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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.
188 questions in 27 reviews · Oral and maxillofacial surgery
current versionsNo studies 188 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 extracted | 0 studies | No 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 studies | No 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 extracted | 0 studies | No 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 studies | No 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 studies | No 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 extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Any intervention for KCOT (e.g. enucleation), alone or combined with an adjunctive therapy (ostectomy, cryotherapy, or Carnoy's solution) vs A different intervention (e.g. enucleation versus marsupialisation), or the same surgical intervention without the adjunctive therapy Outcome NR · Adults over the age of 18 with a validated diagnosis of solitary keratocystic odontogenic tumours (KCOT) arising in… Interventions for the treatment of keratocystic odontogenic tumours (2015) · Cochrane | No randomised controlled trials that met the inclusion criteria were identified. In view of the fact that no studies were identified, no data were available for analysis. | 0 studies | No studies |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Somatosensory evoked potentials · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | Results: 'No studies reported on ... somatosensory evoked potentials ...'. Not reported by the included trials. | 0 studies | No studies |
An intervention delivered at one time point vs The same intervention delivered at a different time point Outcome NR · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… · < 3 months; ≤ 6 months; > 6 months Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | Discussion / Methods: no trials addressed optimal timing; the planned timing subgroup analyses (< 3 months, ≤ 6 months, > 6 months) could not be undertaken. | 0 studies | No studies |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Difficulty speaking · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | SoF row 'Difficulty speaking': This outcome was not reported in the included studies. | 0 studies | No studies |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Difficulty eating · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | SoF row 'Difficulty eating': This outcome was not reported in the included studies. | 0 studies | No studies |
Psychological / counselling interventions (counselling, acupuncture, cognitive behavioural therapy, relaxation therapy, behaviour modification, electromyographic biofeedback, hypnosis, re-education) vs Another intervention, or no intervention Outcome NR · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | Results: 'No studies evaluated ... psychological interventions.' No eligible RCT of psychological / counselling interventions (CBT, relaxation, behaviour modification, biofeedback, hypnosis, re-education, acupuncture). | 0 studies | No studies |
One active intervention (surgical, medical, or psychological) vs A different active intervention (direct head-to-head comparison) Outcome NR · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | Discussion: 'There is also a lack of trials directly comparing these methods ...'. No eligible RCT directly comparing different active interventions. | 0 studies | No studies |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Quality of life · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | Results: 'No studies reported on quality of life ...'. Not reported by the included laser trials. | 0 studies | No studies |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Adverse events · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | SoF row 'Adverse events': This outcome was not reported in the included studies. | 0 studies | No studies |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Pain · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | SoF row 'Pain': This outcome was not reported in the included studies. | 0 studies | No studies |
Medical interventions (systemic: analgesics, antidepressants, antiepileptics, steroids; topical: analgesics, anaesthetics) vs Another intervention, or no intervention Outcome NR · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | Results: 'No studies evaluated medical ... interventions.' No eligible RCT of medical interventions (analgesics, antidepressants, antiepileptics, steroids, topical anaesthetics). | 0 studies | No studies |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Taste · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | SoF row 'Taste': This outcome was not reported in the included studies. | 0 studies | No studies |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Patient satisfaction · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | Results: no included study reported quality of life or patient satisfaction. In PUB2 patient satisfaction is merged with quality of life as 'quality of life/patient satisfaction'. | 0 studies | No studies |
Pre-radiotherapy extraction of healthy molar teeth vs Conservative treatment (leaving the teeth in place during radiotherapy, with oral health education and disease prevention: oral hygiene, fluoride, diet advice) Overall survival · Patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer planned to undergo any type of radiotherapy (external beam, intensity… Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
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) Trismus preventing further restorative treatment · Patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer planned to undergo any type of radiotherapy (external beam, intensity… Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Pre-radiotherapy extraction of healthy molar teeth vs Conservative treatment (leaving the teeth in place during radiotherapy, with oral health education and disease prevention: oral hygiene, fluoride, diet advice) Trismus preventing further restorative treatment · Patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer planned to undergo any type of radiotherapy (external beam, intensity… Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
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) Development of post-radiotherapy dental complications (caries, fractured teeth, periapical infection, periodontal disease, osteoradionecrosis) · Patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer planned to undergo any type of radiotherapy (external beam, intensity… Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Open (surgical) reduction and fixation vs Closed (non-surgical) treatment Outcome NR · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | "There were no studies comparing different types of closed interventions with one another or comparing open and closed interventions." "We found no studies that compared surgical with non-surgical treatments." | 0 studies | No studies |
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) Delay in start of radiation treatment · Patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer planned to undergo any type of radiotherapy (external beam, intensity… Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Pre-radiotherapy dental extraction vs Post-radiotherapy dental extraction Outcome NR · Patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer planned to undergo any type of radiotherapy (external beam, intensity… Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Pre-radiotherapy extraction of healthy molar teeth vs Conservative treatment (leaving the teeth in place during radiotherapy, with oral health education and disease prevention: oral hygiene, fluoride, diet advice) Patients' quality of life · Patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer planned to undergo any type of radiotherapy (external beam, intensity… Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
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) Patients' quality of life · Patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer planned to undergo any type of radiotherapy (external beam, intensity… Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
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) Overall survival · Patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer planned to undergo any type of radiotherapy (external beam, intensity… Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Pre-radiotherapy extraction of healthy molar teeth vs Conservative treatment (leaving the teeth in place during radiotherapy, with oral health education and disease prevention: oral hygiene, fluoride, diet advice) Delay in start of radiation treatment · Patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer planned to undergo any type of radiotherapy (external beam, intensity… Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Pre-radiotherapy extraction of healthy molar teeth vs Conservative treatment (leaving the teeth in place during radiotherapy, with oral health education and disease prevention: oral hygiene, fluoride, diet advice) Development of post-radiotherapy dental complications (caries, fractured teeth, periapical infection, periodontal disease, osteoradionecrosis) · Patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer planned to undergo any type of radiotherapy (external beam, intensity… Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Extraction of the primary maxillary canine vs Untreated control (no treatment) Patient satisfaction and pain experience during extraction of the primary canine · Children with palatally displaced maxillary canines (at least 80% aged 10 to 13 years); trials with craniofacial… · At least 6 months follow-up after the intervention Extraction of primary (baby) teeth for unerupted palatally displaced permanent canine teeth in children (2012) · Cochrane | Neither trial reported the outcome of pain, or patient satisfaction. | 0 studies | No studies |
Laser therapy Outcome NR · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | The review noted the noticeable absence of evidence for laser therapy; no eligible RCT evaluated it (Discussion). | 0 studies | No studies |
Extraction of the primary maxillary canine vs Untreated control (no treatment) Incidence or prevalence of root resorption of the impacted canine and/or incisors and cyst formation · Children with palatally displaced maxillary canines (at least 80% aged 10 to 13 years); trials with craniofacial… · At least 6 months follow-up after the intervention Extraction of primary (baby) teeth for unerupted palatally displaced permanent canine teeth in children (2012) · Cochrane | Root resorption of the impacted canine and/or incisors and cyst formation was not reported by either included trial. | 0 studies | No studies |
Reassurance / behavioral management (control of contributory factors) Outcome NR · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | The review noted the noticeable absence of evidence for reassurance among interventions for TMJ OA; no eligible RCT evaluated it (Discussion). | 0 studies | No studies |
Arthrocentesis Outcome NR · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | No study evaluated arthrocentesis for TMJ OA, which should be explored in future trials (Research recommendations Table 1). | 0 studies | No studies |
Iontophoretically applied corticosteroids Outcome NR · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | The review noted the noticeable absence of evidence for iontophoretically applied corticosteroids; no eligible RCT evaluated it (Discussion). | 0 studies | No studies |
Physiotherapy modalities (physiotherapy, short-wave diathermy, ultrasound) Outcome NR · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | The review noted the noticeable absence of evidence for physiotherapy, short-wave diathermy and ultrasound; no eligible RCT evaluated these (Discussion). | 0 studies | No studies |
Open TMJ surgery (arthroplasty / total joint replacement) Outcome NR · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | No study evaluated open surgery for TMJ OA, which should be explored in future trials (Research recommendations Table 1; Discussion). | 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 |