What do systematic reviews say?

Capitation remuneration vs Fee-for-service remuneration

Capitation remuneration showed no clear difference in unintended effects: self-reported temptation to under-prescribe (0-… compared with fee-for-service remuneration; GRADE not reported.

• The effect of different methods of remuneration on the behaviour of primary care dentists 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 years
  MD 20.6
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

2 mm titanium plates vs 2.5 mm bioresorbable plates

• Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 month
  Chronic infection per site 1/32 (3.1%) titanium vs 0/25 resorbable (RD -3.1%); higher in the titanium group. No risk ratio estimable.
  1 study · 57 participants
  GRADE not reported

Capitation remuneration vs Fee-for-service remuneration

Capitation remuneration may leads to higher measures of clinical activity: mean percentage of 0- to 15-year-olds… compared with fee-for-service remuneration (low certainty).

• The effect of different methods of remuneration on the behaviour of primary care dentists 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 years · Northern urban community
  RR 2.42
  1 study · 2250 participants
  Low
• The effect of different methods of remuneration on the behaviour of primary care dentists 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 years · Rural community
  RR 0.85
  1 study · 2250 participants
  Low
• The effect of different methods of remuneration on the behaviour of primary care dentists 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 years · Scottish community
  RR 1.32
  1 study · 2250 participants
  Low

Acupuncture vs sham

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

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  12 months (1 year follow-up)
  MD 0.06 [0.01, 0.11]
  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 0.02 [0, 0.04]
  3 studies · 71 participants
  Low

Combined paracetamol plus ibuprofen in a single tablet (e.g. paracetamol 1000 mg/ibuprofen 400 mg or 500/200 mg) vs Single drugs given separately (paracetamol 1000 mg or ibuprofen 400 mg)

Combined paracetamol plus ibuprofen in a single tablet (e.g.… probably leads to higher proportion of patients with >50% maximum pain relief (TOTPAR) over 6… compared with single drugs given separately (paracetamol 1000 mg or ibuprofen 400… (moderate certainty).

• Ibuprofen and/or paracetamol (acetaminophen) for pain relief after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 hours postdosing · Paracetamol 1000 mg/ibuprofen 400 mg vs paracetamol 1000 mg or ibuprofen 400 mg
  RR 1.77 [1.32, 2.39]
  1 study · 170 participants
  Moderate

Orthodontic distalising appliance (intraoral or extraoral) vs no intervention

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Orthodontic treatment for distalising upper first molars in children and adolescents 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Number of attendances required to complete treatment was not reported in the studies of this comparison (not reported by any included study across the review).
  0 studies
  No studies found

Two miniplates (transbuccal approach) vs One miniplate plus two screws (intraoral approach at external oblique ridge)

Two miniplates (transbuccal approach) showed no clear difference in post-operative infection compared with one miniplate plus two screws (intraoral approach at external…; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Angle of mandible only
  RR 1.32 [0.41, 4.22]
  2 studies · 93 participants
  GRADE not reported

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

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

• 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

Ibuprofen (single postoperative oral dose; 200 mg to 512 mg) vs paracetamol

Ibuprofen (single postoperative oral dose; 200 mg to 512 mg) leads to higher proportion of patients with >50% maximum pain relief (TOTPAR) over 2… compared with paracetamol (acetaminophen) (single postoperative oral dose; 600 mg… (high certainty).

• Ibuprofen and/or paracetamol (acetaminophen) for pain relief after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  2 hours postdosing · Ibuprofen 400 mg vs paracetamol 1000 mg
  RR 1.30 [1.09, 1.55]
  5 studies · 645 participants
  High

2 mm titanium plates vs 2.5 mm bioresorbable plates

2 mm titanium plates showed no clear difference in wound dehiscence compared with 2.5 mm bioresorbable plates; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  First few weeks (immediate)
  RR 2.13 [0.56, 8.08]
  1 study · 57 participants
  GRADE not reported

2 mm titanium plates vs 2.5 mm bioresorbable plates

2 mm titanium plates showed no clear difference in restoration of function (inability to chew hard food) compared with 2.5 mm bioresorbable plates; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 month
  RR 1.0 [0.23, 4.27]
  1 study · 34 participants
  GRADE not reported

Fee‐for‐service (FFS) vs no intervention or control intervention (control)

It is very uncertain whether fee-for-service remuneration changes measures of clinical activity: mean percentage of 12- to… compared with no specific intervention (control) (very low certainty).

• The effect of different methods of remuneration on the behaviour of primary care dentists 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  18 months
  RD 7.1 [-1.9, 16.1]
  1 study · 133 participants
  Very low

Transbond Plus self etching primer (3M Unitek) vs Clearfil Protect Bond self etching primer (Kuraray Medical)

• Enamel etching for bonding fixed orthodontic braces 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Decalcification outcomes in Paschos 2009 were reported at tooth level rather than at participant level; the evidence was insufficient to conclude whether or not there is a difference in decalcification between the…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

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

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

• 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

Pre-radiotherapy extraction of diseased molar teeth vs Conservative treatment (restoration of the teeth and leaving them in place during radiotherapy, with oral health education and disease prevention: oral hygiene, fluoride, diet advice)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

Acupuncture vs sham

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

• 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

Transbuccal miniplate combined with intraoral approach vs Intraoral approach alone

Transbuccal miniplate combined with intraoral approach showed no clear difference in post-operative infection (persistent) compared with intraoral approach alone; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 months · Angle of mandible only
  RR 0.47 [0.20, 1.09]
  1 study · 138 participants
  GRADE not reported

Early loading vs Conventional loading

Early loading showed no clear difference in implant failure compared with conventional loading; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for replacing missing teeth: different times for loading dental implants 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 year
  RR 1.55 [0.46, 5.18]
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intraoral distalising appliance vs Another (different) intraoral distalising appliance

• Orthodontic treatment for distalising upper first molars in children and adolescents 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Duration of treatment reported by 2 studies (Altug-Atac 2008, Karacay 2006); not GRADE-rated and not in a SoF table. 3D bimetric distalising arch 3.4 months vs modified Begg intraoral distalising system 6.5 months (MD…
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

One prophylactic antibiotic vs A different prophylactic antibiotic

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for replacing missing teeth: antibiotics at dental implant placement to prevent complications 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  At least 3 months (planned)
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found