What do systematic reviews say?

Doxycycline + SRP vs SRP

Doxycycline + SRP showed no clear difference in percentage of bleeding on probing (BOP) compared with SRP; GRADE not reported.

• Adjunctive systemic antimicrobials for the non‐surgical treatment of periodontitis 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Intermediate-term (> 3 months to < 1 year)
  MD -0.01 [-0.21, 0.19]
  1 study · 21 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Adjunctive systemic antimicrobials for the non‐surgical treatment of periodontitis 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Long-term (≥ 1 year)
  Included studies have not reported this outcome
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

All fluorescence-based devices (red, blue, and green fluorescence combined) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination)

• Fluorescence devices for the detection of dental caries 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Single site per tooth
  DOR 15.96 [12.26, 20.77]
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Horizontal mattress / fibrin sealant suturing vs Conventional (simple interrupted) suturing

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Surgical techniques for the removal of mandibular wisdom teeth 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 week
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Dexamethasone ointment vs Amlexanox paste

It is very uncertain whether dexamethasone ointment changes pain resolution compared with amlexanox paste (very low certainty).

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 0.75 [0.34, 1.66]
  1 study · 36 participants
  Very low

Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 24-month recall

Clinical examination with risk-based recall probably leads to higher periodontal disease: probing pocket depth (mm) compared with clinical examination with 24-month recall (moderate certainty).

• Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 years
  MD 0.10 [0.01, 0.19]
  1 study · 279 participants
  Moderate

All fluorescence-based devices (red, blue, and green fluorescence combined) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination)

• Fluorescence devices for the detection of dental caries 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Radiography reference standard
  DOR 6.21 [2.58, 14.97]
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. 2020 All outcomes

  Reporting bias: Yes
  Proportion 0.935 [0.767, 0.984]
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Primary (complete) wound closure vs Secondary (partial) wound closure

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Surgical techniques for the removal of mandibular wisdom teeth 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  >6 months
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

All fluorescence-based devices (red, blue, and green fluorescence combined) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination)

• Fluorescence devices for the detection of dental caries 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Enhanced visual examination reference standard
  DOR 19.32 [12.37, 30.17]
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

TT genotype of ENAM rs3796703 vs CC + CT genotype

The pooled odds ratio was 2.90 (95% CI 0.92 to 9.12).

• Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. 2020 All outcomes

  Ethnicity: Asian (n=2)
  OR 2.90 [0.92, 9.12]
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Primary (complete) wound closure vs Secondary (partial) wound closure

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Surgical techniques for the removal of mandibular wisdom teeth 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  ~1 month
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Intervention not reported

• Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. 2020 All outcomes

  Assessor blinding (triple-blind): Yes
  Proportion 0.852 [0.760, 0.912]
  14 studies
  GRADE not reported

Fumigation or fogging vs No fumigation or fogging / standard operatory

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions to reduce contaminated aerosols produced during dental procedures for preventing infectious diseases 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 24-month recall

Clinical examination with risk-based recall led to higher patient satisfaction with actual care received (1-7 scale) compared with clinical examination with 24-month recall; GRADE not reported.

• Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 years
  MD 0.16 [0.01, 0.31]
  1 study · 304 participants
  GRADE not reported

LTF rs11716497 variant vs Reference allele/genotype

LTF rs11716497 showed no significant association with dental caries in a single study (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.21; ungraded).

• The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based analysis. 2020 All outcomes

  Brazil · Single study (Doetzer et al. 2015)
  OR 1.04 [0.90, 1.21]
  1 study · 677 participants
  GRADE not reported

Resin-based fissure sealant plus fluoride varnish vs Fluoride varnish

• Pit and fissure sealants versus fluoride varnishes for preventing dental decay in the permanent teeth of children and… 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Splieth 2001: total time for sealing and resealing two teeth averaged 29 minutes over 2 years (about 17 minutes initial sealants); each fluoride varnish application under 3 minutes (total 9 minutes).
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Amoxicillin + metronidazole + SRP vs Clarithromycin + SRP

Amoxicillin + metronidazole + SRP showed no clear difference in percentage of bleeding on probing (BOP) compared with clarithromycin + SRP; GRADE not reported.

• Adjunctive systemic antimicrobials for the non‐surgical treatment of periodontitis 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Intermediate-term (> 3 months to < 1 year)
  MD 4.00 [-1.09, 9.09]
  1 study · 46 participants
  GRADE not reported

Rubber dam vs No rubber dam

Rubber dam led to lower reduction in level of contamination in aerosols (CFU) during… compared with no rubber dam; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions to reduce contaminated aerosols produced during dental procedures for preventing infectious diseases 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD -10.10 [-19.72, -0.48]
  1 study · 20 participants
  GRADE not reported

Drain use vs No drain

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Surgical techniques for the removal of mandibular wisdom teeth 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  up to 30 days
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Audiovisual distraction vs Conventional treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for increasing acceptance of local anaesthetic in children and adolescents having dental treatment 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  During LA
  Completion of dental treatment: included studies did not report on this outcome
  Studies not reported
  No studies found