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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick 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 | MD -0.22 [-0.41, -0.03] | 1 study · 30 participants | Very low |
Special manual toothbrush (self, carer or carer-assisted brushing) vs Conventional 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 | MD -0.44 [-0.93, 0.05] | 1 study · 18 participants | Very low |
Rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Interdental brushing 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 |
Electric toothbrush (self, carer or carer-assisted brushing) vs 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 | Assorted plaque indices scale 0-5, 1-4 weeks; 247 participants (4 RCTs); Very Low. Uncertain effect on plaque short term: 2 studies (69 participants) favoured the electric toothbrush; 2 studies (178 participants)… | 4 studies · 247 participants | Very low |
Oral irrigation plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing 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 0.31 [-0.08, 0.70] | 2 studies · 133 participants | Very low |
Rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Interdental brushing 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 | Two studies measured periodontitis but data not presented or usable (Smith 1988 PPD unusable; Graziani 2017 measured PPD but no data). | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Oral irrigation 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 |
Rubber/elastomeric 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 Flossing plus toothbrushing Periodontitis (probing pocket depth) · 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 | MD -0.06 [-0.27, 0.16] | 3 studies · 107 participants | Low |
Wooden 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 | No included study assessed periodontitis as an outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Oral irrigation 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 |
Toothbrushing + Turkish gall oral rinse vs Toothbrushing Dentist-reported organoleptic test (OLT) score (scale 0 to 5) · 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 -0.1 [-0.5, 0.3] | 1 study · 66 participants | Ungraded |
Wooden 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 |
Flossing 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 |
Discussion of individual clinical photographs (plaque highlighted by a disclosing agent) as an oral hygiene motivator, plus oral hygiene instruction vs No discussion of clinical photographs, but received the same oral hygiene instruction Plaque (medium term) · People with ID (level of ID and age unclear); setting day centre · Medium term (6 weeks to 12 months) Oral hygiene interventions for people with intellectual disabilities (2019) · Cochrane | MD -0.10 [-0.85, 0.65] | 1 study · 29 participants | Very low |
Electric toothbrush (self, carer or carer-assisted brushing) vs Manual toothbrush (self, carer or carer-assisted brushing) Calculus (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 -0.04 [-0.40, 0.32] | 2 studies · 120 participants | Low |
Toothbrushing + tongue cleaning with a tooth-and-tongue gel (amine/stannous fluoride + zinc lactate) vs Toothbrushing with reference toothpaste (with or without tongue cleaning) OLT, VSC and patient satisfaction scores · Adolescents and adults aged over 16 years with clinical or self-assessed halitosis of oral origin; excluding induced… Interventions for managing halitosis (2019) · Cochrane | Wilhelm 2012 (3-arm cross-over trial) compared toothbrushing with a reference toothpaste, with reference toothpaste plus tongue cleaning, and toothbrushing plus tongue cleaning with a tooth-and-tongue gel (OLT, VSC,… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Any form of one-to-one oral hygiene advice (OHA) vs No OHA Probing depth · Children or adults (fit and healthy, or with a well-defined medical condition) One‐to‐one oral hygiene advice provided in a dental setting for oral health (2018) · Cochrane | Hetland 1982 reported pocket depths > 4 mm; measured but not synthesised or GRADE-rated (no usable pooled estimate). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Oral health education (advice and training) vs Standard care (oral health advice not specifically emphasised beyond usual care) Service use: Emergency medical/dental treatment · People with serious mental illness (all included participants had schizophrenia); majority aged 18 to 65 years per… Oral health education (advice and training) for people with serious mental illness (2016) · Cochrane | No study reported useable data | 0 studies | No studies |
Educational intervention with information and practical components (theoretical oral health education plus practical skills training) for nursing staff and/or residents vs (Optimised) usual care Denture plaque · Nursing home residents (mean age 78.3 to 86.0 years; more than 66% women; 62.1% to 87.3% with dental prostheses) · 3 to 60 months Oral health educational interventions for nursing home staff and residents (2016) · Cochrane | SMD -0.60 [-1.25, 0.05] | 5 studies · 816 participants | Low |
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs No special instructions (control) Patient‐reported pain intensity or pain relief (VAS, NRS or categorical scale) · Adults undergoing orthodontic treatment · 3 days Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | MD -27.91 [-40.10, -15.72] | 1 study · 24 participants | Ungraded |
Educational intervention with information and practical components (theoretical oral health education plus practical skills training) for nursing staff and/or residents vs (Optimised) usual care Nutritional status · Nursing home residents (mean age 78.3 to 86.0 years; more than 66% women; 62.1% to 87.3% with dental prostheses) Oral health educational interventions for nursing home staff and residents (2016) · Cochrane | OR 1.0 [0.3, 3.1] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Oral health education (advice and training) vs Standard care (oral health advice not specifically emphasised beyond usual care) Leaving the study early · People with serious mental illness (all included participants had schizophrenia); majority aged 18 to 65 years per… Oral health education (advice and training) for people with serious mental illness (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.67 [0.45, 6.24] | 1 study · 50 participants | Moderate |
Oral health education (advice and training) vs Standard care (oral health advice not specifically emphasised beyond usual care) Oral health: Not brushing teeth twice a day · People with serious mental illness (all included participants had schizophrenia); majority aged 18 to 65 years per… Oral health education (advice and training) for people with serious mental illness (2016) · Cochrane | No study reported useable data | 0 studies | No studies |
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs No special instructions (control) Patient‐reported pain intensity or pain relief (VAS, NRS or categorical scale) · Adults undergoing orthodontic treatment · 7 days Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | MD -6.50 [-17.64, 4.64] | 1 study · 24 participants | Ungraded |
Educational intervention with information and practical components (theoretical oral health education plus practical skills training) for nursing staff and/or residents vs (Optimised) usual care Incidence of respiratory diseases and pneumonia · Nursing home residents (mean age 78.3 to 86.0 years; more than 66% women; 62.1% to 87.3% with dental prostheses) Oral health educational interventions for nursing home staff and residents (2016) · Cochrane | None of the included studies assessed incidence of respiratory diseases or pneumonia. | 0 studies | No studies |
Motivational interview plus oral health education vs Oral health education Self regulation: Average score (Treatment Self Regulation Questionnaire, high score = good) · People with serious mental illness (all included participants had schizophrenia); majority aged 18 to 65 years per… · External Oral health education (advice and training) for people with serious mental illness (2016) · Cochrane | MD 0.2 [-0.93, 1.33] | 1 study · 56 participants | Ungraded |
Educational intervention with information and practical components (theoretical oral health education plus practical skills training) for nursing staff and/or residents vs (Optimised) usual care Oral health · Nursing home residents (mean age 78.3 to 86.0 years; more than 66% women; 62.1% to 87.3% with dental prostheses) Oral health educational interventions for nursing home staff and residents (2016) · Cochrane | SoF row 'Oral health': Illustrative risks -, relative effect -, participants/studies -, quality -; Comment: Outcome not reported. Not measured in any included study. | 0 studies | No studies |
Educational intervention with information and practical components (theoretical oral health education plus practical skills training) for nursing staff and/or residents vs (Optimised) usual care Oral health-related behaviour of residents · Nursing home residents Oral health educational interventions for nursing home staff and residents (2016) · Cochrane | One study (Bellomo 2005) assessed oral health-related behaviour of residents; 60 residents were interviewed about toothbrushing habits. Use of toothbrushes and the frequency of brushing during the study period were… | 1 study · 60 participants | Ungraded |
Motivational interview plus oral health education vs Oral health education Leaving the study early · People with serious mental illness (all included participants had schizophrenia); majority aged 18 to 65 years per… Oral health education (advice and training) for people with serious mental illness (2016) · Cochrane | RR 3.00 [0.33, 27.23] | 1 study · 60 participants | Moderate |
Motivational interview plus oral health education vs Oral health education Self regulation: Average score (Treatment Self Regulation Questionnaire, high score = good) · People with serious mental illness (all included participants had schizophrenia); majority aged 18 to 65 years per… · Autonomous Oral health education (advice and training) for people with serious mental illness (2016) · Cochrane | MD 0.7 [-0.43, 1.83] | 1 study · 56 participants | Ungraded |
Motivational interview plus oral health education vs Oral health education Self regulation: Average score (Treatment Self Regulation Questionnaire, high score = good) · People with serious mental illness (all included participants had schizophrenia); majority aged 18 to 65 years per… · Introjected Oral health education (advice and training) for people with serious mental illness (2016) · Cochrane | MD 1.1 [0.22, 1.98] | 1 study · 56 participants | Ungraded |
Educational intervention with information and practical components (theoretical oral health education plus practical skills training) for nursing staff and/or residents vs (Optimised) usual care Denture-induced stomatitis · Nursing home residents (mean age 78.3 to 86.0 years; more than 66% women; 62.1% to 87.3% with dental prostheses) · 6 to 18 months Oral health educational interventions for nursing home staff and residents (2016) · Cochrane | SoF: Denture-induced stomatitis (method of Budtz-Jorgensen; follow-up 6 to 18 months). No meta-analysis (data not comparable). 417 participants (2 RCTs); low quality. Comment: 2 studies at unclear (Frenkel 2001) or… | 2 studies · 417 participants | Low |
Oral health education (advice and training) vs Standard care (oral health advice not specifically emphasised beyond usual care) Oral health: Not having seen a dentist in the past year · People with serious mental illness (all included participants had schizophrenia); majority aged 18 to 65 years per… Oral health education (advice and training) for people with serious mental illness (2016) · Cochrane | No study reported useable data | 0 studies | No studies |
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs No special instructions (control) Patient‐reported pain intensity or pain relief (VAS, NRS or categorical scale) · Adults undergoing orthodontic treatment · 24 hours Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | MD -20.67 [-32.12, -9.22] | 1 study · 24 participants | Very low |
Motivational interview plus oral health education vs Oral health education Service use: Emergency medical/dental treatment · People with serious mental illness (all included participants had schizophrenia); majority aged 18 to 65 years per… Oral health education (advice and training) for people with serious mental illness (2016) · Cochrane | No study reported useable data | 0 studies | No studies |
Motivational interview plus oral health education vs Oral health education Oral health: Not brushing teeth twice a day · People with serious mental illness (all included participants had schizophrenia); majority aged 18 to 65 years per… Oral health education (advice and training) for people with serious mental illness (2016) · Cochrane | No study reported useable data | 0 studies | No studies |
Educational intervention with information and practical components (theoretical oral health education plus practical skills training) for nursing staff and/or residents vs (Optimised) usual care Dental plaque · Nursing home residents (mean age 78.3 to 86.0 years; more than 66% women; 62.1% to 87.3% with dental prostheses) · 3 to 60 months Oral health educational interventions for nursing home staff and residents (2016) · Cochrane | MD -0.04 [-0.26, 0.17] | 6 studies · 437 participants | Low |
Motivational interview plus oral health education vs Oral health education Oral health: Not having seen a dentist in the past year · People with serious mental illness (all included participants had schizophrenia); majority aged 18 to 65 years per… Oral health education (advice and training) for people with serious mental illness (2016) · Cochrane | No study reported useable data | 0 studies | No studies |
Psychological / counselling interventions (counselling, acupuncture, cognitive behavioural therapy, relaxation therapy, behaviour modification, electromyographic biofeedback, hypnosis, re-education) vs Another intervention, or no intervention Outcome NR · 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 evaluated ... psychological interventions.' No eligible RCT of psychological / counselling interventions (CBT, relaxation, behaviour modification, biofeedback, hypnosis, re-education, acupuncture). | 0 studies | No studies |
Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Bad breath (halitosis) · Dentate adults aged 16 years and older Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults (2013) · Cochrane | Not estimable. No included study assessed bad breath as an outcome. (See comment) | 0 studies | No studies |
Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing Interproximal caries · Dentate adults aged 16 years and older Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults (2013) · Cochrane | Not estimable. No included study assessed caries as an outcome. (See comment) | 0 studies | No studies |
Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing Plaque (plaque indices; standardised across indices) · Dentate adults aged 16 years and older · 1 month (4 to 6 weeks) Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults (2013) · Cochrane | SMD 0.10 [-0.13, 0.33] | 7 studies · 326 participants | Low |
Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing Bad breath (halitosis) · Dentate adults aged 16 years and older Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults (2013) · Cochrane | Not estimable. No included study assessed bad breath as an outcome. (See comment) | 0 studies | No studies |
Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Interproximal caries · Dentate adults aged 16 years and older Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults (2013) · Cochrane | Not estimable. No included study assessed caries as an outcome. (See comment) | 0 studies | No studies |
Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing Plaque (plaque indices; standardised across indices) · Dentate adults aged 16 years and older · 3 months (12 weeks) Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults (2013) · Cochrane | SMD -2.14 [-5.25, 0.97] | 2 studies · 107 participants | Very low |
Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Periodontitis (clinical attachment loss) · Dentate adults aged 16 years and older Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults (2013) · Cochrane | Not estimable. No included study assessed periodontitis as an outcome. (See comment) | 0 studies | No studies |
Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing Periodontitis (clinical attachment loss) · Dentate adults aged 16 years and older Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults (2013) · Cochrane | Not estimable. No included study assessed clinical attachment loss, a measure of progression of periodontitis. (See comment) | 0 studies | No studies |
Reassurance / behavioral management (control of contributory factors) 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 reassurance among interventions for TMJ OA; no eligible RCT evaluated it (Discussion). | 0 studies | No studies |
Flossing plus toothbrushing (self-performed; manual or automated floss) vs Toothbrushing alone (with or without a negative-control/placebo rinse) Plaque (Turesky-modified Quigley-Hein/other plaque indices; SMD) · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease) · 1 month (mean 29 days) Flossing for the management of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults (2011) · Cochrane | SMD -0.23 [-0.52, 0.06] | 5 studies · 416 participants | Very low |