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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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 2.5% to 5.25% vs Chlorhexidine, 0.2% to 2% (solution or gel) Change in periapical radiolucency (radiography or CBCT), up to 1 year after treatment · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or… Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Sodium hypochlorite 5% (also 2.5%) vs Sodium hypochlorite 1% Proportion of participants with moderate to severe pain up to 6 hours after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or… Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Sodium hypochlorite 1.3% with MTAD final rinse vs Sodium hypochlorite 1.3% with normal saline final rinse Change in periapical radiolucency (radiography or CBCT), up to 1 year after treatment · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or… Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Secondary alveolar bone grafting performed at one timing (e.g. early secondary grafting) vs Secondary alveolar bone grafting performed at a different / optimal timing (e.g. late secondary grafting) Outcome NR · Patients greater than 5 years of age with unilateral or bilateral cleft lip and/or palate involving the alveolar… Secondary bone grafting for alveolar cleft in children with cleft lip or cleft lip and palate (2011) · Cochrane | Furthermore, no RCTs were found to study the optimal timing ... with secondary bone grafting surgery. This systematic review has not been able to report all the objectives described in the protocol. | 0 studies | No studies |
Maternal advice and support (feeding techniques/breastfeeding positions) vs Usual care (no additional advice/support) Outcome NR · Infants up to 6 months (from term) born with cleft lip, cleft palate or cleft lip and palate (Pierre Robin sequence or… Feeding interventions for growth and development in infants with cleft lip, cleft palate or cleft lip and… (2011) · Cochrane | No trials were identified that examined the effect of additional maternal support or advice during breastfeeding (or bottle-feeding); no studies evaluated the effectiveness of this intervention (plain-language summary… | 0 studies | No studies |
Secondary alveolar bone grafting with a given sequence of orthodontic treatment (e.g. orthodontics before grafting) vs Secondary alveolar bone grafting with a different sequence of orthodontic treatment (e.g. orthodontics after grafting) Outcome NR · Patients greater than 5 years of age with unilateral or bilateral cleft lip and/or palate involving the alveolar… Secondary bone grafting for alveolar cleft in children with cleft lip or cleft lip and palate (2011) · Cochrane | No RCTs were found to study ... the sequence of orthodontic treatment with secondary bone grafting surgery. | 0 studies | No studies |
Fluoride supplements (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gums) vs Topical fluoride (fluoride rinse, varnish or toothpaste) Fluorosis (adverse effect; % of children with fluorotic teeth) · Children and adolescents (aged 16 years or less at baseline) Fluoride supplements (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gums) for preventing dental caries in children (2011) · Cochrane | Summary of findings 2 lists fluorosis (% of children with fluorotic teeth) as 'See comment / Not estimable / Not estimated'; no included study reported fluorosis for the fluoride supplements versus topical fluoride… | NR | No studies |
Flossing plus toothbrushing (self-performed; manual or automated floss) vs Toothbrushing alone (with or without a negative-control/placebo rinse) Economic and resource cost of flossing · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease) Flossing for the management of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults (2011) · Cochrane | Not reported. No included study measured the economic or resource cost of flossing; the review notes it may be important to measure in future trials. | 0 studies | No studies |
Flossing plus toothbrushing (self-performed; manual or automated floss) vs Toothbrushing alone (with or without a negative-control/placebo rinse) Interproximal caries · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease) Flossing for the management of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults (2011) · Cochrane | Not estimable (0 studies). See comment: No included study assessed caries as an outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Flossing plus toothbrushing (self-performed; manual or automated floss) vs Toothbrushing alone (with or without a negative-control/placebo rinse) Clinical attachment loss · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease) Flossing for the management of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults (2011) · Cochrane | Not estimable (0 studies). SoF comment reads (verbatim) 'No included study assessed calculus as an outcome' (apparent copy-paste typo in the clinical attachment loss row; no study assessed clinical attachment loss). | 0 studies | No studies |
Flossing plus toothbrushing (self-performed; manual or automated floss) vs Toothbrushing alone (with or without a negative-control/placebo rinse) Bad breath (halitosis) · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease) Flossing for the management of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults (2011) · Cochrane | Not reported. No included study measured halitosis; the review notes it may be important to measure in future trials. | 0 studies | No studies |
Flossing plus toothbrushing (self-performed; manual or automated floss) vs Toothbrushing alone (with or without a negative-control/placebo rinse) Calculus · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease) Flossing for the management of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults (2011) · Cochrane | Not estimable (0 studies). See comment: No included study assessed calculus as an outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Flossing plus toothbrushing (self-performed; manual or automated floss) vs Toothbrushing alone (with or without a negative-control/placebo rinse) Quality of life · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease) Flossing for the management of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults (2011) · Cochrane | Not estimable (0 studies). See comment: No included study assessed quality of life as an outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Any antifungal intervention for the treatment of oral candidiasis vs Placebo, no treatment, or another active antifungal intervention Days stay in hospital · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | None of the studies reported: relief of pain, relief of dysphagia, incidence of systemic infection, amount of analgesia, days stay in hospital, cost of oral care, patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Orthodontic treatment with appliances inducing stable, permanent orthodontic tooth movement (splints worn 8 to 12 weeks and surgical interventions excluded) vs Control: no treatment, placebo, or reassurance Patient quality of life · Adults aged 18 years or older with clinically diagnosed TMD (exhibiting two or more of the listed signs and/or symptoms) · At least 6 months after the intervention Orthodontics for treating temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders (2010) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Hypnosis vs Inhalation sedation with nitrous oxide and oxygen Completion of treatment (yes/no) · Children aged 10 to 16 years undergoing orthodontic extractions (Braithwaite 2005) Hypnosis for children undergoing dental treatment (2010) · Cochrane | Completion of treatment (yes/no) was a protocol-planned primary outcome but was not reported by the included study for this comparison (Braithwaite 2005); one participant in the sedation arm was withdrawn during… | NR | No studies |
Orthodontic treatment with appliances inducing stable, permanent orthodontic tooth movement (splints worn 8 to 12 weeks and surgical interventions excluded) vs Control: no treatment, placebo, or reassurance Adverse effects on oral health · Adults aged 18 years or older with clinically diagnosed TMD (exhibiting two or more of the listed signs and/or symptoms) · At least 6 months after the intervention Orthodontics for treating temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders (2010) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Any antifungal intervention for the treatment of oral candidiasis vs Placebo, no treatment, or another active antifungal intervention Cost of oral care · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | None of the studies reported: relief of pain, relief of dysphagia, incidence of systemic infection, amount of analgesia, days stay in hospital, cost of oral care, patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Intervention programmes - referral to specialist agencies for support in relation to domestic violence vs No intervention programme Severity of injury by self report · Adults (16 years of age and older) who present to any healthcare setting with dental or facial injury Domestic violence screening and intervention programmes for adults with dental or facial injury (2010) · Cochrane | No eligible randomised controlled trials were identified. The update search retrieved an additional 2129 references; after de-duplication this left 1381 potentially eligible studies, and after examination of titles and… | 0 studies | No studies |
Intervention programmes - referral to specialist agencies for support in relation to domestic violence vs No intervention programme Frequency of physical assault by self report · Adults (16 years of age and older) who present to any healthcare setting with dental or facial injury Domestic violence screening and intervention programmes for adults with dental or facial injury (2010) · Cochrane | No eligible randomised controlled trials were identified. The update search retrieved an additional 2129 references; after de-duplication this left 1381 potentially eligible studies, and after examination of titles and… | 0 studies | No studies |
Screening for domestic violence vs Different screening tool Proportion of victims of domestic violence detected by self report · Adults (16 years of age and older) who present to any healthcare setting with dental or facial injury Domestic violence screening and intervention programmes for adults with dental or facial injury (2010) · Cochrane | No eligible randomised controlled trials were identified. The update search retrieved an additional 2129 references; after de-duplication this left 1381 potentially eligible studies, and after examination of titles and… | 0 studies | No studies |
Hypnosis vs No hypnosis (no hypnotic intervention) Completion of treatment (yes/no) · Children and adolescents up to 16 years of age undergoing dental treatment Hypnosis for children undergoing dental treatment (2010) · Cochrane | Completion of treatment was a protocol-planned primary outcome but was not reported as an outcome by any of the three included studies; statistical analysis and meta-analysis were not possible due to the insufficient… | NR | No studies |
Any antifungal intervention for the treatment of oral candidiasis vs Placebo, no treatment, or another active antifungal intervention Amount of analgesia · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | None of the studies reported: relief of pain, relief of dysphagia, incidence of systemic infection, amount of analgesia, days stay in hospital, cost of oral care, patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Partially absorbed antifungal drug (e.g., clotrimazole, miconazole) vs Drug not absorbed from GI tract (e.g., nystatin, amphotericin B) Outcome NR · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | There were no trials comparing partially absorbed drugs with either absorbed drugs or drugs not absorbed. | 0 studies | No studies |
Any antifungal intervention for the treatment of oral candidiasis vs Placebo, no treatment, or another active antifungal intervention Incidence of systemic infection · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | None of the studies reported: relief of pain, relief of dysphagia, incidence of systemic infection, amount of analgesia, days stay in hospital, cost of oral care, patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Intervention programmes - referral to specialist agencies for support in relation to domestic violence vs Different intervention programme Frequency of physical assault by self report · Adults (16 years of age and older) who present to any healthcare setting with dental or facial injury Domestic violence screening and intervention programmes for adults with dental or facial injury (2010) · Cochrane | No eligible randomised controlled trials were identified. The update search retrieved an additional 2129 references; after de-duplication this left 1381 potentially eligible studies, and after examination of titles and… | 0 studies | No studies |
Intervention programmes - referral to specialist agencies for support in relation to domestic violence vs Different intervention programme Severity of injury by self report · Adults (16 years of age and older) who present to any healthcare setting with dental or facial injury Domestic violence screening and intervention programmes for adults with dental or facial injury (2010) · Cochrane | No eligible randomised controlled trials were identified. The update search retrieved an additional 2129 references; after de-duplication this left 1381 potentially eligible studies, and after examination of titles and… | 0 studies | No studies |
Orthodontic treatment with appliances inducing stable, permanent orthodontic tooth movement (splints worn 8 to 12 weeks and surgical interventions excluded) vs Control: no treatment, placebo, or reassurance Limitation of movement · Adults aged 18 years or older with clinically diagnosed TMD (exhibiting two or more of the listed signs and/or symptoms) · At least 6 months after the intervention Orthodontics for treating temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders (2010) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Ionic powered toothbrush vs Powered toothbrush with a different mode of action Outcome NR · People of any age with no reported disability affecting their ability to practise normal self-toothbrushing;… Different powered toothbrushes for plaque control and gingival health (2010) · Cochrane | Ionic: no included trials investigated this brush type (Table 3, 'Interventions used in included trials'). | NR | No studies |
Open reduction and fixation vs Closed (conservative) management (no active intervention other than soft diet, analgesics or antibiotics; or intermaxillary/maxillary-mandibular fixation with rigid or elastic traction) Outcome NR · Adults, over 18 years of age, with unilateral or bilateral fractures of the mandibular condyles Interventions for the treatment of fractures of the mandibular condyle (2010) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Screening for domestic violence vs No screening Proportion of victims of domestic violence detected by self report · Adults (16 years of age and older) who present to any healthcare setting with dental or facial injury Domestic violence screening and intervention programmes for adults with dental or facial injury (2010) · Cochrane | No eligible randomised controlled trials were identified. The update search retrieved an additional 2129 references; after de-duplication this left 1381 potentially eligible studies, and after examination of titles and… | 0 studies | No studies |
Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) vs Conventional or other radiotherapy Outcome NR · People with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (ICD-O C01-C06) or oropharynx (ICD-O C09-C10); head and… Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | Discussion: 'There are currently no trials of IMRT in this systematic review' (the PARSPORT trial was underway, expected 2013). No eligible trials of intensity modulated radiotherapy identified. | 0 studies | No studies |
Hypnosis vs No hypnosis (no hypnotic intervention) Difference in post-operative anxiety between test and control groups · Children and adolescents up to 16 years of age undergoing dental treatment Hypnosis for children undergoing dental treatment (2010) · Cochrane | Difference in post-operative anxiety was a protocol-planned outcome but was not measured or reported by any included study (no post-operative anxiety scale was reported). | NR | No studies |
Hypnosis combined with a sedative agent vs Sedation alone (sedative agent only) Outcome NR · Children and adolescents up to 16 years of age undergoing dental treatment Hypnosis for children undergoing dental treatment (2010) · Cochrane | No randomised or quasi-randomised trials comparing hypnosis combined with sedation versus sedation alone met the inclusion criteria; this planned comparison had no eligible studies. | 0 studies | No studies |
Any antifungal intervention for the treatment of oral candidiasis vs Placebo, no treatment, or another active antifungal intervention Relief of dysphagia · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | None of the studies reported: relief of pain, relief of dysphagia, incidence of systemic infection, amount of analgesia, days stay in hospital, cost of oral care, patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Partially absorbed antifungal drug (e.g., clotrimazole, miconazole) vs Absorbed antifungal drug (e.g., fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole) Outcome NR · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | There were no trials comparing partially absorbed drugs with either absorbed drugs or drugs not absorbed. | 0 studies | No studies |
Any antifungal intervention for the treatment of oral candidiasis vs Placebo, no treatment, or another active antifungal intervention Relief of pain · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | None of the studies reported: relief of pain, relief of dysphagia, incidence of systemic infection, amount of analgesia, days stay in hospital, cost of oral care, patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Any antifungal intervention for the treatment of oral candidiasis vs Placebo, no treatment, or another active antifungal intervention Patient quality of life · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | None of the studies reported: relief of pain, relief of dysphagia, incidence of systemic infection, amount of analgesia, days stay in hospital, cost of oral care, patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Altered fractionation radiotherapy plus chemotherapy vs Chemoradiotherapy with standard (conventional) fractionation Outcome NR · People with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (ICD-O C01-C06) or oropharynx (ICD-O C09-C10); head and… Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | Discussion: 'there are no completed trials of altered fractionation plus chemotherapy versus chemoradiotherapy with standard fractionation.' | 0 studies | No studies |
Orthodontic treatment with appliances inducing stable, permanent orthodontic tooth movement (splints worn 8 to 12 weeks and surgical interventions excluded) vs Control: no treatment, placebo, or reassurance Development of TMD (onset/incidence of signs and symptoms) · People without TMD at baseline undergoing orthodontic treatment (TMD clinically absent at baseline); no age… · Follow-up period extended into adulthood Orthodontics for treating temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders (2010) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Orthodontic treatment with appliances inducing stable, permanent orthodontic tooth movement (splints worn 8 to 12 weeks and surgical interventions excluded) vs Control: no treatment, placebo, or reassurance Overall symptoms, pain and headache (relief from symptoms assessed by global measures) · Adults aged 18 years or older with clinically diagnosed TMD (exhibiting two or more of the listed signs and/or symptoms) · At least 6 months after the intervention Orthodontics for treating temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders (2010) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Altered fractionation radiotherapy vs Chemoradiotherapy (concurrent, standard fractionation) Outcome NR · People with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (ICD-O C01-C06) or oropharynx (ICD-O C09-C10); head and… Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | Discussion: altered fractionation radiotherapy 'has not been directly compared to chemoradiotherapy'. No eligible head-to-head trials. | 0 studies | No studies |
Any denture cleansing method (mechanical or chemical) vs Another method, sham/placebo, or no treatment Costs · Adults (over 18) wearing complete dentures (CD) or removable partial dentures (RPD) Interventions for cleaning dentures in adults (2009) · Cochrane | Noticeable absence of reports about costs of materials associated with denture cleansing methods; no included study assessed costs (Discussion; Implications for research). | 0 studies | No studies |
Primary surgical intervention (curettage, peripheral osteotomy, or resection) vs Primary non-surgical intervention (intralesional corticosteroids, subcutaneous calcitonin, interferon alpha, or imatinib) Overall survival · Patients with a pathological diagnosis of central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) of the jaws Interventions for central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) of the jaws (2009) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Prophylactic aciclovir (oral or intravenous) vs Placebo Amount of analgesia · Patients being treated for cancer (predominantly haematological malignancies) Interventions for the prevention and treatment of herpes simplex virus in patients being treated for cancer (2009) · Cochrane | None of the prophylactic aciclovir versus placebo trials reported on amount of analgesia. For prevention or treatment, no trials reported on duration of hospital stay, amount of analgesia or patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Bioresorbable plates or screws (or both) vs Titanium plates or screws (used as lag screws) or both Quality of life (validated questionnaire) · Participants over 18 years of age with fractures of the facial skeleton including the mandible, maxilla, zygoma… · Up to 3 years postoperatively Resorbable versus titanium plates for facial fractures (2009) · Cochrane | Planned secondary outcome not assessed: none of the retrieved studies met the inclusion criteria, so no data were available for analysis. Verbatim (Effects of interventions): "Although 53 studies were retrieved in our… | 0 studies | No studies |
Aciclovir (oral or intravenous) for treatment vs Placebo Recurrence of lesions · Patients being treated for cancer with established oral HSV infection (bone marrow transplant recipients /… Interventions for the prevention and treatment of herpes simplex virus in patients being treated for cancer (2009) · Cochrane | For the treatment comparison (aciclovir versus placebo), no data were available for recurrence of lesions, amount of analgesia, days of stay in hospital, cost of oral care or patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Primary surgical intervention (curettage, peripheral osteotomy, or resection) vs Primary non-surgical intervention (intralesional corticosteroids, subcutaneous calcitonin, interferon alpha, or imatinib) Disease-free survival · Patients with a pathological diagnosis of central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) of the jaws Interventions for central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) of the jaws (2009) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Primary surgical intervention (curettage, peripheral osteotomy, or resection) vs Primary non-surgical intervention (intralesional corticosteroids, subcutaneous calcitonin, interferon alpha, or imatinib) Resectability · Patients with a pathological diagnosis of central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) of the jaws Interventions for central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) of the jaws (2009) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Primary surgical intervention (curettage, peripheral osteotomy, or resection) vs Primary non-surgical intervention (intralesional corticosteroids, subcutaneous calcitonin, interferon alpha, or imatinib) Quality of life · Patients with a pathological diagnosis of central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) of the jaws Interventions for central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) of the jaws (2009) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |