Gap finder
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.
1,344 questions in 217 reviews · Oral Health
current versionsNo studies 1,344 · 100%Ungraded 0 · 0%Very low 0 · 0%Low 0 · 0%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.
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Oral health education (advice and training) vs Standard care (oral health advice not specifically emphasised beyond usual care) 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 |
Perioperative infraorbital nerve block vs Infiltration of the incision (peri-incisional infiltration) Duration of hospitalisation · 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 | The included studies did not report this outcome. | 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 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 |
Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs Placebo or no treatment Signs and symptoms of atypical swallowing and speech production disturbance · Children with obstructive sleep apnoea (aged 15 years or younger) Oral appliances and functional orthopaedic appliances for obstructive sleep apnoea in children (2016) · Cochrane | The included study did not assess this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Perioperative infraorbital nerve block vs Intravenous analgesia Duration of hospitalisation · 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 | None of the included studies reported this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Monitoring (any means of observation, supervision, keeping under review, measuring or testing at intervals) vs No monitoring Quality of life: Chronic pain · 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 |
Low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) vs Placebo (or no irradiation) Adverse effects of pain treatment · Adolescents and adults undergoing orthodontic treatment Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | Adverse effects: Not measured. | NR | No studies |
Monitoring (any means of observation, supervision, keeping under review, measuring or testing at intervals) vs No monitoring 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 |
Zinc polycarboxylate cement vs Any other orthodontic band adhesive Outcome NR · Patients with full arch fixed orthodontic appliances with bands attached to molars (patients with cleft lip/palate or… Adhesives for fixed orthodontic bands (2016) · Cochrane | No trial was identified that examined the effectiveness of zinc polycarboxylate cement. | 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 · 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 |
Preoperative analgesics (analgesics given before dental treatment) vs Placebo or no analgesics Intraoperative pain · Children and adolescents aged up to 17 years having dental treatment (orthodontic treatment, fillings, pulp treatment,… Preoperative analgesics for additional pain relief in children and adolescents having dental treatment (2016) · Cochrane | None of the included studies measured intraoperative pain. PUB3: 'The [three/four] studies did not measure intraoperative pain, ... cost or completion of treatment.' | 0 studies | No studies |
Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs Placebo or no treatment Alteration of growth pattern (cephalometric data or facial analysis) · Children with obstructive sleep apnoea (aged 15 years or younger) Oral appliances and functional orthopaedic appliances for obstructive sleep apnoea in children (2016) · Cochrane | The included study did not assess this outcome. | 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 Adverse effects of the interventions · 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 adverse effects of the intervention. | 0 studies | No studies |
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 |
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs No special instructions (control) Adverse effects of pain treatment · Adults undergoing orthodontic treatment Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | Adverse effects for CBT: Not measured. | NR | No studies |
Any experimental intervention (surgical or non-surgical) vs None (placebo or no treatment) Improvement in nutritional intake · People of any age and either sex, in any setting, with BRONJ; bisphosphonate exposure past or current; includes people… Interventions for treating bisphosphonate‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Any experimental intervention (surgical or non-surgical) vs Active control (surgical or non-surgical) Healing of the osteonecrosis · People of any age and either sex, in any setting, with BRONJ; bisphosphonate exposure past or current; includes people… Interventions for treating bisphosphonate‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs Placebo or no treatment Change of the arch perimeter (plaster models) · Children with obstructive sleep apnoea (aged 15 years or younger) Oral appliances and functional orthopaedic appliances for obstructive sleep apnoea in children (2016) · Cochrane | The included study did not assess this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Monitoring (any means of observation, supervision, keeping under review, measuring or testing at intervals) vs No monitoring Dental state: No clinically important change in plaque index · 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 | See comment; Not estimable; 0 (0 studies); no study reported useable data | 0 studies | No studies |
Experimental chewing adjuncts (bite wafers or chewing gum) vs No chewing gum, placebo, or control (no adjunct) Adverse effects of pain treatment · Adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | Adverse effects: Not measured. | NR | No studies |
Anticonvulsants (gabapentin) vs Placebo Change in quality of life (QoL) · 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 | SoF2: No included studies reported change in QoL. | 0 studies | No studies |
Dietary supplements (alpha lipoic acid) 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 | SoF5: No included studies reported change in feeling of dryness. | 0 studies | No studies |
Preoperative analgesics (analgesics given before dental treatment) vs Placebo or no analgesics Cost · Children and adolescents aged up to 17 years having dental treatment (orthodontic treatment, fillings, pulp treatment,… Preoperative analgesics for additional pain relief in children and adolescents having dental treatment (2016) · Cochrane | None of the included studies reported cost. PUB3: 'The [three/four] studies did not measure ... cost or completion of treatment.' | 0 studies | No studies |
Brain wave music (BWM) vs No special instructions (control) Adverse effects of pain treatment · Adults undergoing orthodontic treatment Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | Adverse effects for BWM: Not measured. | NR | No studies |
Psychological therapies (cognitive 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 | SoF8: No included study reported change in taste. | 0 studies | No studies |
Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs Placebo or no treatment Signs and symptoms of respiratory disease: mouth breathing, nasal airway resistance (clinical assessment/rhinomanometry/fibroscopy) · Children with obstructive sleep apnoea (aged 15 years or younger) Oral appliances and functional orthopaedic appliances for obstructive sleep apnoea in children (2016) · Cochrane | The included study did not assess this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Motivational interview plus oral health education vs Oral health education 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 |
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 |
Acupuncture/acupressure vs Placebo or no intervention Patient‐reported pain intensity or pain relief (VAS, NRS or categorical scale) · People of any age undergoing any type of orthodontic treatment Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Any experimental intervention (surgical or non-surgical) vs None (placebo or no treatment) Adverse events · People of any age and either sex, in any setting, with BRONJ; bisphosphonate exposure past or current; includes people… Interventions for treating bisphosphonate‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Anticonvulsants (gabapentin) 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 | SoF2: No included studies reported change in taste. | 0 studies | No studies |
Psychological intervention: structured telephone call (verbal follow‐up and reassurance) vs Placebo or no intervention Patient‐reported pain intensity or pain relief (VAS, NRS or categorical scale) · People of any age undergoing any type of orthodontic treatment Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Ice/cryotherapy vs Placebo or no intervention Patient‐reported pain intensity or pain relief (VAS, NRS or categorical scale) · People of any age undergoing any type of orthodontic treatment Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Perioperative infraorbital nerve block vs Intravenous analgesia Heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure · 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 | The included studies did not report these outcomes. | 0 studies | No studies |
Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs Placebo or no treatment Reduction of upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) and body-weight/BMI development (polysomnography) · Children with obstructive sleep apnoea (aged 15 years or younger) Oral appliances and functional orthopaedic appliances for obstructive sleep apnoea in children (2016) · Cochrane | The included study did not assess this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Cholinergics (bethanechol) 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 | SoF4: No included studies reported change in feeling of dryness. | 0 studies | No studies |
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 |
Fluoride mouthrinse (any fluoride agent, concentration, volume, frequency or technique; swished and expectorated, not swallowed) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment in deciduous (primary) teeth/surfaces (d(e/m)fs; dmf index) · Children or adolescents aged 16 years or younger at the start of the study · At least 1 year/school year Fluoride mouthrinses for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents (2016) · Cochrane | We could not present estimates of the effect of fluoride mouthrinse on caries increment in deciduous teeth/tooth surfaces (dmf index) as no study contributed data. None of the included trials reported on caries… | 0 studies | No studies |
Cholinergics (bethanechol) vs Placebo Change in quality of life (QoL) · 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: No included studies reported change in QoL. | 0 studies | No studies |
Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs Placebo or no treatment Reduction of snoring (polysomnography) · Children with obstructive sleep apnoea (aged 15 years or younger) Oral appliances and functional orthopaedic appliances for obstructive sleep apnoea in children (2016) · Cochrane | The included study did not assess this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Oral health education (advice and training) vs Standard care (oral health advice not specifically emphasised beyond usual care) Economic: Increased costs of health care · 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 estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy plus standard care (surgery, antibiotics, oral rinse) vs Standard care alone (surgery, antibiotics, oral rinse) Adverse effects · People with BRONJ (mean age ~66 years; most treated with bisphosphonates for cancer (multiple myeloma, breast cancer)… Interventions for treating bisphosphonate‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Any experimental intervention (surgical or non-surgical) vs None (placebo or no treatment) Improvement of pre-existing accompanying symptoms other than pain · People of any age and either sex, in any setting, with BRONJ; bisphosphonate exposure past or current; includes people… Interventions for treating bisphosphonate‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Psychological therapies (cognitive therapy) 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) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | SoF8: No included study reported the occurrence of adverse events. | 0 studies | No studies |
Any experimental intervention (surgical or non-surgical) vs None (placebo or no treatment) Health economic measures · People of any age and either sex, in any setting, with BRONJ; bisphosphonate exposure past or current; includes people… Interventions for treating bisphosphonate‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Fluoride mouthrinse (any fluoride agent, concentration, volume, frequency or technique; swished and expectorated, not swallowed) vs Placebo or no treatment Signs of acute toxicity during application of treatment (such as nausea/gagging/vomiting) · Children or adolescents aged 16 years or younger at the start of the study · At least 1 year/school year Fluoride mouthrinses for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents (2016) · Cochrane | Signs of acute toxicity during application of treatment (such as nausea/gagging/vomiting): "Not reported in any studies"; "No data on signs of acute toxicity". None of the studies reported adverse acute symptoms… | 0 studies | No studies |
Any experimental intervention (surgical or non-surgical) vs None (placebo or no treatment) Quality of life · People of any age and either sex, in any setting, with BRONJ; bisphosphonate exposure past or current; includes people… Interventions for treating bisphosphonate‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
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 |
Bowman-Birk inhibitor vs Placebo or no treatment Oral cancer development · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | SoF 6 (Bowman-Birk inhibitor vs placebo), Cancer development: 'Not measured'. Effects text: 'Cancer development was not among the outcomes of the study testing the Bowman-Birk inhibitor (Armstrong 2013).' | 0 studies | No studies |
Preoperative analgesics (analgesics given before dental treatment) vs Placebo or no analgesics Completion of treatment (yes/no) · Children and adolescents aged up to 17 years having dental treatment (orthodontic treatment, fillings, pulp treatment,… Preoperative analgesics for additional pain relief in children and adolescents having dental treatment (2016) · Cochrane | None of the included studies measured completion of treatment. PUB3: 'The [three/four] studies did not measure intraoperative pain, preoperative and postoperative anxiety measures, patient satisfaction, parental… | 0 studies | No studies |