What do systematic reviews say?

Chemotherapy (any regimen; added to, or compared with, locoregional treatment) vs Locoregional treatment and/or an alternative chemotherapy regimen

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: chemotherapy 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Harms/toxicity were planned but very little quantitative data suitable for analysis were found; toxicity reported narratively and not quantified or GRADE-rated.
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Combined HBO and perioperative antibiotics prior to dental implant therapy vs antibiotics alone

• Interventions for preventing osteoradionecrosis of the jaws in adults receiving head and neck radiotherapy 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 year
  This comparison was only made in 1 study which reported no serious adverse events associated with HBO therapy. Quality of life measures (oral status, functioning, satisfaction) showed emotional functioning and pain…
  1 study · 26 participants
  Very low

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) following extractions vs penicillin G

• Interventions for preventing osteoradionecrosis of the jaws in adults receiving head and neck radiotherapy 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 months
  Adverse effects were an outcome of interest in the study conducting this comparison, however no mention was made of the presence or absence of any adverse events
  1 study · 74 participants
  Very low

Non-specific immunotherapy (recombinant interleukin-2 or BCG cell wall preparation) plus standard therapy vs Standard therapy alone (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy)

Non-specific immunotherapy (recombinant interleukin-2 or BCG cell… showed no clear difference in adverse effects compared with standard therapy alone; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  24 to 70 months · Moderate to severe chills (BCG-CWP, all grades)
  RR 11.00 [0.67, 179.29]
  1 study · 24 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  24 to 70 months · Nausea/vomiting (rIL-2, grades >=3)
  RR 3.40 [0.15, 77.34]
  1 study · 30 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  24 to 70 months · Stomatitis (rIL-2, all grades)
  RR 1.47 [0.75, 2.90]
  1 study · 30 participants
  GRADE not reported

EGFR monoclonal antibody (cetuximab or nimotuzumab) plus standard therapy (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy) vs Standard therapy alone (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy)

• Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  24 to 70 months · Mucositis (all grades)
  Mucositis all grades: not estimable due to high heterogeneity (P=0.0009; I2=86%) between subgroups (cetuximab; nimotuzumab) and within cetuximab (I2=93%); 1417 participants, 3 studies. Table 3, row 1.6 (Ang 2014;…
  3 studies · 1417 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  24 to 70 months · Skin toxicity/acneiform rash (cetuximab, all grades)
  RR 6.56 [5.35, 8.03]
  2 studies · 1311 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  24 to 70 months · Xerostomia (grades >=3)
  RR 1.36 [0.80, 2.31]
  2 studies · 1311 participants
  GRADE not reported

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (erlotinib, gefitinib or lapatinib) plus standard therapy (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy) vs Standard therapy alone (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy)

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (erlotinib, gefitinib or lapatinib) plus… led to higher adverse effects compared with standard therapy alone (radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  40 to 60 months · Skin toxicity (lapatinib, all grades)
  RR 2.02 [1.23, 3.32]
  1 study · 67 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  40 to 60 months · Gastrointestinal complaints (gefitinib, all grades)
  RR 1.04 [0.98, 1.11]
  1 study · 226 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  40 to 60 months · Gastrointestinal complaints (lapatinib, all grades)
  RR 15.53 [2.18, 110.55]
  1 study · 67 participants
  GRADE not reported

Psychological therapies (cognitive therapy) vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome 2016 · Cochrane All outcomes

  short-term (up to 3 months)
  SoF8: No included study reported the occurrence of adverse events.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Low‐level laser therapy vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome 2016 · Cochrane All outcomes

  short-term (up to 3 months)
  SoF6: No included study reported the occurrence of adverse events.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy plus standard care (surgery, antibiotics, oral rinse) vs Standard care alone (surgery, antibiotics, oral rinse)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for treating bisphosphonate‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) 2016 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

Systemic antibiotic prophylaxis (any regimen; topical therapy excluded) administered before and/or after tooth extraction vs placebo

It is very uncertain whether systemic antibiotic prophylaxis (any regimen; topical therapy… changes adverse effects compared with placebo (very low certainty).

• Antibiotics to prevent complications following tooth extractions 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1st to 7th day
  RR 1.46 [0.81, 2.64]
  8 studies · 1277 participants
  Very low

Antifibrinolytic therapy (tranexamic acid or epsilon aminocaproic acid) vs Placebo, no intervention or usual care (with or without placebo)

Antifibrinolytic therapy (tranexamic acid or epsilon aminocaproic… showed no clear difference in side effects or other adverse events compared with placebo, no intervention or usual care (with or without placebo) (low certainty).

• Antifibrinolytic therapy for preventing oral bleeding in patients with haemophilia or Von Willebrand disease… 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Up to 10 days postoperative
  RD 0.034 [-0.32, 0.38]
  2 studies · 59 participants
  Low

Occlusal adjustment as an adjunct to surgical periodontal therapy vs Surgical periodontal therapy alone (no occlusal adjustment)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Occlusal interventions for periodontitis in adults 2008 · Cochrane All outcomes

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

Occlusal adjustment as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal therapy vs Non-surgical periodontal therapy alone (no occlusal adjustment)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Occlusal interventions for periodontitis in adults 2008 · Cochrane All outcomes

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

Low‐level laser therapy vs Placebo (or no irradiation)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment 2016 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Adverse effects: Not measured.
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Antifibrinolytic therapy - locally-applied tranexamic acid (TXA) mouthwash/solution (SoF eligibility: TXA or EACA; all included trials used topical TXA) vs Placebo mouthwash

Antifibrinolytic therapy - locally-applied tranexamic acid (TXA)… showed no clear difference in side effects or other adverse events requiring withdrawal compared with placebo (placebo solution/mouthwash) (moderate certainty).

• Antifibrinolytic therapy for preventing oral bleeding in people on anticoagulants undergoing minor oral surgery or… 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes

  7 days
  RD 0.00 [-0.04, 0.04]
  2 studies · 128 participants
  Moderate

CBT vs No special instructions (control)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment 2016 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Adverse effects for CBT: Not measured.
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Fluoride gel (topically applied; operator- or self-applied; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs High-content fluoride toothpaste (1350 ppm)

• Interventions for preventing osteoradionecrosis of the jaws in adults receiving head and neck radiotherapy 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  14 to 36 months
  Adverse effects were an outcome of interest in the study conducting this comparison, however no mention was made of the presence or absence of any adverse events
  1 study · 220 participants
  Very low

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF; palifermin or repifermin), intravenous vs placebo

• Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No evidence of a difference in reported adverse events across the three trials (nausea, fever, constipation, diarrhoea, headache, fatigue and others)
  3 studies
  GRADE not reported

Amifostine (intravenous) vs Amifostine (subcutaneous)

• Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Increased hypotension with intravenous delivery (20% vs 8%; P = 0.007); skin rash (10% vs 22%; P = 0.012) and local pain at injection site (0% vs 8%; P = 0.001) worse with subcutaneous; inconclusive for…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Periodontal treatment (scaling and root planing, polishing, or surgery), alone or with oral hygiene counselling, antiseptics, or antimicrobials vs no treatment

• Treating periodontal disease for preventing adverse birth outcomes in pregnant women 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
  0% in both groups; Not estimated; 2389 participants (4 RCTs)
  4 studies · 2389 participants
  GRADE not reported