ORAL HEALTH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE PROGRAM
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Title Use of Oral Probiotics reduces Gingival Inflammation in Patients with Gingivitis
Clinical Question In patients with gingivitis, are oral probiotics effective at reducing gingival inflammation when compared to placebo or alternative treatments?
Clinical Bottom Line Evidence supports the use of oral probiotics to reduce gingival inflammation in gingivitis.
Best Evidence (you may view more info by clicking on the PubMed ID link)
PubMed ID Author / Year Patient Group Study type
(level of evidence)
#1) 26965080Gruner/201650 studies/3247 patientsSystematic Review of RCTs
Key resultsStudies have shown that markers of inflammation, Gingival Index (GI) (standardized mean difference (SMD): -0.86; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): -1.52/-0.20) and Bleeding on Probing (BOP) (SMD: -0.34; CI: -0.89/0.21), are significantly reduced in patients who consume oral probiotics. Results were based on 50 Randomized control trials including 3247 patients.
Evidence Search ("Gingivitis"[Mesh] AND "Probiotics"[Mesh]) AND "Dental Plaque Index"[Mesh]
Comments on
The Evidence
The authors make clear that many of the studies included has high risk of publication bias. They also emphasize that the total evidence of the usefulness of probiotic therapy is very weak. The reduction of BOP and GI had the most solid evidence in the paper.
Applicability Decrease of gingival inflammation has been shown to be achievable with the usage of oral probiotics. Probiotics should not be used as a definitive solution to gingival inflammation, gingivitis, or periodontal disease. Further research into the effectiveness of this therapy is necessary before adding probiotic therapy as an adjunctive to a patient's regular periodontal maintenance.
Specialty/Discipline (Public Health) (General Dentistry) (Periodontics)
Keywords Probiotics, plaque index, gingival inflammation
ID# 3089
Date of submission: 05/03/2016spacer
E-mail caraballoa@livemail.uthscsa.edu
Author Amaris Caraballo
Co-author(s)
Co-author(s) e-mail
Faculty mentor/Co-author Erica Oliveira, DDS, MPH
Faculty mentor/Co-author e-mail oliveirae@uthscsa.edu
Basic Science Rationale
(Mechanisms that may account for and/or explain the clinical question, i.e. is the answer to the clinical question consistent with basic biological, physical and/or behavioral science principles, laws and research?)
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None available
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Comments and Evidence-Based Updates on the CAT
(FOR PRACTICING DENTISTS', FACULTY, RESIDENTS and/or STUDENTS COMMENTS ON PUBLISHED CATs)
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