This umbrella review appraised existing systematic reviews and meta‐analysis to establish the impact of periodontal disease and therapy on general and oral health‐related quality of life. A systematic electronic literature search was carried out in accordance with the PRISMA guideline up to January 2020 using PubMed, LIVIVO, EMBASE and OpenGrey (PROSPERO CRD 42020163831). Hand searching was performed through the reference lists of periodontal textbooks and related journals. All English language‐based systematic reviews and meta‐analysis that assessed the impact of periodontal disease and treatment interventions on general and oral health‐related quality of life were included. Overall, eight articles met the inclusion criteria and their methodological quality was assessed using the AMSTAR2 criteria. Two systematic reviews showed a significant impact of oral conditions on general health‐related quality of life, although the specific impact of periodontal disease remains inconclusive. Three systematic reviews established a negative impact of periodontal disease on oral health‐related quality of life. Another three systematic reviews concluded that periodontal treatment can improve oral health‐related quality of life. Oral conditions, like periodontal disease, can impact the general health‐related quality of life. Periodontal disease is negatively correlated with oral health‐related quality of life, although treatment interventions can improve self‐reported quality of life. In view of the heterogeneity of generic instruments currently utilized to assess the self‐reported quality of life of periodontal patients, the development of a general and oral health‐related quality of life instrument specific for periodontal disease is strongly recommended.

This article reviews the possible role and application of acupuncture in dentistry. The use of acupuncture in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a long history and for the past forty years, many studies have been conducted to understand the scientific basis behind its therapeutic effects in Western medicine. The possible application of acupuncture in the dental field like managing post-operative pain, orofacial pain, xerostomia, Bell's palsy and dental anxiety will be discussed in detail. The inherent challenges in conducting clinical trials in acupuncture using the evidence-based medicine model will also be covered. It is envisioned that acupuncture may play a promising role in complementing conventional treatment in certain dental conditions and more studies with improved methodology should be carried out to verify its application.

Objectives This qualitative study of dental professionals and patients with periodontal disease: (1) explored their knowledge and perceptions on the impact of periodontal disease on systemic health and quality of life (QoL); (2) assessed their familiarity with QoL instruments used to measure the impact of periodontal disease. Methods In‐depth semi‐structured face‐to‐face interviews were conducted with 10 dental professionals and 10 patients selected using purposive sampling. Audio recordings of the interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded and analysed using NVivo software (version 11, QSR International), followed by an inductive thematic analysis of the data. Results Three themes were identified for the dental professionals: (1) knowledge of periodontal disease, systemic health and QoL; (2) experience in managing patients with periodontal disease to improve their QoL; (3) perceived value of having a disease‐specific QoL instrument for periodontal disease. Three themes were identified for patients with periodontal disease: (1) knowledge of periodontal disease, systemic health and QoL; (2) experience and perception of how periodontal treatment can improve QoL; (3) perceived value of having a disease‐specific QoL instrument for periodontal disease. Both groups were knowledgeable about the relationship between periodontal disease, systemic health and QoL and had experienced how periodontal treatment could improve QoL. Both groups also agreed that a disease‐specific QoL instrument for periodontal disease would be beneficial. Conclusions Both the dental professionals and patients with periodontal disease were aware of the relationship between periodontal disease, systemic health and QoL, including the benefits of periodontal treatment in improving QoL. The value of developing a disease‐specific QoL instrument for periodontal disease was recognized by both groups.