Dentistry, read at the source

Close-up

We explain what you have heard about by reading the research behind it.

When you hear about a new method in dentistry or see a study in the news, the real question is what it means for you. Close-up looks at current research, new techniques and the arguments around them in plain language. Every piece names the source we read, and says so plainly where the evidence is thin.

  • 13 pieces
  • 90 sources

Latest piece

My tooth hurts but nothing shows on the X-ray: could it be a cracked tooth or a root fracture?

Cracks often leave no trace on a standard X-ray; the examination makes the diagnosis, and a CBCT scan only helps

Short answer

Yes, it could. Cracks often do not show on a standard X-ray: in a US study that followed the cracked teeth of 2,858 patients for three years, the crack could be made out on an X-ray in only 2% of the teeth. The diagnosis is made with a bite test, pocket measurement, light and dye. A CBCT scan helps, but it can miss a fracture when a root filling or a metal post distorts the image. A vertical fracture that splits the root along its length, on the other hand, often means losing the tooth.

Read the piece22 min read

All pieces

13 pieces

  1. 01My tooth hurts but nothing shows on the X-ray: could it be a cracked tooth or a root fracture?Cracks often leave no trace on a standard X-ray; the examination makes the diagnosis, and a CBCT scan only helps22 min read7 sources
  2. 02A cyst has been found in my jaw: can I have implants, and when?Implant timing is set by the type of cyst, whether the cavity has filled with bone and the risk of recurrence; with a keratocyst, follow-up goes on for years21 min read8 sources
  3. 03Does planning an implant on a computer really make the result better and safer?Guided placement measurably reduces positioning deviation; what that gain adds to long-term success is a separate question19 min read5 sources
  4. 04Is a complete denture made the digital way better than one made the conventional way?There is a gain in the number of appointments and in reproducibility; most studies find no difference between the two methods in patient satisfaction19 min read6 sources
  5. 05Does gum disease raise the risk of dementia? What a ten-year Japanese study foundThe link is being measured, and it repeats in other studies; causation has still not been shown.15 min read6 sources
  6. 06A congenitally missing lateral incisor: canine substitution, an implant or a resin-bonded bridgeAll three routes have published data. What usually decides between them is not the method itself but the size of the gap and whether growth has finished.24 min read7 sources
  7. 07Hypodontia and oligodontia: how a full-mouth plan is built when teeth are missing from birthHow many teeth never developed sets the method; where growth has got to sets the timetable.20 min read6 sources
  8. 08In root canal treatment the real cleaning is done by the irrigant, not the file: what does moving the fluid change?In the laboratory the difference is clear; the difference measured in patients is small, and systematic reviews still speak cautiously22 min read6 sources
  9. 09Does PRF, PRP or CGF made from your own blood really speed up bone healing?There is good evidence for soft tissue and pain in the first few days; the evidence for bone gain is disputed19 min read5 sources
  10. 10What is this fold of tissue growing under my denture, and does it need surgery?Fibrous growth at the denture edge, redness in the palate and a flabby ridge are three separate conditions, and their treatments differ too21 min read6 sources
  11. 11There is a notch in my tooth at the gum line: what is it, and should I have it filled?Non-carious cervical lesions have several causes working together; shallow, trouble-free ones are usually monitored, and repair depends on specific reasons20 min read8 sources
  12. 12When does the graft placed in a sinus lift turn to bone, and can that time be shortened?The new bone measured at four months comes out lower than at eight; on the additions said to shorten the wait, the evidence is split in two20 min read10 sources
  13. 13What is a Toronto prosthesis, and how does it differ from a denture and a zirconia bridge?Implant and prosthesis survival are high; the real issue is the repair and cleaning burden the prosthesis builds up over the years21 min read10 sources

How we read

  1. 01Source firstEvery piece rests on reviews, clinical studies and guidelines from peer-reviewed journals. The list of what we read sits at the end of each piece, so you can open the same source yourself.
  2. 02We say how strong the evidence isWhen the data behind a method is solid, we say so. When it is weak, thin or contradictory, we say that just as plainly.
  3. 03The answer comes firstEvery piece answers the question in its opening paragraph. The detail, the risks and the common questions follow.

Publications we read

90 sources

  • BMC Oral Health05
  • Clinical Oral Implants Research05
  • Cleveland Clinic04
  • Cureus03
  • International Journal of Implant Dentistry03
  • Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology02
  • Heliyon02
  • International Journal of Dentistry02
  • Japanese Dental Science Review02
  • Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dentistry02
  • Journal of Clinical Medicine02
  • Journal of Clinical Periodontology02
  • Journal of Dental Research02
  • Journal of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery02
  • Journal of Prosthodontics02
  • Journal of the American Dental Association02
  • Periodontology 200002
  • Scientific Reports02
  • The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry02
  • BDJ Open01
  • BMC Medical Imaging01
  • Brazilian Dental Journal01
  • British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery01
  • Clinical and Experimental Dental Research01
  • Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research01
  • Clinical Oral Investigations01
  • Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dentistry01
  • Cochrane01
  • Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews01
  • Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry01
  • Frontiers in Dental Medicine01
  • Fundamental & Clinical Pharmacology01
  • GeneReviews, University of Washington01
  • Genes01
  • International Endodontic Journal01
  • Journal of Dentistry01
  • Journal of Endodontics01
  • Journal of Fungi01
  • Journal of Microscopy and Ultrastructure01
  • Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Research01
  • Journal of Oral Implantology01
  • Journal of Oral Rehabilitation01
  • Journal of Periodontal & Implant Science01
  • Journal of Periodontal Research01
  • Journal of Personalized Medicine01
  • Materials01
  • Medicina Oral Patologia Oral y Cirugia Bucal01
  • Medicina Oral Patología Oral y Cirugía Bucal01
  • Medicina Oral, Patología Oral y Cirugía Bucal01
  • National Journal of Maxillofacial Surgery01
  • NICE01
  • Oral Radiology01
  • Orthodontics & Craniofacial Research01
  • PLOS ONE01
  • PubMed01
  • Special Care in Dentistry01
  • The International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants01
  • The International Journal of Prosthodontics01
  • The Lancet01
  • Tissue Engineering Part B: Reviews01
  • World Health Organization01

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