What do systematic reviews say?

Older age vs Younger adults (population mean age <=33.4 years)

The abstract reports older age is associated with worse OHRQoL, but the body notes the evidence on age is limited and conflicting (narrative synthesis; no pooled estimate or GRADE rating).

• Oral-health-related quality of life in adolescents: umbrella review. 2023 All outcomes

  Community/school/clinic settings; adolescents 10-19 years; included reviews conducted in multiple countries
  Worse oral health status, older age, female sex and worse socioeconomic status were significantly associated with worse OHRQoL. [Body: the influence of religion and age on OHRQoL is unknown; Biological data such as…
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported
• Oral-health-related quality of life in adolescents: umbrella review. 2023 All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Younger children's age (3-5 years) vs Older children (>5 years)

Children aged 3 years had higher odds of poor OHRQoL than older children (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.42-2.57; 2 studies; ungraded).

• The Association of Oral Health Status, demographic characteristics and socioeconomic determinants with Oral… 2020 All outcomes

  Upper-middle-income countries (Brazil); studies 2011-2012 · Age 3 years
  OR 2.00 [1.42, 2.57]
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported
• The Association of Oral Health Status, demographic characteristics and socioeconomic determinants with Oral… 2020 All outcomes

  Upper-middle-income countries (Brazil); studies 2011-2012 · Age 4 years
  OR 2.13 [1.50, 2.76]
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Flossing plus toothbrushing (self-performed; manual or automated floss) vs Toothbrushing alone

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Flossing for the management of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Not estimable (0 studies). See comment: No included study assessed quality of life as an outcome.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Not estimable. No included study assessed quality of life as an outcome. (See comment)
  0 studies
  No studies found

Visual screening (oral visual inspection) by trained health workers vs No screening

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  15-year follow-up
  Data on quality of life were not reported.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Not estimable. No included study assessed quality of life as an outcome. (See comment)
  0 studies
  No studies found

Occlusal adjustment (OA) vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Occlusal adjustment for treating and preventing temporomandibular joint disorders 2003 · Cochrane All outcomes
  There were no data on psychosocial outcomes, costs or quality of life in any of the trials.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Minimal incision palatopharyngoplasty (MIPP) vs MIPP with additional individualised velopharyngeal surgery (pharyngeal flap or sphincter pharyngoplasty)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for the management of submucous cleft palate 2008 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No data were available for this patient-reported outcome in the single included trial.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Orthodontic treatment with appliances inducing stable, permanent orthodontic tooth movement (splints worn 8 to 12 weeks and surgical interventions excluded) vs Control: no treatment, placebo, or reassurance

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Orthodontics for treating temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders 2010 · Cochrane All outcomes

  At least 6 months after the intervention
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with barrier membrane (resorbable or non-resorbable) vs Open flap debridement (access flap surgery)

• Guided tissue regeneration for periodontal infra-bony defects 2006 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Cortellini 2001: 36% of GTR patients reported the procedure interfered with daily activity for an average of 2.7 days versus 32% of controls for an average of 2.4 days; no significant difference for postoperative pain…
  1 study
  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-related quality of life (OHIP-14) compared with clinical examination with 6-month recall (high certainty).

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

  4 years
  MD -0.24 [-1.55, 1.07]
  1 study · 305 participants
  High

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-related quality of life (OHIP-14) compared with clinical examination with 24-month recall (high certainty).

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

  4 years
  MD -0.37 [-1.69, 0.95]
  1 study · 298 participants
  High

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-related quality of life (OHIP-14) compared with clinical examination with 6-month recall (high certainty).

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

  4 years
  MD -0.35 [-1.02, 0.32]
  1 study · 1551 participants
  High