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Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.
162 questions in 21 reviews · cluster CL0190
current versionsNo studies 28 · 17.3%Ungraded 98 · 60.5%Very low 27 · 16.7%Low 9 · 5.6%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
Intervention categories, outcome domains and clusters are a proposed key pending human validation. Clear all filters
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Photodynamic therapy plus mechanical debridement vs Mechanical debridement alone Probing pocket depth (mm) · Adults treated for periodontitis and receiving supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) · 12 months Supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) for maintaining the dentition in adults treated for periodontitis (2018) · Cochrane | MD -0.09 [-1.41, 1.23] | 1 study · 10 participants | Very low |
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) vs Formocresol (FC) Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6 and 12 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 7.00 [0.39, 124.83] | 1 study · 30 participants | Ungraded |
Diode laser vs Electrosurgery Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.64 [0.19, 2.18] | 2 studies · 50 participants | Low |
Electromagnetic radiation (low-level laser therapy) vs Placebo Relief of burning/discomfort (symptom relief; pain intensity) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | MD -30.36 [-44.22, -16.50] | 1 study · 58 participants | Very low |
Low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) vs Placebo (or no irradiation) Patient‐reported pain intensity or pain relief (VAS, NRS or categorical scale) · Adolescents and adults undergoing orthodontic treatment · 6 hours Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | MD -10.63 [-22.33, 1.07] | 2 studies · 118 participants | Ungraded |
Laser (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, or Nd:YAG) vs Conventional mechanical caries removal (standard drill; handpiece with a bur) Participant discomfort (vibration, smell, noise) · Children, adolescents and adults with caries in deciduous and permanent teeth (age 3.5 to 84 years) · during treatment Lasers for caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth (2016) · Cochrane | Five studies reported participant discomfort (Belcheva 2014; Evans 2000; Hadley 2000; Keller 1998; Liu 2006). Keller 1998 (90 adults): discomfort significantly lower with laser (Analysis 1.6). Hadley 2000 (66 adults):… | 5 studies | Ungraded |
Laser (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, or Nd:YAG) vs Conventional mechanical caries removal (standard drill; handpiece with a bur) Pulpal inflammation or necrosis · Children, adolescents and adults with caries in deciduous and permanent teeth (age 3.5 to 84 years) · 6 months follow-up Lasers for caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.99 [0.10, 9.41] | 2 studies · 156 participants | Very low |
Laser (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, or Nd:YAG) vs Conventional mechanical caries removal (standard drill; handpiece with a bur) Pulpal inflammation or necrosis · Children, adolescents and adults with caries in deciduous and permanent teeth (age 3.5 to 84 years) · 1 week follow-up Lasers for caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.51 [0.26, 8.75] | 3 studies · 317 participants | Very low |
Laser (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, or Nd:YAG) vs Conventional mechanical caries removal (standard drill; handpiece with a bur) Pulpal inflammation or necrosis · Children, adolescents and adults with caries in deciduous and permanent teeth (age 3.5 to 84 years) · overall (1 week to 6 months) Lasers for caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.29 [0.32, 5.14] | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Laser (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, or Nd:YAG) vs Conventional mechanical caries removal (standard drill; handpiece with a bur) Durability of restoration · Children, adolescents and adults with caries in deciduous and permanent teeth (age 3.5 to 84 years) · 6 months follow-up Lasers for caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth (2016) · Cochrane | RR 2.40 [0.65, 8.77] | 4 studies · 236 participants | Very low |
Laser (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, or Nd:YAG) vs Conventional mechanical caries removal (standard drill; handpiece with a bur) Durability of restoration · Children, adolescents and adults with caries in deciduous and permanent teeth (age 3.5 to 84 years) · 2 years follow-up Lasers for caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.50 [0.02, 14.60] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Laser (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, or Nd:YAG) vs Conventional mechanical caries removal (standard drill; handpiece with a bur) Operator preference/fatigue in operator · Children, adolescents and adults with caries in deciduous and permanent teeth (age 3.5 to 84 years) Lasers for caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth (2016) · Cochrane | One study (Evans 2000): 11 dental practitioners expressed a preference in 73 of 77 'dentist/patient encounters', significantly in favour of conventional drill rather than laser (P < 0.001); main difficulty with laser… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Laser (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, or Nd:YAG) vs Conventional mechanical caries removal (standard drill; handpiece with a bur) Caries removal (clinical) · Children, adolescents and adults with caries in deciduous and permanent teeth (age 3.5 to 84 years) · during treatment Lasers for caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.00 [0.99, 1.01] | 2 studies · 190 participants | Low |
Laser (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, or Nd:YAG) vs Conventional mechanical caries removal (standard drill; handpiece with a bur) Duration of treatment · Children, adolescents and adults with caries in deciduous and permanent teeth (age 3.5 to 84 years) Lasers for caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth (2016) · Cochrane | MD 0.90 [0.59, 1.21] | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Laser (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, or Nd:YAG) vs Other caries removal systems (chemo-mechanical, sono-abrasion, or air-abrasion) Outcome NR · Children, adolescents and adults with caries in deciduous and permanent teeth (age 3.5 to 84 years) Lasers for caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth (2016) · Cochrane | 'Types of interventions' allowed comparison of laser with other caries-removal systems (chemo-mechanical, sono-abrasion, air-abrasion); no included study used such a comparator (all nine included trials compared laser… | NR | No studies |
Laser (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, or Nd:YAG) vs Conventional mechanical caries removal (standard drill; handpiece with a bur) Recurrent (secondary) caries · Children, adolescents and adults with caries in deciduous and permanent teeth (age 3.5 to 84 years) · 6 months to 2 years follow-up Lasers for caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth (2016) · Cochrane | Two trials reported data on prevalence of secondary caries (Hadley 2000 at 6 months; Yazici 2010 at 2 years). No occurrence of caries was reported in either study (no events; no estimable effect). | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Laser (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, or Nd:YAG) vs Conventional mechanical caries removal (standard drill; handpiece with a bur) Durability of restoration · Children, adolescents and adults with caries in deciduous and permanent teeth (age 3.5 to 84 years) · 1 year follow-up Lasers for caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.40 [0.29, 6.78] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Placebo (sham irradiation, laser inactive) vs Control (no laser device used) Maximum pain (verbal rating scale, VRS) · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · first postoperative week Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.04 [0.00, 0.61] | 1 study · 48 participants | Ungraded |
Low energy level laser therapy (LLLT) vs Placebo (sham irradiation, laser inactive) Maximum pain (verbal rating scale, VRS) · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · first postoperative week Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | Maximum pain (VRS): 0 per 1000 (placebo) vs 0 per 1000 (LLLT); effect not estimable; 52 participants. No high-pain events in either group. | 1 study · 52 participants | Very low |
Low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) vs Placebo (or no irradiation) Patient‐reported pain intensity or pain relief (VAS, NRS or categorical scale) · Adolescents and adults undergoing orthodontic treatment · 7 days Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | MD -6.39 [-8.65, -4.13] | 1 study · 58 participants | Ungraded |
Laser (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, or Nd:YAG) vs Conventional mechanical caries removal (standard drill; handpiece with a bur) Participant preference · Children, adolescents and adults with caries in deciduous and permanent teeth (age 3.5 to 84 years) Lasers for caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth (2016) · Cochrane | Three studies (Evans 2000; Liu 2006; Zhang 2013) reported participants' preference for future treatment. Zhang 2013: 37/53 children (72%) preferred laser, 10 (22%) drill. Liu 2006: 36/40 (90%) preferred laser, 4 (5%)… | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Low energy level laser therapy (LLLT) vs Control (no laser device used) Maximum pain (verbal rating scale, VRS) · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · first postoperative week Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.04 [0.00, 0.71] | 1 study · 44 participants | Very low |
Low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) vs Placebo (or no irradiation) Patient‐reported pain intensity or pain relief (VAS, NRS or categorical scale) · Adolescents and adults undergoing orthodontic treatment · 6 to 54 hours, Studies using bespoke pain scales Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | Two further studies (160 participants) used bespoke assessments. Harazaki 1997 (84 participants): slightly lower proportion reporting severe pain in the intervention group, no inferential statistics. Turhani 2006 (76… | 2 studies · 160 participants | Ungraded |
Surgical removal of the lesion (surgical excision, laser surgery, cryotherapy) vs Placebo or no treatment Outcome NR · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | 'We did not identify any RCTs that compared surgical treatments with placebo or no treatment.' Three surgical RCTs were found (Chee 2013, Lopez-Jornet 2013, Schwarz 2005) but all excluded because they did not include a… | NR | No studies |
Laser (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, or Nd:YAG) vs Conventional mechanical caries removal (standard drill; handpiece with a bur) Episodes of pain (moderate or high pain; six-face rating scale) · Children, adolescents and adults with caries in deciduous and permanent teeth (age 3.5 to 84 years) · during treatment Lasers for caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.40 [0.28, 0.57] | 2 studies · 143 participants | Low |
Low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) vs Placebo (or no irradiation) Patient‐reported pain intensity or pain relief (VAS, NRS or categorical scale) · Adolescents and adults undergoing orthodontic treatment · 3 days Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | MD -10.76 [-13.80, -7.73] | 2 studies · 118 participants | Ungraded |
Electromagnetic radiation (low-level laser therapy) vs Placebo Change in feeling of dryness · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | SoF6: No included study reported change in feeling of dryness. | 0 studies | No studies |
Low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) vs Placebo (or no irradiation) Patient‐reported pain intensity or pain relief (VAS, NRS or categorical scale) · Adolescents and adults undergoing orthodontic treatment · 24 hours Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | MD -20.27 [-24.50, -16.04] | 2 studies · 118 participants | Low |
Laser (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, or Nd:YAG) vs Conventional mechanical caries removal (standard drill; handpiece with a bur) Need for anaesthesia · Children, adolescents and adults with caries in deciduous and permanent teeth (age 3.5 to 84 years) · during treatment, overall (children and adults) Lasers for caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.37 [0.19, 0.72] | 4 studies · 320 participants | Ungraded |
Electromagnetic radiation (low-level laser therapy) vs Placebo Change in taste · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | SoF6: No included study reported change in taste. | 0 studies | No studies |
Laser (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, or Nd:YAG) vs Conventional mechanical caries removal (standard drill; handpiece with a bur) Need for anaesthesia · Children, adolescents and adults with caries in deciduous and permanent teeth (age 3.5 to 84 years) · during treatment, children/adolescents Lasers for caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.25 [0.10, 0.65] | 3 studies · 217 participants | Low |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Patient-reported altered sensation (spontaneous or evoked: anaesthesia/paraesthesia/dysaesthesia/hyperalgesia/allodynia) · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… · Lip Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | MD 21.79 [5.29, 38.29] | 1 study · 13 participants | Very low |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Somatosensory evoked potentials · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | Results: 'No studies reported on ... somatosensory evoked potentials ...'. Not reported by the included trials. | 0 studies | No studies |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Difficulty speaking · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | SoF row 'Difficulty speaking': This outcome was not reported in the included studies. | 0 studies | No studies |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Patient-reported altered sensation (spontaneous or evoked: anaesthesia/paraesthesia/dysaesthesia/hyperalgesia/allodynia) · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… · Chin Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | MD 8.40 [3.67, 13.13] | 1 study · 13 participants | Very low |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Difficulty eating · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | SoF row 'Difficulty eating': This outcome was not reported in the included studies. | 0 studies | No studies |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Mechanosensory perception (load in grams to elicit sensation; Semmes Weinstein monofilaments) · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | MD 1.07 [0.17, 1.97] | 2 studies · 26 participants | Ungraded |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Pain · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | SoF row 'Pain': This outcome was not reported in the included studies. | 0 studies | No studies |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Taste · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | SoF row 'Taste': This outcome was not reported in the included studies. | 0 studies | No studies |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Thermosensory (thermal) perception · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | MD 1.79 [-2.04, 5.62] | 2 studies · 25 participants | Ungraded |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Patient satisfaction · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | Results: no included study reported quality of life or patient satisfaction. In PUB2 patient satisfaction is merged with quality of life as 'quality of life/patient satisfaction'. | 0 studies | No studies |
Erbium:YAG laser (implant exposure) vs Flap elevation at implant exposure Postoperative pain · Patients undergoing implant exposure (second-stage surgery) Interventions for replacing missing teeth: management of soft tissues for dental implants (2012) · Cochrane | RR 0.25 [0.07, 0.90] | 1 study · 20 participants | Ungraded |
Er:YAG laser debridement vs Manual debridement plus chlorhexidine irrigation/gel Implant failure · People with at least one dental implant affected by peri-implantitis · 6 months Interventions for replacing missing teeth: treatment of peri‐implantitis (2012) · Cochrane | No implant failures occurred in any of the groups (both trials). | 2 studies · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Er:YAG laser surface debridement before bone augmentation vs Plastic curettes plus saline solution before bone augmentation Change in probing attachment level (PAL gain) · People with at least one dental implant affected by peri-implantitis · 6 months Interventions for replacing missing teeth: treatment of peri‐implantitis (2012) · Cochrane | Six months after treatment there were no statistically significant differences for PAL gain. | 1 study · 30 participants | Ungraded |
Er:YAG laser debridement vs Manual debridement plus chlorhexidine irrigation/gel Change in probing attachment level (PAL) · People with at least one dental implant affected by peri-implantitis · 6 months Interventions for replacing missing teeth: treatment of peri‐implantitis (2012) · Cochrane | No statistically significant differences for change in PAL. | 1 study · 20 participants | Ungraded |
Laser therapy Outcome NR · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | The review noted the noticeable absence of evidence for laser therapy; no eligible RCT evaluated it (Discussion). | 0 studies | No studies |
Laser-welded titanium framework vs Cast gold framework Framework survival (5 years) · Patients with implant-supported FDPs; split-mouth, 5-year · 5 years Interventions for replacing missing teeth: partially absent dentition (2012) · Cochrane | 95% (20/21) titanium and 100% cast gold frameworks surviving 5 years; could not calculate an estimate of relative risk from the data as presented; non-significant differences in maintenance visits and alveolar bone loss | 1 study · 21 participants | Ungraded |
Er:YAG laser vs Air-abrasive device (Perio-Flow) Recurrence of peri-implantitis · People with at least one dental implant affected by peri-implantitis · 6 months Interventions for replacing missing teeth: treatment of peri‐implantitis (2012) · Cochrane | After 6 months no statistically significant difference for peri-implantitis recurrence; 11% of implants (five air-abrasive, six laser) had pus on probing. | 1 study · 42 participants | Ungraded |
Er:YAG laser vs Air-abrasive device (Perio-Flow) Change in probing pocket depth · People with at least one dental implant affected by peri-implantitis · 6 months Interventions for replacing missing teeth: treatment of peri‐implantitis (2012) · Cochrane | After 6 months no statistically significant difference between Er:YAG laser and air-abrasive device for PPD. | 1 study · 42 participants | Ungraded |
Er:YAG laser vs Air-abrasive device (Perio-Flow) Implant failure · People with at least one dental implant affected by peri-implantitis · 6 months Interventions for replacing missing teeth: treatment of peri‐implantitis (2012) · Cochrane | After 6 months there were no drop-outs, implant failures or complications. | 1 study · 42 participants | Ungraded |