Root Caries — Non-invasive Treatment of Root Caries in Older Adults
Citation(s)
Ekstrand K, Martignon S, Holm-Pedersen P Development and evaluation of two root caries controlling programmes for home-based frail people older than 75 years. Gerodontology. 2008 Jun;25(2):67-75. doi: 10.1111/j.1741-2358.2007.00200.x. Epub 2008 Jan 13.
Ekstrand KR, Poulsen JE, Hede B, Twetman S, Qvist V, Ellwood RP A randomized clinical trial of the anti-caries efficacy of 5,000 compared to 1,450 ppm fluoridated toothpaste on root caries lesions in elderly disabled nursing home residents. Caries Res. 2013;47(5):391-8. doi: 10.1159/000348581. Epub 2013 Apr 9.
Gluzman R, Katz RV, Frey BJ, McGowan R Prevention of root caries: a literature review of primary and secondary preventive agents. Spec Care Dentist. 2013 May-Jun;33(3):133-40. doi: 10.1111/j.1754-4505.2012.00318.x. Epub 2012 Dec 10.
Holmgren C, Gaucher C, Decerle N, Domejean S Minimal intervention dentistry II: part 3. Management of non-cavitated (initial) occlusal caries lesions--non-invasive approaches through remineralisation and therapeutic sealants. Br Dent J. 2014 Mar;216(5):237-43. doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2014.147.
Interventional studies are often prospective and are specifically tailored to evaluate direct impacts of treatment or preventive measures on disease.
Observational studies are often retrospective and are used to assess potential causation in exposure-outcome relationships and therefore influence preventive methods.
Expanded access is a means by which manufacturers make investigational new drugs available, under certain circumstances, to treat a patient(s) with a serious disease or condition who cannot participate in a controlled clinical trial.
Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.
Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.