What is a consensus statement ?
A consensus statement is a comprehensive analysis by a panel of experts (i.e., consensus panel) of a scientific or medical issue related to dentistry. A consensus statement is developed immediately after a consensus conference at which presentations are made on the issue under review. The statement represents the panel’s collective analysis, evaluation, and opinion based, in part, on the conference proceedings. The need for a consensus statement arises when clinicians or scientists desire guidance on a subject for which there is a relative deficiency of comprehensive evidence that might otherwise allow for a more definitive statement to be made.
Why are they useful?
Consensus statements are very useful as they provide a good key summary of the current thinking both from an aspect of clinical outcomes and current research and evidence. They can answer topical and controversial issues within dentistry providing clinicians with a basis for clinical decision making. They are likely to cover a number of significant contemporary topics that have been analysed and discussed amongst a group of experts in the field. In some cases literature searches are of the level of a systematic review-which is evidence obtained from a number of studies distilled into a single study ideally through a statistical process.
What did the European Association for Osseointegration provide a consensus on in 2015 ? The following questions were addressed…
What is the effect of antibiotic prophylaxis on implant survival in conjunction with dental implant placement?
- The consensus found that in straightforward cases antibiotics was not been shown to beneficial.
- In complex cases such as those needing grafting or immediate placement in extraction sockets then there it was considered to have some merit.
What are the risk indicators for peri-implantitis ?
Peri-implantitis is an infective process whereby the bone and soft tissues are inflamed resulting in bone resorption and/or recession around the implant. This is a fairly new process in dentistry and as such the amount of information available on the disease is limited at the current time.
The consensus group reached the conclusion that the following were noteworthy risk factors
- Inadequate oral hygiene
- Microbial biofilm composition
- Excess cement
- History of periodontal disease
- Genetic factors
- Smoking
- Inadequate maintenance
- Systemic disease
Are implants cost effective when compared to other treatment options ?
- Where a central incisor has peri-apical periodontitis-root canal treatment was deemed more cost effective than extracting the tooth and providing an implant.
- Where a molar has Class I furcation involvement periodontal therapy was calculated to be more cost effective than extraction and implant therapy.
- The cost of implant retained mandibular overdentures was greater than conventional complete dentures but the improvement in oral health related quality of life was was significant.
The full consensus paper can be found on the link below.
EAO Consensus Conference Statements 2015