Search

The purpose of this review was to test the null hypothesis of no difference in marginal bone loss and implant failure rates between smokers and non-smokers with respect to the follow-up period. An extensive electronic search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify relevant articles published up to February 2015. The eligibility criteria included randomized and non-randomized clinical studies. After an exhaustive selection process, 15 articles were included. The meta-analysis was expressed in terms of the odds ratio (OR) or standardized mean difference (SMD) with a confidence interval (CI) of 95%. There was a statistically significant difference in marginal bone loss favouring the non-smoking group (SMD 0.49, 95% CI 0.07-0.90; P=0.02). An independent analysis revealed an increase in marginal bone loss in the maxilla of smokers, compared to the mandible (SMD 0.40, 95% CI 0.24-0.55; P

The aim of this meta-analysis was to analyse the effectiveness of submucosal injection of dexamethasone to control the postoperative signs and symptoms resulting from impacted third molar surgery. An electronic search was conducted, without restriction on date or language, in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science databases until June 2015 . The eligibility criteria included non-randomized or randomized clinical trials in humans. After the search and selection process, eight articles were included. The fixed-effects or random-effects model, depending on heterogeneity, was built on the inverse-variance method used. The estimations of intervention were expressed as the mean difference (MD) in millimetres. The results of this meta-analysis suggest that the submucosal injection of dexamethasone presents a reduction in the postoperative signs and symptoms resulting from impacted third molar surgery, especially those associated with oedema and pain. In relation to trismus, the meta-analysis showed no statistically significant difference between dexamethasone and the placebo solution.