What do systematic reviews say?

Radiotherapy (morning) vs Afternoon radiotherapy

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy 2010 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Bjarnason 2009: no statistically significant difference in quality of life scores (data not reported). Morning radiotherapy was associated with significantly less weight loss after 5 months.
  1 study · 216 participants
  GRADE not reported

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)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

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)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

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

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

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: chemotherapy 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Quality of life was a planned (protocol) outcome but no included trial provided usable quality-of-life data; the protocol was modified to report only survival/response outcomes.
  0 studies
  No studies found

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
  Only one study (Bonner 2006, 424 participants) comprehensively assessed quality of life using EORTC QLQ-C30 (v3.0) and QLQ-H&N35; no statistically significant difference between groups for global health status or any…
  1 study · 424 participants
  GRADE not reported

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) as an adjunct to conventional therapy vs conventional therapy

• Interventions for managing medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw 2022 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 months
  QoL measured with the Duke Health Profile; only within-group comparisons were provided; no score values, so a between-group analysis was not possible.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Low‐level laser therapy vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury 2014 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Results: 'No studies reported on quality of life ...'. Not reported by the included laser trials.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) applied after submucosal instrumentation (SI) vs Submucosal instrumentation (SI) alone, or SI plus placebo/sham aPDT

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for treating periodontal and peri‐implant diseases 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Only one study reported evidence for adjunctive aPDT in people with peri-implant disease (Al Rifaiy 2022). Data were only available for two outcomes (PPD and BOP), both reported only at three months. No studies…
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) applied after subgingival instrumentation (SI) vs Subgingival instrumentation (SI) alone (hand or power-driven, or both), or SI plus placebo/sham aPDT

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for treating periodontal and peri‐implant diseases 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No studies reported data for this outcome.
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) applied after subgingival instrumentation (SI) vs Subgingival instrumentation (SI) alone (hand or power-driven, or both), or SI plus placebo/sham aPDT

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for treating periodontal and peri‐implant diseases 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No studies reported data for this outcome.
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Oral cryotherapy (ice chips, ice-cold water, ice cubes or crushed ice held in the mouth during cancer treatment) vs no intervention or control intervention (control)

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: oral cryotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  High-dose melphalan-based treatment prior to HSCT (haematological cancers)
  Summary of findings 2 (melphalan/HSCT): Quality of life - '1 study assessed this outcome but the data are currently unavailable as the study report and analysis have not yet been completed' (Toro 2013; measured with…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported
• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: oral cryotherapy 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Fluorouracil (5FU) treatment for solid cancers
  Summary of findings for the main comparison (5FU solid cancers): Quality of life - 'No studies assessed this outcome'.
  0 studies
  No studies found

CBT vs alternative treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) 2022 · Cochrane All outcomes
  This outcome was not measured (not synthesised for this comparison; review-wide only one study reported quality of life).
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

CBT vs inactive control (usual care care, attention control, waitlist)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) 2022 · Cochrane All outcomes
  This outcome was not measured for this comparison.
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

In-office laser therapy (all types combined) vs Placebo (placebo laser or placebo agent) or no treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Laser therapy for dentinal hypersensitivity 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Outcome not measured in any of the included studies
  0 studies
  No studies found

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

• Interventions for treating bisphosphonate‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) 2016 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Baseline and 6 months
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 49 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 change in QoL.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Low‐level laser therapy vs placebo

It is very uncertain whether electromagnetic radiation (low-level laser therapy) changes change in quality of life (QoL) compared with placebo (very low certainty).

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

  short-term (up to 3 months)
  MD -5.24 [-7.38, -3.09]
  1 study · 58 participants
  Very low

Amifostine vs no treatment/placebo

Amifostine showed no clear difference in quality of life compared with no treatment/placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  End of RT; up to 3 months postRT
  MD 0.52 [-0.02, 1.06]
  1 study · 233 participants
  GRADE not reported

Antiseptic mouthrinse vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No quality of life data were reported.
  0 studies
  No studies found