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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. Every word you type has to appear somewhere in the question, and the closest matches are ranked first.

Limit to evidence status or GRADE (optional)

15,213 questions in 2,394 reviews

current versions
No studies 15,213 · 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.

QuestionEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Vibratory stimulation (vibratory adjuncts) vs No vibration or placebo vibration
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.NRNo studies
Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs Placebo or no treatment
Quality of life (validated scale) · 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 studiesNo 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 data0 studiesNo studies
Any experimental intervention (surgical or non-surgical) vs None (placebo or no treatment)
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 extracted0 studiesNo studies
Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs Placebo or no treatment
Economic evaluation: costs · 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 studiesNo studies
Surgical removal of the lesion (surgical excision, laser surgery, cryotherapy) vs Placebo or no treatment
Outcome NR · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia
Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane
'We did not identify any RCTs that compared surgical treatments with placebo or no treatment.' Three surgical RCTs were found (Chee 2013, Lopez-Jornet 2013, Schwarz 2005) but all excluded because they did not include a…NRNo studies
Perioperative infraorbital nerve block vs Infiltration of the incision (peri-incisional infiltration)
Time to feeding after surgery · 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
This outcome was not reported.0 studiesNo studies
Any experimental intervention (surgical or non-surgical) vs None (placebo or no treatment)
Mortality rate and cause of death · 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 extracted0 studiesNo studies
Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs Placebo or no treatment
Improvement of the overbite and overjet (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 studiesNo studies
Antidepressants (trazodone) 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
SoF1: No included studies reported change in taste.0 studiesNo studies
Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs Placebo or no treatment
Change of mandibular length (cephalometric data) · 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 studiesNo studies
Perioperative infraorbital nerve block vs Placebo (sham block)
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 studiesNo studies
Perioperative infraorbital nerve block vs Intravenous analgesia
Duration of postoperative analgesia · 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
This outcome was not reported.0 studiesNo studies
Preoperative analgesics (analgesics given before dental treatment) vs Placebo or no analgesics
Parental satisfaction · 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 parental satisfaction. PUB3: 'there was no reporting of participant or parent satisfaction in any included study.'0 studiesNo studies
Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs Placebo or no treatment
Educational outcomes: cognitive function (validated scale) · 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 studiesNo studies
Physical barriers (tongue protector) 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
SoF7: No included studies reported change in feeling of dryness.0 studiesNo studies
Electromagnetic radiation (low-level laser therapy) 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
SoF6: No included study reported change in feeling of dryness.0 studiesNo studies
Preoperative analgesics (analgesics given before dental treatment) vs Placebo or no analgesics
Patient satisfaction · 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 patient satisfaction. PUB3: 'there was no reporting of participant or parent satisfaction in any included study.'0 studiesNo studies
Zinc silicophosphate 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 silicophosphate cement.0 studiesNo studies
Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs Placebo or no treatment
Improvement on sagittal relationship between the maxilla and mandible (cephalometric data) · 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 studiesNo studies
Removal of predisposing habits (e.g. tobacco/alcohol cessation) vs Placebo or no treatment
Outcome NR · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia
Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane
'...nor did we identify any RCTs of risk factor cessation.' Removal of predisposing habits (e.g. smoking cessation) was a planned intervention; no eligible RCT found.NRNo studies
Adhesively bonded amalgam restorations in conventional preparations utilising deliberate retention (all bonding agents) vs Traditional non‐bonded amalgam restorations
Secondary caries, as diagnosed clinically · Adults and adolescents with permanent posterior molar and premolar teeth suitable for Class I and II, but excluding…
Adhesively bonded versus non‐bonded amalgam restorations for dental caries (2016) · Cochrane
Secondary caries, as diagnosed clinically - not measured | See comment | See comment | Not estimable | - | See comment | No study addressed this outcome0 studiesNo studies
Electromagnetic radiation (low-level laser 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
SoF6: No included study reported the occurrence of adverse events.0 studiesNo studies
Any experimental intervention (surgical or non-surgical) vs None (placebo or no treatment)
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 extracted0 studiesNo studies
Anticonvulsants (gabapentin) 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
SoF2: No included studies reported change in feeling of dryness.0 studiesNo studies
Dietary supplements (alpha lipoic acid) 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
SoF5: No included studies reported change in taste.0 studiesNo studies
Antidepressants (trazodone) 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
SoF1: No included studies reported change in feeling of dryness.0 studiesNo studies
Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) 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 extractedNRNo 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 quality of life · 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-related quality of life': Illustrative risks -, relative effect -, participants/studies -, quality -; Comment: Outcome not reported. Not measured in any included study.0 studiesNo studies
Fluoride mouthrinse (any fluoride agent, concentration, volume, frequency or technique; swished and expectorated, not swallowed) vs Placebo or no treatment
Proportion of children not remaining caries-free · 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
None of the trials reported data on the proportion of children not remaining caries-free.0 studiesNo studies
Electromagnetic radiation (low-level laser 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
SoF6: No included study reported change in taste.0 studiesNo studies
Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs Placebo or no treatment
Changes of the width between cuspids and first molars (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 studiesNo studies
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 data0 studiesNo studies
Single full-coverage metal-ceramic crown over composite core and post vs Direct adhesive composite restoration with post (conventional filling, no crown)
Costs for the use of different treatment interventions · People with a permanent tooth that has undergone endodontic (root canal) treatment
Single crowns versus conventional fillings for the restoration of root‐filled teeth (2015) · Cochrane
No data were reported nor measured by the study. The abstract confirms no evidence was available for any secondary outcome.NRNo studies
Initiation of water fluoridation (artificial or natural) vs Low/non-fluoridated water (0.4 ppm fluoride or less)
Dental caries in adults · Adults · Adults
Water fluoridation for the prevention of dental caries (2015) · Cochrane
No studies that aimed to determine the effectiveness of water fluoridation for preventing caries in adults met the review's inclusion criteria. There are no data to determine the effect of water fluoridation on caries…0 studiesNo studies
Chlorhexidine oral product (one formulation/concentration) vs Another chlorhexidine formulation, concentration or application frequency
Outcome NR · Children and adolescents below 18 years at study start (included studies: children from birth to 15 years), with…
Chlorhexidine treatment for the prevention of dental caries in children and adolescents (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Repositioning of ankylosed teeth after osteotomy followed or not by distraction osteogenesis, or after luxation vs Conventional orthodontic treatment or follow-up with no specific treatment for ankylosis
Outcome NR · Any patient with ankylosis and displacement of permanent front teeth diagnosed by clinical and radiographic…
Interventions for treating traumatised ankylosed permanent front teeth (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Parasympathomimetic drugs (choline esters, cholinesterase inhibitors) vs No treatment
Outcome NR · Patients with radiation-induced salivary gland dysfunction
Parasympathomimetic drugs for the treatment of salivary gland dysfunction due to radiotherapy (2015) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Preformed metal crown (fitted using the Hall Technique) vs Non-restorative caries treatment
Cost · Children with decayed primary molar teeth
Preformed crowns for decayed primary molar teeth (2015) · Cochrane
The studies did not measure this outcome.0 studiesNo studies
Preformed crown (any material; conventional technique or Hall Technique) vs Filling (any material; with or without complete carious tissue excavation; with or without pulp treatment)
Cost · Children with decayed primary molar teeth
Preformed crowns for decayed primary molar teeth (2015) · Cochrane
The studies did not measure this outcome.0 studiesNo studies
Oral cryotherapy (ice chips, ice-cold water, ice cubes or crushed ice held in the mouth during cancer treatment) vs Control (no treatment or standard/usual oral care, e.g. saline rinse)
Number of days of treatment with opioid analgesics · All patients with cancer who are receiving treatment · Fluorouracil (5FU) treatment for solid cancers
Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: oral cryotherapy (2015) · Cochrane
No studies in the 5FU subgroup assessed the number of days of treatment with opioid analgesics.0 studiesNo studies
Fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment incorporating surgically assisted orthodontics (adjunctive surgical procedure: corticotomy, micro-osteoperforation or interseptal bone reduction) to increase the rate of tooth movement vs Conventional treatment: fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment without surgical assistance
Duration of orthodontic treatment, number of visits during active treatment (scheduled and unscheduled) and duration of visits · Individuals of any age receiving orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances (braces) (people requiring orthodontic…
Surgical adjunctive procedures for accelerating orthodontic treatment (2015) · Cochrane
SoF row: Illustrative comparative risks '‐' / '‐'; no relative effect; Comments: 'Not reported'. Results: 'Our prespecified primary outcome (the duration of orthodontic treatment, number of visits during active…0 studiesNo studies
Preformed crown (any material; conventional technique or Hall Technique) vs Filling (any material; with or without complete carious tissue excavation; with or without pulp treatment)
Satisfaction with treatment · Children with decayed primary molar teeth
Preformed crowns for decayed primary molar teeth (2015) · Cochrane
Satisfaction with treatment: listed in the Summary of findings table with no data; the studies did not measure this outcome.0 studiesNo studies
Endodontic therapy (surgical or non-surgical) performed with the aid of one or more magnification devices (surgical microscope, endoscope or magnifying loupes) vs The same endodontic therapy performed without magnification devices (without visual enhancers)
Quality of root-end filling (retrograde/surgical treatment) · Patients of any age who received endodontic therapy and were followed up for at least 1 year after treatment
Magnification devices for endodontic therapy (2015) · Cochrane
No included study assessed this outcome; the review notes that such secondary outcomes were only sporadically reported and were never statistically assessed.NRNo studies
Pacifier withdrawal vs No treatment
Outcome NR · Children with a non-nutritive sucking habit (digit or pacifier)
Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children (2015) · Cochrane
There were no studies that looked at barrier techniques or pacifier withdrawal.0 studiesNo studies
Single full-coverage metal-ceramic crown over composite core and post vs Direct adhesive composite restoration with post (conventional filling, no crown)
Patient satisfaction and quality of life (any validated instrument) · People with a permanent tooth that has undergone endodontic (root canal) treatment
Single crowns versus conventional fillings for the restoration of root‐filled teeth (2015) · Cochrane
This outcome was not reported nor measured by the study. The abstract confirms no evidence was available for any secondary outcome.NRNo studies
Fluoridated milk vs Non-fluoridated milk
Adverse effects: dental fluorosis · General population, irrespective of age or level of risk for dental caries
Fluoridated milk for preventing dental caries (2015) · Cochrane
No evidence found. (Correspondence with the author (Maslak 2004) confirmed that no adverse effects were reported.)0 studiesNo studies
Endodontic therapy performed with one type of magnification device (surgical microscope, endoscope or magnifying loupes) vs Endodontic therapy performed with a different type of magnification device
Quality of root-end filling (retrograde/surgical treatment) · Patients of any age who received endodontic therapy and were followed up for at least 1 year after treatment
Magnification devices for endodontic therapy (2015) · Cochrane
No included study assessed this outcome; the review notes that such secondary outcomes were only sporadically reported and were never statistically assessed.NRNo studies
Cessation of water fluoridation (fluoride removed from the water supply) vs Continued fluoridated water
Change in proportion of caries-free children (deciduous or permanent teeth) · People of all ages in a previously fluoridated community (Maupome 2001: children with generally low caries experience)
Water fluoridation for the prevention of dental caries (2015) · Cochrane
No evidence to determine the effect of the cessation of water fluoridation on the proportion of caries-free children.0 studiesNo studies
Preformed crown (any material; conventional technique or Hall Technique) vs No treatment
Outcome NR · Children with decayed primary molar teeth
Preformed crowns for decayed primary molar teeth (2015) · Cochrane
Crown versus no treatment was a planned comparison (Comparison 2: crown versus no crown or filling). No study evaluated crown versus no treatment; the only study in this comparison (Santamaria 2014) used active…0 studiesNo studies