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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.
866 questions in 43 reviews · Oral and maxillofacial surgery
current versionsNo studies 188 · 21.7%Ungraded 548 · 63.3%Very low 81 · 9.4%Low 37 · 4.3%Moderate 8 · 0.9%High 4 · 0.5%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Patient-reported altered sensation (spontaneous or evoked: anaesthesia/paraesthesia/dysaesthesia/hyperalgesia/allodynia) · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… · Chin Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | MD 8.40 [3.67, 13.13] | 1 study · 13 participants | Very low |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Difficulty eating · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | SoF row 'Difficulty eating': This outcome was not reported in the included studies. | 0 studies | No studies |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Mechanosensory perception (load in grams to elicit sensation; Semmes Weinstein monofilaments) · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | MD 1.07 [0.17, 1.97] | 2 studies · 26 participants | Ungraded |
Psychological / counselling interventions (counselling, acupuncture, cognitive behavioural therapy, relaxation therapy, behaviour modification, electromyographic biofeedback, hypnosis, re-education) vs Another intervention, or no intervention Outcome NR · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | Results: 'No studies evaluated ... psychological interventions.' No eligible RCT of psychological / counselling interventions (CBT, relaxation, behaviour modification, biofeedback, hypnosis, re-education, acupuncture). | 0 studies | No studies |
One active intervention (surgical, medical, or psychological) vs A different active intervention (direct head-to-head comparison) Outcome NR · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | Discussion: 'There is also a lack of trials directly comparing these methods ...'. No eligible RCT directly comparing different active interventions. | 0 studies | No studies |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Quality of life · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | Results: 'No studies reported on quality of life ...'. Not reported by the included laser trials. | 0 studies | No studies |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Adverse events · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | SoF row 'Adverse events': This outcome was not reported in the included studies. | 0 studies | No studies |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Pain · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | SoF row 'Pain': This outcome was not reported in the included studies. | 0 studies | No studies |
Medical interventions (systemic: analgesics, antidepressants, antiepileptics, steroids; topical: analgesics, anaesthetics) vs Another intervention, or no intervention Outcome NR · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | Results: 'No studies evaluated medical ... interventions.' No eligible RCT of medical interventions (analgesics, antidepressants, antiepileptics, steroids, topical anaesthetics). | 0 studies | No studies |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Taste · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | SoF row 'Taste': This outcome was not reported in the included studies. | 0 studies | No studies |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Thermosensory (thermal) perception · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | MD 1.79 [-2.04, 5.62] | 2 studies · 25 participants | Ungraded |
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy Patient satisfaction · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual… Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane | Results: no included study reported quality of life or patient satisfaction. In PUB2 patient satisfaction is merged with quality of life as 'quality of life/patient satisfaction'. | 0 studies | No studies |
3-dimensional (3D) miniplates vs Standard (Champy) plates Post-operative infection · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | RR 1.26 [0.19, 8.13] | 2 studies · 90 participants | Ungraded |
Ibuprofen (single postoperative oral dose; 200 mg to 512 mg) vs Paracetamol (acetaminophen) (single postoperative oral dose; 600 mg to 1000 mg) Proportion of patients with >50% maximum pain relief (TOTPAR) over 6 hours · Patients with pain after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth (third molars) requiring bone removal or with baseline… · 6 hours postdosing, Ibuprofen 400 mg vs paracetamol 1000 mg Ibuprofen and/or paracetamol (acetaminophen) for pain relief after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth (2013) · Cochrane | RR 1.47 [1.28, 1.69] | 5 studies · 646 participants | High |
Transbuccal miniplate combined with intraoral approach vs Intraoral approach alone Requirement for additional (surgical) interventions (plate removal within 90 days) · Adults with fractures of the mandibular angle · 90 days, Angle of mandible only Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | RR 0.57 [0.33, 0.98] | 1 study · 140 participants | Ungraded |
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) Overall survival · Patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer planned to undergo any type of radiotherapy (external beam, intensity… Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
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) Trismus preventing further restorative treatment · Patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer planned to undergo any type of radiotherapy (external beam, intensity… Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Two lag screws vs One lag screw (with arch bars and IMF) Restoration of function (occlusion) · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | Restoration of the original occlusion, assessed visually, was similar in both groups (P>0.05); occlusal correction was not achieved in one participant in the two-lag-screws group. Surrogate/proxy outcome. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Combined paracetamol plus ibuprofen in a single tablet (e.g. paracetamol 1000 mg/ibuprofen 400 mg or 500/200 mg) vs Single drugs given separately (paracetamol 1000 mg or ibuprofen 400 mg) Proportion of patients with >50% maximum pain relief (TOTPAR) over 2 hours · Patients with pain after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth (third molars) requiring bone removal or with baseline… · 2 hours postdosing, Paracetamol 1000 mg/ibuprofen 400 mg vs paracetamol 1000 mg or ibuprofen 400 mg Ibuprofen and/or paracetamol (acetaminophen) for pain relief after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth (2013) · Cochrane | RR 1.29 [0.91, 1.85] | 1 study · 170 participants | Moderate |
Transbuccal miniplate combined with intraoral approach vs Intraoral approach alone Non-union · Adults with fractures of the mandibular angle · Angle of mandible only Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | RR 1.0 [0.17, 5.79] | 1 study · 140 participants | Ungraded |
3-dimensional (3D) miniplates vs Standard (Champy) plates Requirement for additional (surgical) interventions (post-operative MMF/IMF) · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | RR 0.47 [0.25, 0.88] | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
2 mm titanium plates vs 2.5 mm bioresorbable plates Moderate soft tissue deformity · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement · 1 month Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | RR 6.4 [0.80, 51.3] | 1 study · 57 participants | Ungraded |
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) Trismus preventing further restorative treatment · Patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer planned to undergo any type of radiotherapy (external beam, intensity… Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
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) Development of post-radiotherapy dental complications (caries, fractured teeth, periapical infection, periodontal disease, osteoradionecrosis) · Patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer planned to undergo any type of radiotherapy (external beam, intensity… Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
3-dimensional (3D) miniplates vs Standard (Champy) plates Restoration of function (occlusion) · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | All participants in both groups in Jain 2010 had "satisfactory post-operative occlusion"; it is unclear whether a validated tool was used. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Combined paracetamol plus ibuprofen in a single tablet (e.g. paracetamol 1000 mg/ibuprofen 400 mg or 500/200 mg) vs Single drugs given separately (paracetamol 1000 mg or ibuprofen 400 mg) Adverse events · Patients with pain after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth (third molars) requiring bone removal or with baseline… · Study period (immediate postoperative) Ibuprofen and/or paracetamol (acetaminophen) for pain relief after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth (2013) · Cochrane | The majority of adverse events were minor in nature and usually included nausea, vomiting, headaches and dizziness. Side effect profiles have not been included in a meta-analysis as multiple adverse events were… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Open (surgical) reduction and fixation vs Closed (non-surgical) treatment Outcome NR · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | "There were no studies comparing different types of closed interventions with one another or comparing open and closed interventions." "We found no studies that compared surgical with non-surgical treatments." | 0 studies | No studies |
Transbuccal miniplate combined with intraoral approach vs Intraoral approach alone Restoration of function (malocclusion; interincisor mouth opening) · Adults with fractures of the mandibular angle · 3 months, Angle of mandible only Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | Persistent malocclusion was minimal, reported in one participant in each group at the 3-month follow-up. Mean interincisor mouth opening at 3 months 37.68 mm (range 17 to 50) combined approach vs 38.19 mm (range 22 to… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Two lag screws vs One lag screw (with arch bars and IMF) Post-operative pain (average VAS score) · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | Average pain scores (scale 1 to 10): week 1, 6.6 (two lag screws) vs 6.4 (one lag screw); after 2 weeks, 2.5 vs 2.1. Confidence intervals were not reported. | 1 study | Ungraded |
2 mm titanium plates vs 2.5 mm bioresorbable plates Chronic infection · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement · 1 month Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | Chronic infection per site 1/32 (3.1%) titanium vs 0/25 resorbable (RD -3.1%); higher in the titanium group. No risk ratio estimable. | 1 study · 57 participants | Ungraded |
Combined paracetamol plus ibuprofen in a single tablet (e.g. paracetamol 1000 mg/ibuprofen 400 mg or 500/200 mg) vs Single drugs given separately (paracetamol 1000 mg or ibuprofen 400 mg) Proportion of patients with >50% maximum pain relief (TOTPAR) over 6 hours · Patients with pain after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth (third molars) requiring bone removal or with baseline… · 6 hours postdosing, Paracetamol 1000 mg/ibuprofen 400 mg vs paracetamol 1000 mg or ibuprofen 400 mg Ibuprofen and/or paracetamol (acetaminophen) for pain relief after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth (2013) · Cochrane | RR 1.77 [1.32, 2.39] | 1 study · 170 participants | Moderate |
Two miniplates (transbuccal approach) vs One miniplate plus two screws (intraoral approach at external oblique ridge) Post-operative infection · Adults with fractures of the mandibular angle · Angle of mandible only Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | RR 1.32 [0.41, 4.22] | 2 studies · 93 participants | Ungraded |
Ibuprofen (single postoperative oral dose; 200 mg to 512 mg) vs Paracetamol (acetaminophen) (single postoperative oral dose; 600 mg to 1000 mg) Proportion of patients with >50% maximum pain relief (TOTPAR) over 2 hours · Patients with pain after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth (third molars) requiring bone removal or with baseline… · 2 hours postdosing, Ibuprofen 400 mg vs paracetamol 1000 mg Ibuprofen and/or paracetamol (acetaminophen) for pain relief after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth (2013) · Cochrane | RR 1.30 [1.09, 1.55] | 5 studies · 645 participants | High |
2 mm titanium plates vs 2.5 mm bioresorbable plates Wound dehiscence · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement · First few weeks (immediate) Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | RR 2.13 [0.56, 8.08] | 1 study · 57 participants | Ungraded |
2 mm titanium plates vs 2.5 mm bioresorbable plates Restoration of function (inability to chew hard food) · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement · 1 month Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | RR 1.0 [0.23, 4.27] | 1 study · 34 participants | Ungraded |
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) Delay in start of radiation treatment · Patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer planned to undergo any type of radiotherapy (external beam, intensity… Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Transbuccal miniplate combined with intraoral approach vs Intraoral approach alone Post-operative infection (persistent) · Adults with fractures of the mandibular angle · 3 months, Angle of mandible only Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | RR 0.47 [0.20, 1.09] | 1 study · 138 participants | Ungraded |
2 mm locking titanium plates vs 2 mm non-locking titanium plates Post-operative adverse events and complications (paraesthesia, swelling, segmental mobility) · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | Agarwal 2011: paraesthesia in one participant in the non-locking plate group (resolved by 3 months), none in the locking group; infection rates similar at 6 weeks and 3 months; post-operative swelling in 20% of both… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Two miniplates (transbuccal approach) vs One miniplate plus two screws (intraoral approach at external oblique ridge) Requirement for additional (surgical) interventions (plate removal) · Adults with fractures of the mandibular angle · Angle of mandible only Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | RR 0.78 [0.19, 3.11] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Two miniplates (transbuccal approach) vs One miniplate plus two screws (intraoral approach at external oblique ridge) Post-operative adverse events and complications (lip numbness; overall) · Adults with fractures of the mandibular angle · Angle of mandible only Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | Siddiqui 2007: 22/36 (61%) single-miniplate vs 14/26 (54%) two-miniplate had one or more complications; subjective lip numbness 15/36 (41.7%) vs 10/26 (38.5%) (P=0.82), objective 16/36 (44.4%) vs 8/26 (31.7%) (P=0.29).… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
2 mm titanium plates vs 2.5 mm bioresorbable plates Post-operative neurosensory disturbance (mental nerve paraesthesia) · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement · 1 month Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | RR 1.77 [1.09, 2.88] | 1 study · 57 participants | Ungraded |
2 mm titanium plates vs 2.5 mm bioresorbable plates Malocclusion · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement · 1 month Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | RR 1.1 [0.32, 3.82] | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Transbuccal miniplate combined with intraoral approach vs Intraoral approach alone Facial appearance (scar) · Adults with fractures of the mandibular angle · Angle of mandible only Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | The investigators reported that no patients were "recorded as having an unsatisfactory scar", but it was unclear how, when and by whom the assessments were made. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Two miniplates (transbuccal approach) vs One miniplate plus two screws (intraoral approach at external oblique ridge) Facial appearance (scarring) · Adults with fractures of the mandibular angle · Angle of mandible only Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | Facial scarring, as a result of access through the transbuccal route, occurred in two participants in the two-miniplate group (Siddiqui 2007). | 1 study | Ungraded |
2 mm titanium plates vs 2.5 mm bioresorbable plates Requirement for additional (surgical) interventions (plate removal / re-operation) · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | Plate removal was statistically more likely in the titanium group (Fisher's exact P<0.05); infection led to plate removal in one titanium participant at 2 months and a further 4/21 (19%) titanium participants (six… | 1 study | Ungraded |
2 mm locking titanium plates vs 2 mm non-locking titanium plates Requirement for additional (surgical) interventions · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | Only Collins 2004 provided data: 6/122 participants had minor complications (three in each group); five required surgical removal of the locking plates and one post-operative malocclusion was managed with elastic… | 1 study · 122 participants | Ungraded |
Two lag screws vs One lag screw (with arch bars and IMF) Post-operative adverse events and complications · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | Three participants in the two-lag-screws group experienced complications: malocclusion (one) and mental-nerve paraesthesia (two, resolved after 3 months). There were no post-operative complications in the one-lag-screw… | 1 study | Ungraded |
3-dimensional (3D) miniplates vs Standard (Champy) plates Post-operative adverse events and complications · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | Jain 2010 (3D group): segmental mobility (two), proximity to mental nerve or roots (two), radiologically unsatisfactory reduction (one) and unsatisfactory fixation (four) vs one (standard); only fixation differed… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Intraoperative Rapid IMF vs Eyelet wire ties Intraoperative complications · Adults with mandibular fractures excluding condyles (following open reduction) Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | RR 2.6 [1.0, 7.0] | NR | Ungraded |
Pre-radiotherapy dental extraction vs Post-radiotherapy dental extraction Outcome NR · Patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer planned to undergo any type of radiotherapy (external beam, intensity… Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications (2013) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |