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Search review questions
Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.
664 questions in 25 reviews · Endodontics and dental trauma
current versionsNo studies 111 · 16.7%Ungraded 417 · 62.8%Very low 69 · 10.4%Low 50 · 7.5%Moderate 16 · 2.4%High 1 · 0.2%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 24 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.20 [0.03, 1.59] | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Portland cement (PC) vs Full strength formocresol (FC) Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 24 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.80 [0.23, 2.73] | 1 study · 70 participants | Ungraded |
Total-etching 36% phosphoric acid + acetone-based total-etch adhesive vs Non-rinse conditioner + acetone-based total-etch adhesive Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 24 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 7.00 [0.38, 127.33] | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) + sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6 and 12 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.33 [0.01, 7.88] | 1 study · 62 participants | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Ferric sulphate (FS) Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 24 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.58 [0.25, 1.36] | 3 studies · 130 participants | Low |
Calcium hydroxide + sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 12 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.63 [0.23, 1.70] | 1 study · 62 participants | Ungraded |
Self-etch adhesive + acetone-based total-etch adhesive vs Total-etching 36% phosphoric acid + acetone-based total-etch adhesive Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 24 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.33 [0.04, 2.94] | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |
Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) vs 1:5 diluted formocresol (FC) Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 12 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.86 [0.52, 6.59] | 2 studies · 150 participants | Ungraded |
Calcium hydroxide cement (Dycal) vs Calcium sulphate hemihydrate (DentoGen) Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 12 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.67 [0.46, 6.06] | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |
Biodentine vs Propolis Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.33 [0.01, 7.81] | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) cement vs Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 12 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.33 [0.04, 2.94] | 1 study · 80 participants | Ungraded |
Vitapex (calcium hydroxide/iodoform) vs Sealapex (eugenol-free calcium hydroxide) Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 12 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.20 [0.01, 3.92] | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) vs Formocresol (FC) Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 24 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.67 [0.71, 3.89] | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Diode laser vs Electrosurgery Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.64 [0.19, 2.18] | 2 studies · 50 participants | Low |
Non-rinse conditioner + acetone-based total-etch adhesive vs Acetone-based total-etch adhesive Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 12 and 24 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 3.00 [0.13, 69.52] | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |
Calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) cement vs Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 3.00 [0.13, 69.70] | 1 study · 42 participants | Very low |
Sealapex (eugenol-free calcium hydroxide) vs Zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 12 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 5.00 [0.26, 98.00] | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) root-end filling vs SuperEBA Healing - 1 year · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 1 year Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.97 [0.91, 1.04] | 1 study · 192 participants | Low |
Intermediate restorative material (IRM) root-end filling vs SuperEBA Healing - 1 year or longer · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 1 year or longer Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.11 [0.99, 1.24] | 1 study · 194 participants | Very low |
Papilla base incision (PBI) vs Complete papilla mobilisation (sulcular incision) Postoperative pain (VAS 0-100) - 3 days · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 3 days Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | MD -22.00 [-26.81, -17.19] | 1 study · 38 participants | Ungraded |
Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) graft vs No grafting Radiographic healing - 1 year · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 1 year Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | Angerame 2015 (7 test, 4 control): no significant difference in healing of the lesion at 1 year; significant difference only at 2- and 3-month follow-up. Small preliminary study; no robust pooled analysis. | 1 study · 11 participants | Ungraded |
Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) preoperative evaluation vs Conventional periapical radiography Healing - 1 year · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 1 year Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.02 [0.70, 1.47] | 1 study · 39 participants | Very low |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) root-end filling vs Intermediate restorative material (IRM) Prevalence of pain - 1 day · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 1 day Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.01 [0.84, 1.22] | 1 study · 100 participants | Low |
Papilla base incision (PBI) vs Complete papilla mobilisation (sulcular incision) Postoperative pain (VAS 0-100) - 2 days · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 2 days Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | MD -1.50 [-6.34, 3.34] | 1 study · 38 participants | Ungraded |
Papilla base incision (PBI) vs Complete papilla mobilisation (sulcular incision) Postoperative pain (VAS 0-100) - 1 day · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 1 day Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | MD -2.25 [-7.17, 2.67] | 1 study · 38 participants | Very low |
Preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis vs Placebo Occurrence of postoperative infection - 4 weeks · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 4 weeks Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.49 [0.09, 2.64] | 1 study · 250 participants | Very low |
Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) graft vs No grafting Postoperative swelling · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · up to 7 days Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | Swelling reported significantly less in the PRF group up to 5 days postoperatively (Angerame 2015). | 1 study · 11 participants | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) root-end filling vs Intermediate restorative material (IRM) Healing - 2 years · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 2 years Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.05 [0.92, 1.20] | 1 study · 108 participants | Ungraded |
Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) graft vs No grafting Postoperative pain · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · up to 7 days Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | Pain not assessed by VAS; reported significantly less in the PRF group at two time points only (2 and 6 hours after surgery). | 1 study · 11 participants | Ungraded |
Calcium sulphate grafting of the periapical lesion vs No grafting Healing - 1 year · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 1 year Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.12 [0.83, 1.50] | 1 study · 18 participants | Low |
Root-end resection (with or without root-end filling; surgical retreatment) vs Root canal retreatment (non-surgical/orthograde) Healing - 10 years · People with one or more endodontically treated teeth and a periapical condition requiring retreatment · 10 years Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.11 [0.88, 1.41] | 1 study · 95 participants | Ungraded |
Papilla base incision (PBI) vs Complete papilla mobilisation (sulcular incision) Height loss of interdental papilla - 1 year · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 1 year Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | MD -1.04 [-1.48, -0.60] | 1 study · 12 participants | Very low |
Glass ionomer cement root-end filling vs Amalgam Healing - 5 years · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 5 years Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.00 [0.84, 1.20] | 1 study · 67 participants | Ungraded |
Plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) graft vs No grafting Postoperative pain (VAS 0-100) - 1 day · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 1 day Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | MD -51.60 [-63.43, -39.77] | 1 study · 36 participants | Low |
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with bovine bone mineral + resorbable collagen membrane vs No GTR (no grafting) Healing - 1 year · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 1 year Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.12 [0.86, 1.46] | 1 study · 59 participants | Low |
Placebo (sham irradiation, laser inactive) vs Control (no laser device used) Maximum pain (verbal rating scale, VRS) · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · first postoperative week Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.04 [0.00, 0.61] | 1 study · 48 participants | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) root-end filling vs Gutta-percha smoothing (orthograde GP root filling) Postoperative pain (VAS 0-100) - 1 day · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 1 day Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | MD -4.00 [-16.69, 8.69] | 1 study · 42 participants | Low |
Surgical microscope (magnification) vs Endoscope Healing - 2 years (microscope vs endoscope) · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 2 years Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.01 [0.89, 1.15] | 1 study · 70 participants | Low |
Low energy level laser therapy (LLLT) vs Placebo (sham irradiation, laser inactive) Maximum pain (verbal rating scale, VRS) · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · first postoperative week Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | Maximum pain (VRS): 0 per 1000 (placebo) vs 0 per 1000 (LLLT); effect not estimable; 52 participants. No high-pain events in either group. | 1 study · 52 participants | Very low |
Root-end resection (with or without root-end filling; surgical retreatment) vs Root canal retreatment (non-surgical/orthograde) Participants reporting swelling · People with one or more endodontically treated teeth and a periapical condition requiring retreatment · first postoperative week Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | Significantly higher number of participants reporting swelling in the root-end resection group than in the root canal retreatment group during the first postoperative week (Analysis 1.5); per-day totals not pooled. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intermediate restorative material (IRM) root-end filling vs Gutta-percha Healing - 1 year or longer · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 1 year or longer Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.92 [0.80, 1.05] | 1 study · 147 participants | Very low |
Glass ionomer cement root-end filling vs Amalgam Healing - 1 year · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 1 year Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.98 [0.86, 1.12] | 1 study · 105 participants | Very low |
Low energy level laser therapy (LLLT) vs Control (no laser device used) Maximum pain (verbal rating scale, VRS) · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · first postoperative week Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.04 [0.00, 0.71] | 1 study · 44 participants | Very low |
Root-end resection (with or without root-end filling; surgical retreatment) vs Root canal retreatment (non-surgical/orthograde) Healing - 4 years · People with one or more endodontically treated teeth and a periapical condition requiring retreatment · 4 years Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.03 [0.89, 1.20] | 1 study · 82 participants | Ungraded |
Root-end resection (with or without root-end filling; surgical retreatment) vs Root canal retreatment (non-surgical/orthograde) Prevalence of pain - 1 day (participants reporting pain) · People with one or more endodontically treated teeth and a periapical condition requiring retreatment · 1 day (first postoperative week) Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 3.34 [2.05, 5.43] | 1 study · 87 participants | Low |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) root-end filling vs Gutta-percha smoothing (orthograde GP root filling) Healing - 1 year · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 1 year Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.60 [1.14, 2.24] | 1 study · 46 participants | Low |
Root-end resection (with or without root-end filling; surgical retreatment) vs Root canal retreatment (non-surgical/orthograde) Healing - 1 year · People with one or more endodontically treated teeth and a periapical condition requiring retreatment · 1 year Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.15 [0.97, 1.35] | 2 studies · 126 participants | Very low |
Ultrasonic device for root-end preparation vs Conventional bur Healing - 1 year · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 1 year Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.14 [1.00, 1.30] | 1 study · 290 participants | Low |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) root-end filling vs Intermediate restorative material (IRM) Healing - 1 year · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 1 year Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.09 [0.97, 1.21] | 2 studies · 222 participants | Low |
Surgical loupes (magnification) vs Endoscope Healing - 1 year (loupes vs endoscope) · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 1 year Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.05 [0.92, 1.20] | 1 study · 62 participants | Low |