What do systematic reviews say?

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 educational interventions for nursing home staff and residents 2016 · Cochrane All outcomes
  One study (Bellomo 2005) assessed oral health-related behaviour of residents; 60 residents were interviewed about toothbrushing habits. Use of toothbrushes and the frequency of brushing during the study period were…
  1 study · 60 participants
  GRADE not reported

Oral health education/promotion (oral hygiene advice plus diet and feeding practice advice) combined with clinical treatment for mother's dentition (basic restorative and preventive; 1 trial included CHX varnish application) vs usual care

• Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood caries 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes
  One trial (Shenoy 2022) reported changes in child oral health behaviours (other data): some benefit in favour of the intervention.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Package of oral health education/promotion including oral hygiene advice for pregnant women, mothers, infants and young children, plus dietary and feeding practice advice for infants and young children vs usual care

• Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood caries 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Three trials (Muhoozi 2017; Pereira 2021; Yu 2021) reported changes in child oral health behaviours (other data): some benefit in favour of the intervention.
  3 studies
  GRADE not reported

Package of oral health education/promotion including oral hygiene advice for pregnant women, mothers, infants and young children, plus dietary and feeding practice advice for infants and young children vs usual care

• Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood caries 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Two trials (Batliner 2018; Plutzer 2008) provided information on changes in mother oral health behaviours (other data): some benefit in favour of the intervention.
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Oral midazolam vs A different sedative agent

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Any behavioural score - Oral midazolam versus (other sedatives): 654 (7); VERY LOW
  7 studies · 654 participants
  Very low

Oral hygiene training (toothbrushing routine) of people with ID vs No oral hygiene training of people with ID

• Oral hygiene interventions for people with intellectual disabilities 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Long term (>12 months)
  Behaviour, attitude and self-efficacy (steps achieved in a toothbrushing routine), 100 days to 19 months; 59 participants (4 NRS); Very Low. Results not in a format for meta-analysis: 3 NRS (56 participants) reported…
  4 studies · 59 participants
  Very low

Chloral hydrate/hydroxyzine vs A different sedative agent

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Any behavioural score - Chloral hydrate/hydroxyzine versus (other sedatives): 235 (6); VERY LOW
  6 studies · 235 participants
  Very low

Chloral hydrate/promethazine vs A different sedative agent

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Any behavioural score - Chloral hydrate/promethazine versus (other sedatives): 24 (1); VERY LOW
  1 study · 24 participants
  Very low

Chloral hydrate vs placebo or no intervention

It is very uncertain whether chloral hydrate changes good or better behaviour compared with placebo (including no intervention) (very low certainty).

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 1.33 [0.80, 2.22]
  1 study · 60 participants
  Very low

Oral diazepam vs placebo or no intervention

It is very uncertain whether oral diazepam changes behaviour (Houpt/behavioural score) compared with placebo (including no intervention) (very low certainty).

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  SMD 0.62 [-0.28, 1.53]
  1 study · 20 participants
  Very low

Oral hygiene care training of carers vs No training (or a placebo training session) of carers

It is very uncertain whether oral hygiene care training of carers changes behaviour, attitude and self-efficacy of carers (medium term) compared with no training (or a placebo training session) of carers (very low certainty).

• Oral hygiene interventions for people with intellectual disabilities 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Medium term (6 weeks to 12 months)
  MD 0.15 [-0.80, 1.10]
  2 studies · 189 participants
  Very low

Oral midazolam vs placebo or no intervention

Oral midazolam probably leads to higher behaviour (Houpt/behavioural score) compared with placebo (including no intervention) (moderate certainty).

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  SMD 1.96 [1.59, 2.33]
  6 studies · 202 participants
  Moderate

Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 24-month recall

Clinical examination with risk-based recall showed no clear difference in oral health behaviour (1-9 scale) compared with clinical examination with 24-month recall; GRADE not reported.

• Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 years
  MD 0.01 [-0.02, 0.04]
  1 study · 304 participants
  GRADE not reported

Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall

Clinical examination with risk-based recall showed no clear difference in oral health behaviour (1-9 scale) compared with clinical examination with 6-month recall; GRADE not reported.

• Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 years
  MD 0.00 [-0.01, 0.01]
  1 study · 1608 participants
  GRADE not reported

Clinical examination with 24-month recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall

Clinical examination with 24-month recall showed no clear difference in oral health behaviour (1-9 scale) compared with clinical examination with 6-month recall; GRADE not reported.

• Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 years
  MD 0.00 [-0.03, 0.03]
  1 study · 308 participants
  GRADE not reported

Educational intervention with information only (theoretical dental health education, no practical training) vs usual care

• Oral health educational interventions for nursing home staff and residents 2016 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Schou 1989 (114 residents, unclear risk of bias): the number of residents reporting correct denture cleaning habits increased, but not significantly compared to baseline (baseline N = 28; follow-up N = 38).
  1 study · 114 participants
  GRADE not reported

Dietary advice on how to achieve a healthy diet for infants (tailored advice focused on a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol intake) vs usual care

• Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood caries 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Data on oral health behaviours from Lapinleimu 1995 (other data) showed no evidence of a difference between groups.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Advice about a healthy diet (including breastfeeding promotion and sugar avoidance) and feeding practices (e.g. relating to bottle-feeding and sleep) for infants and young children vs usual care

• Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood caries 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Two trials (Feldens 2007; Watt 2009) reported infant/child oral health behaviours; not suitable for meta-analysis. Both observed some evidence of benefit favouring the intervention.
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Dietary advice on how to achieve a healthy diet for infants (tailored advice focused on a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol intake) vs usual care

• Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood caries 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Data from Lapinleimu 1995 on mother oral health behaviour (other data) showed some evidence of benefit in favour of the intervention.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Primary school-based behavioural intervention (both oral hygiene and dietary components) vs No treatment (or delayed treatment)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Primary school‐based behavioural interventions for preventing caries 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No other behavioural outcomes (e.g. objective toothbrush tracking or food-wrapper collection) were measured by the four included studies.
  0 studies
  No studies found