What do systematic reviews say?

Antioxidants (lycopene, curcumin, Oxitard) vs Placebo or no active treatment

• Interventions for managing oral submucous fibrosis 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Adverse effects (any): 0 in placebo vs 2 minor (flatulence and bloating); 90 (1); no GRADE rating given.
  1 study · 90 participants
  GRADE not reported

Vasodilator vs Placebo or no active treatment

• Interventions for managing oral submucous fibrosis 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Adverse effects (any): 0 placebo vs 14 minor (transient flushing and upper trunk warmness); 85 (2); no GRADE rating.
  2 studies · 85 participants
  GRADE not reported

Postoperative systemic antibiotics (phenoxymethylpenicillin/penicillin VK, 7-day course), partial or total chemo-mechanical debridement and analgesics vs Matched placebo, partial or total chemo-mechanical debridement and analgesics

• Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 days
  1 participant reported diarrhoea (placebo group); 1 participant reported fatigue and reduced energy postoperatively (antibiotic group). 61 participants (2 studies).
  2 studies · 61 participants
  Very low

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs placebo or no treatment

• Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes

  12 to 30 months · Adults
  1 study reported no adverse effects. 1 study reported a white discolouration of the gingiva adjacent to surfaces treated with SDF (116 surfaces) as well as redness (4 surfaces), and mild ulceration (2 surfaces). In…
  2 studies · 316 participants
  Very low
• Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes

  48 hours to 30 months · Children
  1 study reported 3 adverse effects in the first 48 hours. Of these, 1 effect in SDF group was possibly related to treatment (spot on corner of lip that looked like a burn), and 2 effects in placebo group were possibly…
  3 studies · 983 participants
  Very low

Intralesional dexamethasone injections vs placebo injection

• Interventions for managing oral submucous fibrosis 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Adverse effects (any): no adverse effects reported; 25 (1); no GRADE rating.
  1 study · 25 participants
  GRADE not reported

Single preoperative dose of systemic antibiotics (clindamycin 600 mg), total chemo-mechanical debridement and root filling vs Matched placebo, total chemo-mechanical debridement and root filling

• Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes

  7 days
  No adverse effects reported in the placebo group; 1 participant reported dizziness in the intervention group. 72 participants (1 study).
  1 study · 72 participants
  Low

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

Chlorhexidine (mouthrinse or gel), as part of oral hygiene care vs placebo or usual care

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Adverse effects: information from 2 studies; one stated there were none, the other reported mild reversible irritation of the oral mucosa; very low certainty. There was a lack of evidence about adverse effects.
  2 studies
  Very low

Dexamethasone + nystatin + curcumin (adjunctive) vs Dexamethasone + nystatin + placebo

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Amirchaghmaghi 2016: no adverse effects recorded in either group (low-certainty)
  1 study
  Low

Topical corticosteroids vs placebo

It is very uncertain whether topical corticosteroid changes adverse effects compared with placebo (very low certainty).

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3-9 weeks
  RR 1.48 [0.48, 4.56]
  3 studies · 88 participants
  Very low

Povidone iodine rinse vs Saline rinse or placebo

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Adverse effects (Seguin 2014): no evidence of a difference in acute respiratory distress syndrome (RR 11.00, 95% CI 0.62 to 195.61), agitation and/or hypertension (RR 0.48, 95% CI 0.12 to 1.86), epistaxis (RR 0.14, 95%…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Patient-used 250 ppm F mouthrinse (100 ppm amine F/150 ppm NaF), daily vs 0 ppm F placebo mouthrinse, daily

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Fluorides for preventing early tooth decay (demineralised lesions) during fixed brace treatment 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  At debond (end of orthodontic treatment)
  SoF 4. Adverse effects: none of the trials reported this outcome.
  0 studies
  No studies found

12,500 ppm F (NaF/olaflur/dectaflur) amine fluoride gel vs Placebo gel

• Fluorides for preventing early tooth decay (demineralised lesions) during fixed brace treatment 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  At debond; mean follow-up 16.6 months
  Additional SoF Table 1. Adverse effects: with placebo gel 0.60%; with fluoride gel 0.00% (0 to 0); difference 0.60% fewer (0.60 fewer to 0.60 fewer); relative effect not estimable; 312 participants (1 RCT); certainty…
  1 study · 312 participants
  Very low

Professionally-applied 12,300 ppm F APF foam, every 2 months vs 0 ppm F placebo foam

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Fluorides for preventing early tooth decay (demineralised lesions) during fixed brace treatment 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  At debond (end of orthodontic treatment)
  SoF 2. Adverse effects: none of the trials reported this outcome.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Fluoride varnish vs Non-fluoride (placebo) varnish

• Fluorides for preventing early tooth decay (demineralised lesions) during fixed brace treatment 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  At debond; follow-up 1.7 years
  SoF 1. Adverse effects: no evidence that the intervention had adverse effects; only 1 participant with an adverse event and unclear if directly related to the intervention. 148 participants (1 RCT, Sonesson 2019);…
  1 study · 148 participants
  Low

HP gel in tray vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Home‐based chemically‐induced whitening (bleaching) of teeth in adults 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Not reported
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

HP mouthwash vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Home‐based chemically‐induced whitening (bleaching) of teeth in adults 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Not reported
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

CP paint-on gel vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Home‐based chemically‐induced whitening (bleaching) of teeth in adults 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Not reported
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

CP gel in tray vs placebo

• Home‐based chemically‐induced whitening (bleaching) of teeth in adults 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Main adverse events reported in majority of trials were mild and transient tooth sensitivity and oral irritation which occurred more in the intervention group compared to placebo
  3 studies
  GRADE not reported

SHMP chewing gum vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Home‐based chemically‐induced whitening (bleaching) of teeth in adults 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Not reported
  Studies not reported
  No studies found