What do systematic reviews say?

Triclosan rinse vs Saline rinse

Triclosan rinse led to lower duration of mechanical ventilation compared with saline rinse; GRADE not reported.

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD -5.24 [-5.64, -4.84]
  1 study · 324 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 dental caries: number of tooth surfaces with any caries (ICDAS 1-6) compared with clinical examination with 6-month recall (moderate certainty).

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

  4 years
  MD -0.60 [-2.54, 1.34]
  1 study · 271 participants
  Moderate

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

Clinical examination with 24-month recall led to lower cost (patient perspective): total cost per patient (GBP) 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 -53.00 [-76.91, -29.09]
  1 study · 375 participants
  GRADE not reported

Clinical examination with 24-month recall vs Clinical examination with 12-month recall

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

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

  2 years
  Summary of findings 1 lists 'Periodontal disease: Not reported' for the 24-month versus 12-month comparison (Wang 1992 did not measure it).
  0 studies
  No studies found

Chlorhexidine vs Potassium permanganate

Chlorhexidine showed no clear difference in mortality compared with potassium permanganate; GRADE not reported.

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 1.11 [0.89, 1.38]
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Saline rinse vs usual or supportive care

Saline rinse showed no clear difference in duration of ICU stay compared with usual care (no rinse); GRADE not reported.

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD -1.17 [-3.95, 1.60]
  2 studies · 324 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 dental caries: prevalence of root caries 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
  RR 0.93 [0.76, 1.13]
  1 study · 1306 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 periodontal disease: gingival bleeding (percentage of sites) compared with clinical examination with 6-month recall (moderate certainty).

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

  4 years
  MD -0.91 [-5.02, 3.20]
  1 study · 271 participants
  Moderate

Essential oil mouthwash vs Sterile water rinse

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Listerine versus sterile water (Berry 2013): no evidence of a difference in VAP incidence; single study, high risk of bias.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Saline rinse vs Saline-soaked swab

Saline rinse led to lower mortality compared with saline-soaked swab; GRADE not reported.

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 0.29 [0.12, 0.69]
  2 studies · 270 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 dental caries: prevalence of moderate to extensive caries (ICDAS 3-6) compared with clinical examination with 6-month recall (low certainty).

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

  4 years
  RR 1.05 [0.92, 1.20]
  1 study · 271 participants
  Low

Sodium bicarbonate rinse (plus toothbrushing) vs Water rinse (plus toothbrushing)

Sodium bicarbonate rinse (plus toothbrushing) showed no clear difference in incidence of VAP compared with water rinse (plus toothbrushing); GRADE not reported.

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 1.57 [0.62, 3.99]
  2 studies · 347 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 periodontal disease: probing pocket depth (mm) compared with clinical examination with 6-month recall (moderate certainty).

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

  4 years
  MD -0.03 [-0.12, 0.06]
  1 study · 270 participants
  Moderate

Saline rinse vs usual or supportive care

Saline rinse showed no clear difference in duration of mechanical ventilation compared with usual care (no rinse); GRADE not reported.

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD -0.40 [-2.55, 1.75]
  2 studies · 324 participants
  GRADE not reported

Chlorhexidine vs Nanosil (nanosilver)

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Chlorhexidine versus Nanosil (Khaky 2018): no evidence of a difference in mortality; single study.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Triclosan rinse vs Saline rinse

Triclosan rinse showed no clear difference in incidence of VAP compared with saline rinse; GRADE not reported.

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 0.89 [0.71, 1.12]
  1 study · 324 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 cost (healthcare-system perspective): total cost per patient (GBP) 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 13.77 [-1.56, 29.11]
  1 study · 2006 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 cost (patient perspective): total cost per patient (GBP) 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 -9.49 [-23.05, 4.07]
  1 study · 1944 participants
  GRADE not reported

Clinical examination with 24-month recall vs Clinical examination with 12-month recall

It is very uncertain whether clinical examination with 24-month recall changes dental caries: dmfs increment (primary teeth) compared with clinical examination with 12-month recall (very low certainty).

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

  2 years · 3-5 year olds (primary teeth)
  MD 0.90 [-0.16, 1.96]
  1 study · 58 participants
  Very low

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

Clinical examination with 24-month recall showed no clear difference in cost (healthcare-system perspective): total cost per patient (GBP) 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 -16.00 [-51.76, 19.76]
  1 study · 404 participants
  GRADE not reported