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Meta-Analysis
. 2018 Jul;88(4):483-493.
doi: 10.2319/111117-770.1. Epub 2018 Apr 17.

Influence of reminder therapy for controlling bacterial plaque in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Igor Felipe Pereira Lima, Walbert de Andrade Vieira, Ítalo de Macedo Bernardino, Pedro Augusto Costa, Anderson Paulo Barbosa Lima, Matheus Melo Pithon, Luiz Renato Paranhos
Meta-Analysis

Influence of reminder therapy for controlling bacterial plaque in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Igor Felipe Pereira Lima et al. Angle Orthod. 2018 Jul.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the scientific evidence regarding the influence of reminder therapy on plaque index, gingival index, and white spots in patients subjected to orthodontic treatment.

Materials and methods: Randomized clinical trials were searched in the electronic databases LILACS, PubMed, SciELO, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, LIVIVO, and Cochrane Library. The databases OpenThesis and OpenGrey were used to capture the "gray literature," preventing selection and publication biases. The risk of bias was assessed by the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Randomized Controlled Trials tool. The software Review Manager was used for the meta-analysis. The heterogeneity among studies was assessed through the I 2 statistic. A summary of the overall strength of evidence available was assessed using the Grades of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation tool.

Results: A total of 332 records were found, from which only 7 articles met the inclusion criteria and were subjected to analysis. Reminder therapy showed improved scores for the plaque index (standardized mean difference = -1.22; 95% confidence interval = -2.03 to -0.42; P = .003) and the gingival index (standardized mean difference = 1.49; 95% confidence interval = -2.61 to 0.37; P = .009). Moreover, there was lower occurrence of white spots (relative risk = 0.53; 95% confidence interval = 0.38 to 0.74; P < .001) when reminder therapy was implemented.

Conclusions: According to the existing high-quality evidence, reminder therapy is a valuable strategy and may contribute to the reduction of plaque and gingival indices as well as to the lower occurrence of white spots in patients subjected to orthodontic treatment.

Keywords: Dental plaque; Gingival index; Orthodontics; Reminder systems; Smartphone; Text messaging; White Spots.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of the process of literature search and selection, adapted from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Differences between the experimental and control groups according to the plaque index.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Differences between the experimental and control groups according to the gingival index.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Differences between the experimental and control groups according to the incidence of white spot lesions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Relevant Research from Orthodontic Journals.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] J Orthod. 2019 Mar;46(1):80-84. doi: 10.1177/1465312519831192. J Orthod. 2019. PMID: 31056061 No abstract available.
  • Letters From Our Readers.
    Martins CC. Martins CC. Angle Orthod. 2019 Jul;89(4):672. doi: 10.2319/0003-3219-89.4.672. Angle Orthod. 2019. PMID: 31219725 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
  • Letters From Our Readers.
    Lima IFP, de Andrade Vieira W, de Macedo Bernardino Í, Costa PA, Pithon MM, Paranhos LR. Lima IFP, et al. Angle Orthod. 2019 Jul;89(4):673-674. doi: 10.2319/0003-3219-89.4.673. Angle Orthod. 2019. PMID: 31219726 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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