use of triangular woodsticks. None of the studies that scored plaque demonstrated any significant advantage to the use of woodsticks, as opposed to alternative methods, in gingivitis patients.Conclusion: Evidence from controlled trials, most of which were also randomized, shows that woodsticks do not have an additional effect on visible interdental plaque or gingival index, but do, however, provide an improvement in interdental gingival inflammation by reducing the bleeding tendency.

Aim: To review the available literature, considering the effect of instrumentation with the Vector® ultrasonic scaler on human teeth in vitro and in vivo compared to conventional ultrasonic instruments and/or hand instrumentation. The assessed effects are calculus removal, time of instrumentation, root surface aspects, cell attachment, patients' perception, bleeding upon probing, pocket depth, clinical attachment loss and microbiological effects.Materials and methods: MEDLINE-PubMed and the Cochrane Central register of controlled trials (CENTRAL) were searched up through January 2008 to identify appropriate studies. Results: Independent screening of the titles and abstracts of 270 MEDLINE-PubMed and 15 Cochrane papers resulted in 15 suitable publications. The studies differed in design and outcome, so this review summarizes the outcomes in a descriptive manner. Comparisons are presented against conventional ultrasonic system and scaling and root planing.Conclusion: The Vector® ultrasonic scaler provided comparable clinical and microbiological periodontal healing results as scaling and root planing and conventional ultrasonic system in moderately deep pockets. The Vector® ultrasonic scaler may be used as a gentle root debridement device for supportive periodontal therapy, as an alternative to other conventional ultrasonic system. The operator should however consider the extra time needed for instrumentation.