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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.
149 questions in 21 reviews · cluster CL0221
current versionsNo studies 35 · 23.5%Ungraded 68 · 45.6%Very low 19 · 12.8%Low 25 · 16.8%Moderate 2 · 1.3%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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Theory-based oral health education/promotion interventions (HBM, TPB, SCT, HAPA, TTM, PMT, SOC, PRECEDE-PROCEED, MI) vs Control (waitlist, routine/standard oral health education, or minimal intervention) Self-efficacy related to oral health · Children and adolescents aged 5-18 years · Post-intervention (follow-up 4 weeks to 12 months, varies by study), Overall Health promotion theory-based educational interventions for improving oral health in children and… (2025) | SMD 1.49 [0.99, 2.00] | 10 studies · 4513 participants | Low |
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs Alternative (active) treatment (e.g. oral splint, medication, self-care or disease management) Pain intensity at treatment completion · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer · Treatment completion Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane | SMD 0.03 [-0.21, 0.28] | 5 studies · 509 participants | Low |
Primary school-based interventions (one or more of: school health policy, oral health education, healthy school environment, access to oral health services, community involvement) vs No intervention or usual practice/activities Oral hygiene measured by plaque scores · Primary school children (aged 3-16 years) attending primary school in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) · Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and… (2022) | SMD -0.32 [-0.46, -0.18] | 7 studies · 3339 participants | Very low |
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs Alternative (active) treatment (e.g. oral splint, medication, self-care or disease management) Psychological distress at follow-up · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer · Follow-up Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane | SMD -0.32 [-0.51, -0.13] | 6 studies · 516 participants | Low |
Traditional screening with motivation (oral health education and offer of free treatment) vs Traditional screening alone Dental attendance · School children, primary and secondary schools in India · mean 3 months School dental screening programmes for oral health (2022) · Cochrane | RR 3.08 [2.57, 3.71] | 1 study · 2486 participants | Very low |
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs Alternative (active) treatment (e.g. oral splint, medication, self-care or disease management) Additional physical symptoms · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane | This outcome was not measured (not synthesised for this comparison; review-wide only one study reported additional physical symptoms). | NR | No studies |
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs Alternative (active) treatment (e.g. oral splint, medication, self-care or disease management) Disability caused by pain at treatment completion · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer · Treatment completion Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane | SMD -0.15 [-0.40, 0.10] | 3 studies · 245 participants | Low |
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs Usual care, waiting list or no treatment (control) Pain intensity at follow-up (12 months) · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer · Follow-up (12 months) Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane | SMD -0.30 [-0.51, -0.09] | 6 studies · 639 participants | Low |
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs Alternative (active) treatment (e.g. oral splint, medication, self-care or disease management) Disability caused by pain at follow-up · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer · Follow-up Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane | SMD -0.15 [-0.42, 0.12] | 3 studies · 245 participants | Low |
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs Usual care, waiting list or no treatment (control) Pain disability at treatment completion · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer · Treatment completion Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane | SMD 0.02 [-0.21, 0.24] | 3 studies · 315 participants | Low |
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs Usual care, waiting list or no treatment (control) Psychological distress at follow-up · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer · Follow-up Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane | MD -1.02 [-4.02, 1.98] | 1 study · 101 participants | Low |
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs Alternative (active) treatment (e.g. oral splint, medication, self-care or disease management) Pain intensity at follow-up (6-12 months) · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer · Follow-up (6-12 months) Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane | SMD -0.29 [-0.50, -0.08] | 5 studies · 475 participants | Low |
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs Usual care, waiting list or no treatment (control) Psychological distress at treatment completion · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer · Treatment completion Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane | MD 2.36 [-1.17, 5.89] | 1 study · 101 participants | Low |
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs Usual care, waiting list or no treatment (control) Pain intensity at treatment completion · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer · Treatment completion Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane | SMD -0.09 [-0.30, 0.12] | 6 studies · 577 participants | Low |
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs Usual care, waiting list or no treatment (control) Pain disability at follow-up · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer · Follow-up Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane | SMD 0.01 [-0.61, 0.64] | 2 studies · 240 participants | Low |
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs Usual care, waiting list or no treatment (control) Additional physical symptoms · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane | This outcome was not measured for this comparison. | NR | No studies |
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs Alternative (active) treatment (e.g. oral splint, medication, self-care or disease management) Psychological distress at treatment completion · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer · Treatment completion Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane | SMD -0.32 [-0.50, -0.15] | 6 studies · 553 participants | Low |
Sodium bicarbonate rinse (plus toothbrushing) vs Water rinse (plus toothbrushing) Incidence of VAP · Critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation in ICU Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia (2020) · Cochrane | RR 1.57 [0.62, 3.99] | 2 studies · 347 participants | Ungraded |
Powered toothbrushing (as part of comprehensive oral care) vs Manual toothbrushing (standard oral care) Incidence of VAP · Critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation in ICU Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia (2020) · Cochrane | RR 0.84 [0.37, 1.91] | 1 study · 78 participants | Ungraded |
Powered toothbrushing (as part of comprehensive oral care) vs Manual toothbrushing (standard oral care) Duration of ICU stay · Critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation in ICU Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia (2020) · Cochrane | MD -2.00 [-5.93, 1.93] | 1 study · 78 participants | Ungraded |
Powered toothbrushing (as part of comprehensive oral care) vs Manual toothbrushing (standard oral care) Mortality · Critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation in ICU Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia (2020) · Cochrane | RR 1.05 [0.16, 7.10] | 1 study · 78 participants | Ungraded |
Powered toothbrushing (as part of comprehensive oral care) vs Manual toothbrushing (standard oral care) Duration of mechanical ventilation · Critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation in ICU Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia (2020) · Cochrane | MD 0.00 [-1.78, 1.78] | 1 study · 78 participants | Ungraded |
Rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) · 4 to 6 weeks Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | SMD -0.08 [-0.46, 0.29] | 6 studies · 273 participants | Very low |
Flossing plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Interproximal caries · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | No included study assessed caries as an outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Scheduled dental recall intervals (1-, 3- or 6-monthly; oral hygiene instruction with or without scale and polish) plus daily supervised toothbrushing by carers vs Usual care (no specific treatment) Calculus (long term) · Adults (mean age 30.9 years), level of ID unclear; setting day centre · Long term (>12 months) Oral hygiene interventions for people with intellectual disabilities (2019) · Cochrane | MD -2.00 [-2.64, -1.36] | 1 study · 304 participants | Low |
Wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing Periodontitis (probing pocket depth) · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | No included study assessed periodontitis. | 0 studies | No studies |
Toothbrushing + Turkish gall oral rinse vs Toothbrushing Volatile sulphur compounds (VSC), halimeter · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… · 2 weeks Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | MD -211.47 [-503.58, 80.64] | 1 study · 66 participants | Ungraded |
Oral irrigation plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing Periodontitis (probing pocket depth) · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | No included study assessed periodontitis. | 0 studies | No studies |
Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) · 1 month Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | SMD -1.07 [-1.51, -0.63] | 2 studies · 93 participants | Low |
Wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) · 3 months Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | MD -0.03 [-0.13, 0.07] | 1 study · 24 participants | Very low |
Oral irrigation plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Periodontitis (probing pocket depth) · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | Periodontitis measured in one study but useable data not provided (Walsh 1989 reported proportion of sites with >4 mm pocket depth at 3 months but not mean PD; attachment loss measured but no data). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Electric toothbrush (self, carer or carer-assisted brushing) vs Manual toothbrush (self, carer or carer-assisted brushing) Plaque (medium term) · Children and adults with mixed levels of ID; setting home, residential, day care, school, mixed or not specified · Medium term (6 weeks to 12 months) Oral hygiene interventions for people with intellectual disabilities (2019) · Cochrane | SMD 0.29 [-0.07, 0.65] | 2 studies · 120 participants | Low |
Rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) · 4 to 6 weeks Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | SMD 0.08 [-0.33, 0.49] | 2 studies · 92 participants | Very low |
Wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) · 3 months Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | MD 0.02 [-0.06, 0.10] | 1 study · 24 participants | Very low |
Rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing Periodontitis (probing pocket depth) · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | One study measured periodontitis but the data were not usable (Smith 1988 measured PPD but data unusable). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) · 1 month (4 to 6 weeks) Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | SMD -0.47 [-0.84, -0.11] | 5 studies · 290 participants | Very low |
Oral irrigation plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) · 1 month Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | SMD -0.16 [-0.41, 0.10] | 3 studies · 235 participants | Low |
Scheduled dental recall intervals (1-, 3- or 6-monthly; oral hygiene instruction with or without scale and polish) plus daily supervised toothbrushing by carers vs Usual care (no specific treatment) Plaque (long term) · Adults (mean age 30.9 years), level of ID unclear; setting day centre · Long term (>12 months) Oral hygiene interventions for people with intellectual disabilities (2019) · Cochrane | MD -0.70 [-1.28, -0.12] | 1 study · 304 participants | Low |
Rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing Interproximal caries · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | No included study assessed caries as an outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Interproximal caries · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | No included study assessed caries as an outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Oral hygiene care training of carers vs No training (or a placebo training session) of carers Plaque (medium term) · People with mixed levels of ID (age range unclear); setting residential · Medium term (6 weeks to 12 months) Oral hygiene interventions for people with intellectual disabilities (2019) · Cochrane | MD -0.07 [-0.26, 0.13] | 2 studies · 99 participants | Low |
Flossing plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) · 1 month Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | SMD -0.42 [-0.85, 0.02] | 7 studies · 542 participants | Very low |
Oral hygiene interventions (mechanical plaque removal): knowledge-based, behavioural, or skills training for people with ID or their carers vs Usual care, no care, or a similar alternative intervention Any unintended (positive or negative) effects of the interventions · People with intellectual disabilities (ID), living at home, in day care, in hospital or in a residential care setting;… Oral hygiene interventions for people with intellectual disabilities (2019) · Cochrane | Adverse/unintended effects addressed narratively: 10 of 34 studies investigated or reported negative unintended or adverse effects (e.g. difficulty with the electric or 3-headed toothbrushes, being frightened by the… | 10 studies | Ungraded |
Special manual toothbrush (self, carer or carer-assisted brushing) vs Conventional manual toothbrush (self, carer or carer-assisted brushing) Oral health assessment and oral bacteria levels (medium term) · Children and adults with mixed levels of ID; setting home, residential, day care, school, mixed or not specified · Medium term (6 weeks to 12 months) Oral hygiene interventions for people with intellectual disabilities (2019) · Cochrane | Comparison 1.5 (graded in the Effects of interventions text; not tabulated in the SoF). Single-use suction toothbrush vs standard manual toothbrush (both with a chemical agent), 90 days, Ferozali 2007: Total Oral… | 1 study · 22 participants | Very low |
Rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Periodontitis (probing pocket depth) · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | One study measured probing pocket depth but no data were reported (Graziani 2017 mentioned PPD as outcome but no data). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Oral hygiene training (toothbrushing routine) of people with ID vs No oral hygiene training of people with ID Plaque (short term) · Children and adults with mild to profound ID; setting residential or school · Short term (<6 weeks) Oral hygiene interventions for people with intellectual disabilities (2019) · Cochrane | MD -0.47 [-0.92, -0.02] | 1 study · 10 participants | Very low |
Wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Interproximal caries · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | No included study assessed caries as an outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Periodontitis (probing pocket depth) · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | One study measured probing pocket depth but no data were reported (Graziani 2017). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing Interproximal caries · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | No included study assessed caries as an outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Special manual toothbrush (self, carer or carer-assisted brushing) vs Conventional manual toothbrush (self, carer or carer-assisted brushing) Plaque (short term) · Children and adults with mixed levels of ID; setting home, residential, day care, school, mixed or not specified · Short term (<6 weeks) Oral hygiene interventions for people with intellectual disabilities (2019) · Cochrane | MD 0.20 [-0.45, 0.85] | 1 study · 25 participants | Very low |