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Search review questions
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.
420 questions in 100 reviews · cluster CL0279
current versionsNo studies 131 · 31.2%Ungraded 222 · 52.9%Very low 47 · 11.2%Low 16 · 3.8%Moderate 4 · 1%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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) vs Placebo or no treatment Adverse events · Adults with cancer receiving treatment Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | Adverse events attributed to GM-CSF typically bone pain, nausea, fever and headache; not reported as serious; reporting poor and inconsistent (SoF comments cell, not GRADE-rated) | 8 studies | Ungraded |
Bonded molar tubes (attached with adhesive) vs Molar bands (cemented, e.g. with glass ionomer cement) Adverse events (illness, allergy, bad taste, mucosal trauma) · Participants with full arch fixed orthodontic appliance(s) with molar tubes bonded to first or second permanent… Adhesives for bonded molar tubes during fixed brace treatment (2017) · Cochrane | No other adverse events identified | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Chinese medicine vs No treatment/placebo Side effects · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · End of intervention; 1 month after RT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | Insufficient evidence of a difference for any side effects | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF; palifermin or repifermin), intravenous vs Placebo Adverse events · Adults with cancer receiving treatment Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | Adverse events attributed to KGF were typically oral-related or skin-related; mostly mild to moderate with very few serious events; reporting poor and inconsistent, not appropriate to meta-analyse (SoF comments cell,… | 16 studies | Ungraded |
Open surgical exposure vs Closed surgical exposure Complications or adverse effects · People with maxillary palatally displaced (impacted) canines, unilateral or bilateral (children/adolescents; mean ages… · Perioperative to alignment Open versus closed surgical exposure of canine teeth that are displaced in the roof of the mouth (2017) · Cochrane | SoF (Complications, no GRADE rating given): 'One surgical failure was due to detachment of the gold chain (closed group). One study reported two complications following surgery, both in the closed group: a… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Biperiden plus pilocarpine vs No treatment Side effects · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | No data were reported on side effects. | 0 studies | No studies |
NSAID (systemic) vs Paracetamol Adverse events · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies) Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment (2017) · Cochrane | In one study, one participant (<1%) in the paracetamol group experienced drug hypersensitivity (a 'red, blotchy and itchy rash') that resolved without treatment within 1 week (Bradley 2007 / McAlinden 2005); 1 RCT;… | 1 study | Very low |
Amifostine vs No treatment/placebo Adverse effects (other reported events) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | Alopecia, skin toxicity, hot flush, drowsiness, sneezing, hiccupping, dizziness and fatigue reported narratively or only for the amifostine group; insufficient evidence of a difference | NR | Ungraded |
Amifostine vs No treatment/placebo Allergic response (adverse effect) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 7.51 [1.40, 40.39] | 3 studies · 524 participants | Low |
Resorbable (bioresorbable) plates or screws for fixation vs Titanium plates or screws for fixation Re-operation and revision rate / plate removal (adverse effect) · Adults (>16 years old) undergoing orthognathic surgery · Up to 3 years postoperatively Resorbable versus titanium plates for orthognathic surgery (2017) · Cochrane | Plate removal rates were 1.53% (3/196) of the titanium plates and 3.63% (6/165) of the resorbable ones. Out of a total of nine, two in each group were removed because of plate exposure, one patient in the titanium and… | 1 study · 60 participants | Ungraded |
Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) vs Placebo or no treatment Adverse events · Adults with cancer receiving treatment Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | Limited evidence of adverse events for G-CSF; 2 of 6 studies did not report; low rates of mild to moderate events, most commonly bone pain (SoF comments cell, not GRADE-rated) | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Palifermin vs Placebo Adverse effects · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | No evidence of a difference in reported adverse events across the three trials (nausea, fever, constipation, diarrhoea, headache, fatigue and others) | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Amifostine (intravenous) vs Amifostine (subcutaneous) Adverse effects · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | Increased hypotension with intravenous delivery (20% vs 8%; P = 0.007); skin rash (10% vs 22%; P = 0.012) and local pain at injection site (0% vs 8%; P = 0.001) worse with subcutaneous; inconclusive for… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Amifostine vs No treatment/placebo Vomiting (adverse effect) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 4.90 [2.87, 8.38] | 5 studies · 601 participants | Low |
Amifostine 200 mg/m2 three times weekly vs Amifostine 200 mg/m2 five times weekly Allergic response (adverse effect) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.00 [0.15, 6.64] | 1 study · 60 participants | Ungraded |
Amifostine vs No treatment/placebo Asthenia (adverse effect) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 2.91 [0.31, 27.24] | 1 study · 130 participants | Ungraded |
Resorbable (bioresorbable) plates or screws for fixation vs Titanium plates or screws for fixation Wound dehiscence (adverse effect) · Adults (>16 years old) undergoing orthognathic surgery · Up to 3 years postoperatively Resorbable versus titanium plates for orthognathic surgery (2017) · Cochrane | Three patients (10%) in the titanium group and two patients (6.7%) in the resorbable group presented with wound dehiscence. One patient in each group with dehisced wounds became infected; all non-infected wounds closed… | 1 study · 60 participants | Ungraded |
Intestinal trefoil factor (ITF), oral spray vs Placebo Adverse events · Adults receiving chemotherapy alone for colorectal cancer Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | Adverse events narratively reported (not GRADE-rated) | 1 study | Ungraded |
Epidermal growth factor (EGF), oral spray vs Placebo Adverse events · Adults with cancer receiving treatment Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | Adverse events narratively reported; no serious events attributed to EGF (not GRADE-rated) | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Bethanechol vs Placebo Side effects · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | No statistical difference between groups in bethanechol-related toxicity; no patient experienced severe (grade 3) toxicity (Jaguar 2015) | 1 study | Ungraded |
Analgesic (any: NSAID, paracetamol, local anaesthetic or opioid) vs Control (placebo or no treatment) Adverse events · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies) Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment (2017) · Cochrane | No studies in this comparison reported any adverse events. SoF cell: 'Not reported'. | 0 studies | No studies |
Periodontal treatment (scaling and root planing, alone or with antimicrobials) vs Alternative (less intensive) periodontal treatment, alone or with placebo Adverse effects of therapy · Pregnant women considered to have periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) after dental examination Treating periodontal disease for preventing adverse birth outcomes in pregnant women (2017) · Cochrane | Adverse effects of therapy: Not reported for this comparison. | 0 studies | No studies |
Antimicrobial lozenge vs Placebo Nausea (adverse effect) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · Over 6 months Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.90 [1.10, 3.28] | 1 study · 131 participants | Ungraded |
Pilocarpine vs No treatment/placebo Adverse effects (other reported events) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | No evidence of a difference for any other adverse event (nausea, vomiting, chilling, headache, lacrimation, dysphasia, weakness, nervousness, rhinitis, blurred vision, urinary frequency, dizziness, palpitation, skin… | NR | Ungraded |
Amifostine 200 mg/m2 three times weekly vs Amifostine 200 mg/m2 five times weekly Nausea (adverse effect) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.64 [0.33, 1.25] | 1 study · 60 participants | Ungraded |
Venalot Depot (coumarin plus troxerutin) vs Placebo Side effects · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | No adverse events could be attributed to the experimental medication (Grotz 2001) | 1 study | Ungraded |
Selenium vs No intervention Side effects · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · 6 weeks after end of RT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | 23 serious adverse events in the selenium group versus 22 in the control group (P = 0.476); no significant differences in toxicities (Buntzel 2010) | 1 study | Ungraded |
Topical NSAID (ketoprofen chewing gum) vs Local anaesthetic (benzocaine chewing gum) Adverse events · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies) Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment (2017) · Cochrane | The study did not report this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Amifostine vs No treatment/placebo Nausea (adverse effect) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 2.60 [1.81, 3.74] | 4 studies · 556 participants | Low |
Bethanechol vs Artificial saliva Side effects · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | Low rates of adverse effects (watering eyes, nervousness, frequent urination, sweating, warm face, cramps, diarrhoea, nausea) with insufficient evidence of any differences (Jham 2007) | 1 study | Ungraded |
Antimicrobial lozenge vs Placebo Side effects (other: dryness in mouth, diarrhoea, constipation) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · Over 6 months Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | Insufficient evidence of a difference: dryness in mouth RR 1.18 (95% CI 0.97 to 1.42), diarrhoea RR 1.97 (95% CI 0.51 to 7.54), constipation RR 0.91 (95% CI 0.59 to 1.42) (Duncan 2005) | 1 study | Ungraded |
Amifostine 200 mg/m2 three times weekly vs Amifostine 200 mg/m2 five times weekly Vomiting (adverse effect) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.25 [0.06, 1.08] | 1 study · 60 participants | Ungraded |
Pilocarpine vs No treatment/placebo Sweating (adverse effect) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 2.98 [1.43, 6.22] | 5 studies · 389 participants | Low |
Resorbable (bioresorbable) plates or screws for fixation vs Titanium plates or screws for fixation Adverse effects (composite: plate exposure, wound infection, sinus tract, wound dehiscence, plate removal) · Adults (>16 years old) undergoing orthognathic surgery · Up to 24 months postoperatively Resorbable versus titanium plates for orthognathic surgery (2017) · Cochrane | SoF row. Adverse effects; 60 participants (1 RCT); Quality of the evidence (GRADE): VERY LOW. Exposure of the plate: both titanium and resorbable groups experienced 2 plate exposures which occurred between the third… | 1 study · 60 participants | Very low |
Resorbable (bioresorbable) plates or screws for fixation vs Titanium plates or screws for fixation Superficial and deep wound infection (adverse effect) · Adults (>16 years old) undergoing orthognathic surgery · Up to 3 years postoperatively Resorbable versus titanium plates for orthognathic surgery (2017) · Cochrane | The trialists did not differentiate between superficial and deep wound infection. Three (10%) of the patients in each group developed infections accounting for six plates: 3/196 (1.53%) in the titanium group and 3/165… | 1 study · 60 participants | Ungraded |
Zinc supplements (zinc sulphate, zinc gluconate, zinc picolinate, zinc acetate, or polaprezinc) vs Placebo Adverse events · Patients with taste disturbances (dysgeusia/hypogeusia; idiopathic, zinc-deficient, or secondary to chronic renal… · 12 to 18 weeks Interventions for managing taste disturbances (2017) · Cochrane | RR 5.20 [0.90, 30.19] | 3 studies · 335 participants | Very low |
Amifostine vs No treatment/placebo Hypotension (adverse effect) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 9.20 [2.84, 29.83] | 3 studies · 376 participants | Low |
Acupuncture vs Sham control (deactivated laser sham acupuncture) Adverse events · Patients with idiopathic dysgeusia and hypogeusia Interventions for managing taste disturbances (2017) · Cochrane | Results: The acupuncture trial (Brandt 2008) did not give any data on adverse events in either group. | 0 studies | No studies |
Ibuprofen taken pre-emptively (about 1 hour before treatment) vs Ibuprofen taken post-treatment Adverse events · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies) Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment (2017) · Cochrane | No studies in this comparison reported any adverse events. | 0 studies | No studies |
Antidepressants (trazodone 200 mg/day) vs Placebo Adverse effects: dizziness · 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 | RR 11.61 [1.66, 81.04] | 1 study · 37 participants | Very low |
NSAIDs (ketorolac oral rinse; systemic celecoxib) vs Placebo or no treatment Safety of the intervention (adverse effects) · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia · over 3 months Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | SoF 3, Safety of the intervention over 3 months: systemic celecoxib (1 study) - 32 intervention participants reported 56 adverse effects, 20 placebo participants reported 20; 4 grade 3 events; 2 discontinued. Ketorolac… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Post‐treatment communication (text messaging) vs No communication (no text message) Adverse effects of pain treatment · People undergoing orthodontic treatment Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | Adverse effects: Not measured. | NR | No studies |
Antidepressants (trazodone 200 mg/day) vs Placebo Adverse effects: tremor · 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 | RR 2.11 [0.21, 21.32] | 1 study · 37 participants | Very low |
Perioperative infraorbital nerve block vs Intravenous analgesia Adverse events · Children up to 13 years of age, undergoing cleft lip repair surgery Infraorbital nerve block for postoperative pain following cleft lip repair in children (2016) · Cochrane | 2 out of 3 studies reported this outcome. Both studies reported no difference between groups (Rajamani 2007 and Simion 2008: no adverse events attributable to either technique; Delgado 2005 did not report). | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Topical bleomycin vs Placebo or no treatment Safety of the intervention (adverse effects) · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia · up to 3 months Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | SoF 5, Safety of the intervention up to 3 months: 'All patients in the bleomycin group developed erythema with erosion by the end of the applications, whereas erythema developed in the placebo group. Discomfort was… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Topical treatments (benzydamine hydrochloride oral rinse) vs Placebo Adverse effects · 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), benzydamine hydrochloride Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | SoF9. Adverse effects: single study narratively reported that no adverse effects occurred from benzydamine hydrochloride oral rinse; 20 participants (1 RCT); very low. | 1 study · 20 participants | Very low |
Benzodiazepines (topical clonazepam) vs Placebo Adverse effects: drowsiness · 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), topical clonazepam Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | RR 2.71 [0.84, 8.74] | 2 studies · 114 participants | Very low |
Benzodiazepines (topical clonazepam) vs Placebo Adverse effects: dry mouth · 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), topical clonazepam Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | RR 3.00 [0.13, 70.16] | 1 study · 48 participants | Very low |
Monitoring (any means of observation, supervision, keeping under review, measuring or testing at intervals) vs No monitoring Adverse events: Clinically important specific adverse events · 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 |
Cholinergics (bethanechol 15 mg/day) vs Placebo Adverse effects (narrative) · 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 | SoF4. Adverse effects: single study narratively reported 4 participants (20%) in the bethanechol arm experienced adverse events (nausea, dizziness, blood pressure fall, cold perspiration or sporadic abdominal pain);… | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |