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Evidence found and GRADE certainty

43 questions · 53 findings · 16 reviews · Oral Health

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No studies found 0 · 0%GRADE not reported 38 · 71.7%Very low 8 · 15.1%Low 6 · 11.3%Moderate 1 · 1.9%High 0 · 0%

Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs usual care or no treatment

Plaque · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis)
1 finding from 1 review

Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs attention control

Plaque · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis)
1 finding from 1 review

Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs Educational intervention (oral hygiene education/instruction)

Plaque · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis)
1 finding from 1 review

Theory-based oral health education/promotion interventions (HBM, TPB, SCT, HAPA, TTM, PMT, SOC, PRECEDE-PROCEED, MI) vs Control (waitlist, routine/standard oral health education, or minimal intervention)

Plaque index (PI) / oral hygiene · school‐age children and adolescents

Theory-based interventions significantly reduced dental plaque (SMD -1.92; moderate certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

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

Plaque · Children aged 4 to 12 years attending primary school

Primary school-based behavioural intervention (both oral hygiene and… showed no clear difference in plaque indices (permanent and deciduous teeth) compared with no intervention or delayed intervention (non-intervention control;… (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review
  • Primary school‐based behavioural interventions for preventing caries 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
    3 to 15 months
    SoF (Plaque indices, follow-up 3 to 15 months): 'All 3 RCTs showed a reduction in plaque in the intervention group compared to control group'; 827 participants (3 RCTs); GRADE low; comment 'Data not suitable for…
    3 studies · 827 participants
    Low

Primary school-based interventions (one or more of: school health policy, oral health education, healthy school environment, access to oral health services, community involvement) vs usual practice

Plaque index (PI) / oral hygiene · Primary school children (aged 3-16 years) attending primary school in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)

School-based interventions may reduce dental plaque scores (SMD -0.32, favouring intervention), but the certainty of evidence is very low.

1 finding from 1 review

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

Denture plaque · Residents of institutions for elderly people (nursing staff and residents took part in the education programme)
1 finding from 1 review

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

Plaque · Nursing home residents (mean age 78.3 to 86.0 years; more than 66% women; 62.1% to 87.3% with dental prostheses)

Educational intervention with information and practical components… showed no clear difference in dental plaque compared with (Optimised) usual care (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Gamified oral health interventions (mobile apps, serious games, augmented reality, game-based education) vs Conventional or traditional oral health education, or non-gamified interventions (comparator varied; several studies were single-arm/uncontrolled)

Plaque index (PI) / oral hygiene · Children or adolescents

Gamified interventions appear to improve plaque control and oral hygiene status in children versus conventional methods, but the evidence is narrative and ungraded (individual-study P values only).

1 finding from 1 review
  • The Application of Gamification in Children's Oral Health Management: Systematic Review. 2025 All outcomes
    Post-intervention (predominantly short-term; long-term follow-up in a minority of studies) · School-based settings, specialized dental clinics, and home-based environments
    In the gamified mobile health app group, plaque control was superior (P<.05) compared with the conventional method group [Zolfaghari 2021]; a gamified/reminder sticker-book group showed a significant improvement in…
    Studies not reported
    GRADE not reported

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

Denture plaque · Nursing home residents (mean age 78.3 to 86.0 years; more than 66% women; 62.1% to 87.3% with dental prostheses)

Educational intervention with information and practical components… showed no clear difference in denture plaque compared with (Optimised) usual care (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Salvadora persica (miswak) mouthrinse vs Chlorhexidine mouthrinse

Plaque · Medically healthy individuals (adults and children, 6-60 years)

When usual mechanical plaque control continued, Salvadora persica and chlorhexidine did not differ significantly for plaque; not GRADE-rated.

8 findings from 1 review
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Salvadora persica (miswak) mouthrinse vs Chlorhexidine 0.2% mouthrinse

Plaque · Medically healthy individuals (adults and children, 6-60 years)

Salvadora persica was less effective than 0.2% chlorhexidine at reducing plaque (favours chlorhexidine); not GRADE-rated.

1 finding from 1 review

Salvadora persica (miswak) mouthrinse vs Placebo rinse

Plaque · Medically healthy individuals (adults and children, 6-60 years)

Salvadora persica rinse reduced plaque more than placebo (favours Salvadora persica); certainty not GRADE-rated (Shekelle grade Ia).

1 finding from 1 review

Mechanical debridement plus topical minocycline vs Mechanical debridement plus chlorhexidine gel

Plaque · Adults with dental implants and peri-implant mucositis at baseline

Mechanical debridement plus topical minocycline showed no clear difference in plaque compared with mechanical debridement plus chlorhexidine gel; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Mechanical debridement with titanium curettes vs Ultrasonic debridement

Plaque · Adults with dental implants and peri-implant mucositis at baseline

Mechanical debridement with titanium curettes showed no clear difference in plaque compared with mechanical debridement with ultrasonic device; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Hyaluronic acid gel (brushing) vs Chlorhexidine, 0.2% to 2% (solution or gel)

Plaque · Adults with dental implants and healthy peri-implant soft tissues at baseline

Hyaluronic acid gel (brushing) showed no clear difference in plaque compared with chlorhexidine gel (brushing); GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Chlorhexidine solution enclosed in implant inner part vs Normal saline

Plaque · Adults with dental implants and healthy peri-implant soft tissues at baseline

Chlorhexidine solution enclosed in implant inner part showed no clear difference in plaque compared with physiologic (saline) solution; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review