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Botulinum toxin A in dentistry and orofacial surgery: an evidence-based review - part 1: therapeutic applications

Evidence-Based Dentistry (2022)Cite this article

A Correction to this article was published on 24 June 2022

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Abstract

Objective An evidence-based review on the safety and efficacy of botulinum toxin type-A (BoNTA) in orofacial conditions, focusing on the therapeutic applications and role of BoNTA as an adjuvant treatment.

Data source and selection Data was collected using PubMed (Medline), Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials electronic databases. Having satisfied the search parameters, 32 studies for therapeutic applications and 26 for BoNTA as an adjunctive treatment were included. The quality of relevant studies was assessed using the Best Evidence Topics (BETs) Critical Appraisal Tool.

Data extraction The highest level of evidence (LOE) behind BoNTA safety and efficacy was for wound healing and scar management in the orofacial surgery context, where BoNTA was presented as an adjunctive modality. Level-I evidence was controversial for temporomandibular disorders and bruxism. However, it showed promising results for painful temporomandibular disorders of myogenic origin refractory to conservative therapies, and to decrease muscle contraction intensity in sleeping bruxism. There was only one level-II study for persistent recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Data showed limited level-III evidence for orofacial pain conditions (temporomandibular joint recurrent dislocation and pain, burning mouth syndrome or atypical odontalgia), oral cancer complications, or as an adjuvant to maxillofacial and orthognathic surgeries. Benefits of BoNTA in prosthodontics had weak level-IV evidence. No evidence was found among the periodontology field.

Conclusion There is growing evidence to support the safety and efficacy of BoNTA in the investigated orofacial pathological conditions, with high levels of satisfaction from the patient and clinician perspective. However, there are some inconsistencies and limited high-quality evidence available. Well-designed controlled clinical trials are necessary to evaluate long-term safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness before BoNTA is widely adopted with irrefutable evidence-based clinical guidelines.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the help and assistance of the editors and reviewers of the Evidence-Based Dentistry journal for their support and review of the research that was undertaken. Thanks to Miss R. Al-Barazanchi for proofreading.

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  1. Academic Plastic Surgery, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK

    Ines Novo Pereira & Haidar Hassan

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  1. Ines Novo Pereira
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INP is a dental practitioner working for the National Health Service primary care and currently a PhD resident at the University of Porto, Faculty of Dentistry. This study was based on INP master's degree dissertation in Aesthetic Medicine at the Queen Mary University of London. INP conceived and designed the study and wrote the first draft of the article. HH provided input on the study design and contributed to revisions of the article. Both authors had full access to all the data in the work and the decision to submit for publication rested with the corresponding author. HH is a clinical senior lecturer at the Academic Plastic Surgery, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London.

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Correspondence to Haidar Hassan.

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Pereira, I., Hassan, H. Botulinum toxin A in dentistry and orofacial surgery: an evidence-based review - part 1: therapeutic applications. Evid Based Dent (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41432-022-0256-9

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