What do systematic reviews say?

Oral-health promotion programs (OHPPs): community-based oral-health education/training, supervised toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste and topical fluoride, dental screening, and dietary advice vs No oral health promotion program

Oral health promotion programs have a positive effect on OHRQoL in adolescents (narrative synthesis; low methodological quality of included evidence; 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
  It was observed that health promotion programs have a positive effect on OHRQoL. Studies showed positive effects of OHPP on adolescentes OHRQoL with low methodological quality [38].
  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

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)

Theory-based interventions significantly improved oral health-related quality of life (SMD 7.38; low certainty), with very high heterogeneity.

• Health promotion theory-based educational interventions for improving oral health in children and adolescents: a… 2025 All outcomes

  Post-intervention (follow-up 0.5 to 12 months, varies by study) · School-based and community settings; multiple countries (predominantly Iran; also Pakistan, Hong Kong, Lithuania, Thailand) · Overall
  SMD 7.38 [5.57, 9.19]
  4 studies · 4751 participants
  Low

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

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Oral health educational interventions for nursing home staff and residents 2016 · Cochrane All outcomes
  SoF row 'Oral health-related quality of life': Illustrative risks -, relative effect -, participants/studies -, quality -; Comment: Outcome not reported. Not measured in any included study.
  0 studies
  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

Any antifungal intervention for the treatment of oral candidiasis vs Placebo, no treatment, or another active antifungal intervention

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2010 · Cochrane All outcomes
  None of the studies reported: relief of pain, relief of dysphagia, incidence of systemic infection, amount of analgesia, days stay in hospital, cost of oral care, patient quality of life.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Educational intervention with information and practical components (theoretical oral health education plus practical skills training) for nursing staff and/or residents vs usual care

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Oral health education (advice and training) for people with serious mental illness 2016 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No study reported useable data
  0 studies
  No studies found

Professional oral care vs Usual oral care

Professional oral care led to higher change in data on economics and quality of life compared with usual oral care; GRADE not reported.

• Oral care measures for preventing nursing home‐acquired pneumonia 2022 · Cochrane All outcomes

  24 months
  MD 1.5 [0.32, 2.68]
  1 study · 322 participants
  GRADE not reported

Motivational interview plus oral health education vs Oral health education

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Oral health education (advice and training) for people with serious mental illness 2016 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No study reported useable data
  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

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

Aciclovir (oral or intravenous) for treatment vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for the prevention and treatment of herpes simplex virus in patients being treated for cancer 2009 · Cochrane All outcomes
  For the treatment comparison (aciclovir versus placebo), no data were available for recurrence of lesions, amount of analgesia, days of stay in hospital, cost of oral care or patient quality of life.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs placebo or no treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Oral appliances and functional orthopaedic appliances for obstructive sleep apnoea in children 2016 · Cochrane All outcomes
  The included study did not assess this outcome.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Toothache vs No toothache

The umbrella review reported that toothache has a high impact on oral health-related quality of life.

• Oral-health-related quality of life in adolescents: umbrella review. 2023 All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Dental (tooth) agenesis vs No dental agenesis

The umbrella review reported insufficient scientific evidence to support an association between dental agenesis and oral health-related quality of life.

• Oral-health-related quality of life in adolescents: umbrella review. 2023 All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported
• 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
  tooth agenesis does not have enough scientific evidence to support a relationship between OHRQoL [41]. No articles were found that had evaluated children and adolescent. Only one was found to have a greater impact in…
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Malocclusion vs No malocclusion

The umbrella review reported that malocclusion negatively affects oral health-related quality of life.

• Oral-health-related quality of life in adolescents: umbrella review. 2023 All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Periodontal disease (severe periodontitis) vs No or less severe periodontal disease

The umbrella review reported worse oral health-related quality-of-life scores with severe periodontitis.

• Oral-health-related quality of life in adolescents: umbrella review. 2023 All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Dental caries or greater caries severity vs No or less severe dental caries

The umbrella review reported worse oral health-related quality of life with greater caries severity.

• Oral-health-related quality of life in adolescents: umbrella review. 2023 All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Completed orthodontic treatment vs No previous or incomplete orthodontic treatment

The umbrella review reported better oral health-related quality of life after completed orthodontic treatment.

• Oral-health-related quality of life in adolescents: umbrella review. 2023 All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

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

Female sex vs Male sex

The abstract reports female sex is associated with worse OHRQoL, but the conclusion states the impact of gender was not clarified (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. [Conclusion: gender and skin color did not have their level of impact clarified.]
  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