title: Insertion torque recordings for the diagnosis of contact between orthodontic mini-implants and dental roots: protocol for a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hitting a dental root during the insertion of orthodontic mini-implants (OMIs) is a common adverse effect of this intervention. This condition can permanently damage these structures and can cause implant instability. Increased torque levels (index test) recorded during the insertion of OMIs may provide a more accurate and immediate diagnosis of implant-root contact (target condition) than radiographic imaging (reference standard). An accurate index test could reduce or eliminate X-ray exposure. These issues, the common use of OMIs, the high prevalence of the target condition, and because most OMIs are placed between roots warrant a systematic review. We will assess 1) the diagnostic accuracy and the adverse effects of the index test, 2) whether OMIs with root contact have higher insertion torque values than those without, and 3) whether intermediate torque values have clinical diagnostic utility.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement was used as a the guideline for reporting this protocol. Inserting implants deliberately into dental roots of human participants would not be approved by ethical review boards and adverse effects of interventions are generally underreported. We will therefore apply broad spectrum eligibility criteria, which will include clinical, animal and cadaver models. Not including these models could slow down knowledge translation. Both randomized and non-randomized research studies will be included. Comparisons of interest and subgroups are pre-specified. We will conduct searches in MEDLINE and more than 40 other electronic databases. We will search the grey literature and reference lists and hand-search ten journals. All methodological procedures will be conducted by three reviewers. Study selection, data extraction and analyses, and protocols for contacting authors and resolving conflicts between reviewers are described. Designed specific risk of bias tools will be tailored to the research question. Different research models will be analysed separately. Parameters for exploring statistical heterogeneity and conducting meta-analyses are pre-specified. The quality of evidence for outcomes will be assessed through the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this systematic review will be useful for patients, clinicians, researchers, guideline developers, policymakers, and surgical companies.
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105, AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. reyndersmail@gmail.com.
authors: Reint
authors: R
authors: Meursinge Reynders
authors: Private practice of orthodontics, Via Matteo Bandello 15, 20123, Milan, Italy. sluppers@yahoo.com.
authors: Luisa
authors: L
authors: Ladu
authors: Private practice of orthodontics, Via Matteo Bandello 15, 20123, Milan, Italy. lr.laura.ronchi@gmail.com.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Ronchi
authors: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO), 40064, Italy. nicoladiggi@gmail.com.
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Di Girolamo
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Academic Medical Center and Academisch Centrum Tandheelkunde Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, AZ 1105, The Netherlands. j.delange@amc.uva.nl.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: de Lange
authors: Bodleian Health Care libraries, University of Oxford, Cairns Library Level 3, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK. nia.roberts@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.
authors: Nia
authors: N
authors: Roberts
authors: Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, University of Oxford, New Radcliffe House, 2nd floor, Jericho, Oxford, OX2 6NW, UK. annette.pluddemann@phc.ox.ac.uk.
authors: Annette
authors: A
authors: Plüddemann
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D000044:Dental Abutments; D059605:Dental Implant-Abutment Design; D003757:Dental Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic; D014070:Tooth; D019415:Torque
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants