Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

1,218 questions · 1,325 findings · 34 reviews · Oral medicine and oral cancer

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No studies found 164 · 12.4%GRADE not reported 841 · 63.5%Very low 209 · 15.8%Low 72 · 5.4%Moderate 38 · 2.9%High 1 · 0.1%

Visual screening (oral visual inspection) by trained health workers vs No screening

Oral cancer incidence · Apparently healthy adults aged 35 years or older (general population), living in 13 clusters in rural areas of Trivandrum city, Kerala,…

Visual screening (oral visual inspection) by trained health workers showed no clear difference in oral cancer incidence compared with no screening; GRADE not reported.

2 findings from 1 review

Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
15-year follow-up
RR 1.14 [0.91, 1.44]
1 study · 191873 participants
GRADE not reported
Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
15-year follow-up · High-risk individuals (tobacco and/or alcohol users)
RR 0.97 [0.79, 1.19]
1 study
GRADE not reported

Electrostimulation (device) vs Placebo (sham/placebo device)

Stimulated whole saliva (SWS) · Adults with dry mouth due to Sjogren's Syndrome

It is very uncertain whether electrostimulation (device) changes stimulated whole saliva (SWS) compared with placebo (sham/placebo device) (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
End of treatment (4 weeks)
MD 0.16 [-0.05, 0.37]
1 study · 24 participants
Very low

Acupuncture vs sham

Stimulated whole saliva (SWS) · Adults with dry mouth due to radiotherapy (head and neck cancer) or Sjogren's Syndrome

Acupuncture may leads to higher stimulated whole saliva (SWS) compared with placebo (sham acupuncture) (low certainty).

2 findings from 1 review

Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
12 months (1 year follow-up)
MD 0.28 [0.09, 0.47]
2 studies · 54 participants
Low
Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
End of treatment (4-6 weeks)
MD 0.19 [0.07, 0.31]
3 studies · 71 participants
Low

Visual screening (oral visual inspection) by trained health workers vs No screening

Stage at diagnosis (early-stage detection) · Apparently healthy adults aged 35 years or older (general population), living in 13 clusters in rural areas of Trivandrum city, Kerala,…

Visual screening (oral visual inspection) by trained health workers led to lower stage at diagnosis (early-stage detection) compared with no screening; GRADE not reported.

2 findings from 1 review

Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
15-year follow-up
RR 0.81 [0.70, 0.93]
1 study · 523 participants
GRADE not reported
Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
15-year follow-up · High-risk individuals (tobacco and/or alcohol users)
RR 0.82 [0.71, 0.95]
1 study · 486 participants
GRADE not reported

Visual screening (oral visual inspection) by trained health workers vs No screening

Quality of life · Apparently healthy adults aged 35 years or older (general population), living in 13 clusters in rural areas of Trivandrum city, Kerala,…

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
15-year follow-up
Data on quality of life were not reported.
0 studies
No studies found

Acupuncture vs sham

Quality of life · Adults with dry mouth due to radiotherapy (head and neck cancer) or Sjogren's Syndrome

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
no estimate extracted
0 studies
No studies found

Electrostimulation (device) vs Placebo (sham/placebo device)

Patient satisfaction with treatment · Adults with dry mouth due to Sjogren's Syndrome

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
no estimate extracted
0 studies
No studies found

Visual screening (oral visual inspection) by trained health workers vs No screening

Test performance (sensitivity and specificity) · Apparently healthy adults aged 35 years or older (general population), living in 13 clusters in rural areas of Trivandrum city, Kerala,…

1 finding from 1 review

Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
15-year follow-up
Across the four cycles (15 years), the reported sensitivity of the visual examination in detecting oral cancer was 67.4% (188/279). No information on the specificity or the positive predictive value of the programme…
1 study
GRADE not reported

Electrostimulation (device) vs Placebo (sham/placebo device)

Adverse events · Adults with dry mouth due to Sjogren's Syndrome

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
Wong 2003 stated 'no adverse effects were caused by Codetron'; Steller 1988 and Talal 1992 did not mention whether adverse effects occurred
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported

Acupuncture vs sham

Dry mouth (xerostomia) · Adults with dry mouth due to radiotherapy (head and neck cancer) or Sjogren's Syndrome

Acupuncture showed no clear difference in dry mouth (mouth dryness, different scales) compared with placebo (sham acupuncture) (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
End of treatment (4-6 weeks)
SMD -0.34 [-0.81, 0.14]
2 studies · 70 participants
Low

Toluidine blue (visual staining) vs No screening

Outcome not reported · Planned population: general population or high-risk / opportunistic screening groups (no eligible study)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
There was no evidence to support the use of adjunctive technologies like toluidine blue, brush biopsy or fluorescence imaging as a screening tool to reduce oral cancer mortality; no eligible randomised controlled trial…
0 studies
No studies found

Powered toothbrush (any mode of action) vs Manual toothbrush

Unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) · Adults with medication-related dry mouth

Powered toothbrush showed no clear difference in unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) compared with manual toothbrush; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
45 minutes after brushing
MD -0.07 [-0.74, 0.60]
1 study
GRADE not reported

Brush biopsy (oral cytology) vs No screening

Outcome not reported · Planned population: general population or high-risk / opportunistic screening groups (no eligible study)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
There was no evidence to support the use of adjunctive technologies like toluidine blue, brush biopsy or fluorescence imaging as a screening tool to reduce oral cancer mortality; no eligible randomised controlled trial…
0 studies
No studies found

Acupuncture vs sham

Patient satisfaction with treatment · Adults with dry mouth due to radiotherapy (head and neck cancer) or Sjogren's Syndrome

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
no estimate extracted
0 studies
No studies found

Powered toothbrush (any mode of action) vs Manual toothbrush

Stimulated whole saliva (SWS) · Adults with medication-related dry mouth

Powered toothbrush showed no clear difference in stimulated whole saliva (SWS) compared with manual toothbrush; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
5 minutes after brushing
MD -0.13 [-1.92, 1.66]
1 study
GRADE not reported

Electrostimulation (device) vs Placebo (sham/placebo device)

Unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) · Adults with dry mouth due to Sjogren's Syndrome

It is very uncertain whether electrostimulation (device) changes unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) compared with placebo (sham/placebo device) (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
End of treatment (4 weeks)
MD 0.02 [-0.12, 0.16]
1 study · 24 participants
Very low

Acupuncture vs sham

Adverse events · Adults with dry mouth due to radiotherapy (head and neck cancer) or Sjogren's Syndrome

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
Acupuncture was associated with more adverse effects (tiny bruises and tiredness, mild and temporary); List 1998 noted significant eye discomfort; Pfister 2010 reported temporary increases in pain, minor bruising or…
4 studies
GRADE not reported

Electrostimulation (device) vs Placebo (sham/placebo device)

Duration of effectiveness · Adults with dry mouth due to Sjogren's Syndrome

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
no estimate extracted
0 studies
No studies found

Fluorescence imaging / light-based techniques vs No screening

Outcome not reported · Planned population: general population or high-risk / opportunistic screening groups (no eligible study)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
There was no evidence to support the use of adjunctive technologies like toluidine blue, brush biopsy or fluorescence imaging as a screening tool to reduce oral cancer mortality; no eligible randomised controlled trial…
0 studies
No studies found

Powered toothbrush (any mode of action) vs Manual toothbrush

Dry mouth (xerostomia) · Adults with medication-related dry mouth

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
Papas 2006 used a VAS to measure mouth dryness but did not report dry mouth outcome data
1 study
GRADE not reported