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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.

Limit to evidence status or GRADE (optional)

664 questions in 25 reviews · Endodontics and dental trauma

current versions
No 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.

QuestionEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 2.5% to 5.25% vs Chlorhexidine, 0.2% to 2% (solution or gel)
Mean change in health-related quality of life or participant-expressed satisfaction with the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 1.3% with MTAD final rinse vs Sodium hypochlorite 1.3% with normal saline final rinse
Mean change in health-related quality of life or participant-expressed satisfaction with the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 5% vs Sodium hypochlorite 5% with proteolytic enzyme
Proportion of participants or samples with positive bacterial growth culture, up to 72 hours after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% vs Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% with hydrogen peroxide 3%
Mean change in health-related quality of life or participant-expressed satisfaction with the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% vs Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% with hydrogen peroxide 3%
Proportion of participants with moderate to severe pain up to 6 hours after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 5% (also 2.5%) vs Sodium hypochlorite 1%
Adverse effects · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% with EDTA 17% vs Sodium hypochlorite 1.3% with MTAD
Proportion of participants with moderate to severe pain up to 6 hours after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% with hydrogen peroxide 3% vs Normal saline
Proportion of participants with moderate to severe pain up to 6 hours after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 1% with chlorhexidine 2% final rinse vs Sodium hypochlorite 1% with normal saline final rinse
Adverse effects · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 2.5% to 5.25% vs Chlorhexidine, 0.2% to 2% (solution or gel)
Proportion of participants with new or worsening signs/symptoms of inflammation requiring a revisit, up to 14 days after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% with hydrogen peroxide 3% vs Normal saline
Proportion of participants with moderate to severe pain 72 hours to 14 days after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
RR 0.65 [0.2, 2.0]1 study · 161 participantsUngraded
Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% with hydrogen peroxide 3% vs Normal saline
Proportion of participants with new or worsening signs/symptoms of inflammation requiring a revisit, up to 14 days after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% vs Normal saline
Mean change in health-related quality of life or participant-expressed satisfaction with the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% vs Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% with hydrogen peroxide 3%
Change in periapical radiolucency (radiography or CBCT), up to 1 year after treatment · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 1% with chlorhexidine 2% final rinse vs Sodium hypochlorite 1% with normal saline final rinse
Proportion of participants with moderate to severe pain 72 hours to 14 days after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Chlorhexidine 0.2% vs Normal saline
Adverse effects · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Chlorhexidine 0.2% vs Normal saline
Change in periapical radiolucency (radiography or CBCT), up to 1 year after treatment · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% with EDTA 17% vs Sodium hypochlorite 1.3% with MTAD
Proportion of participants with moderate to severe pain 72 hours to 14 days after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
Only a graph plot of 'average pain' over the 7-day postoperative period in each group was provided; this could not be transformed into usable data for the review's prespecified outcomes.1 studyUngraded
Chlorhexidine 0.2% vs Normal saline
Proportion of participants with moderate to severe pain up to 6 hours after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% vs Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% with hydrogen peroxide 3%
Proportion of participants or samples with positive bacterial growth culture, up to 72 hours after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% with hydrogen peroxide 3% vs Normal saline
Change in periapical radiolucency (radiography or CBCT), up to 1 year after treatment · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 1.3% with MTAD final rinse vs Sodium hypochlorite 1.3% with normal saline final rinse
Proportion of participants with moderate to severe pain 72 hours to 14 days after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% with EDTA 17% vs Sodium hypochlorite 1.3% with MTAD
Proportion of participants or samples with positive bacterial growth culture, up to 72 hours after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% with hydrogen peroxide 3% vs Normal saline
Proportion of participants or samples with positive bacterial growth culture, up to 72 hours after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 1% with chlorhexidine 2% final rinse vs Sodium hypochlorite 1% with normal saline final rinse
Proportion of participants with moderate to severe pain up to 6 hours after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 1% with chlorhexidine 2% final rinse vs Sodium hypochlorite 1% with normal saline final rinse
Proportion of participants or samples with positive bacterial growth culture, up to 72 hours after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
RR 0.14 [0.02, 0.99]1 study · 24 participantsUngraded
Sodium hypochlorite 5% (also 2.5%) vs Sodium hypochlorite 1%
Mean change in health-related quality of life or participant-expressed satisfaction with the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 2.5% to 5.25% vs Chlorhexidine, 0.2% to 2% (solution or gel)
Adverse effects · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Chlorhexidine 0.2% vs Normal saline
Proportion of participants or samples with positive bacterial growth culture, up to 72 hours after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
Positive bacterial cultures at end of first appointment: 65% of samples (chlorhexidine 0.2%) vs 89% (normal saline); no further data reported.1 studyUngraded
Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% vs Normal saline
Adverse effects · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Chlorhexidine 0.2% vs Normal saline
Mean change in health-related quality of life or participant-expressed satisfaction with the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 5% (also 2.5%) vs Sodium hypochlorite 1%
Proportion of participants or samples with positive bacterial growth culture, up to 72 hours after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
RR 0.22 [0.051, 0.91]1 study · 111 participantsUngraded
Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 2.5% to 5.25% vs Chlorhexidine, 0.2% to 2% (solution or gel)
Proportion of participants with moderate to severe pain 72 hours to 14 days after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% vs Normal saline
Proportion of participants with new or worsening signs/symptoms of inflammation requiring a revisit, up to 14 days after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 1% with chlorhexidine 2% final rinse vs Sodium hypochlorite 1% with normal saline final rinse
Mean change in health-related quality of life or participant-expressed satisfaction with the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 5% vs Sodium hypochlorite 5% with proteolytic enzyme
Mean change in health-related quality of life or participant-expressed satisfaction with the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 2.5% to 5.25% vs Chlorhexidine, 0.2% to 2% (solution or gel)
Change in periapical radiolucency (radiography or CBCT), up to 1 year after treatment · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 1.3% with MTAD final rinse vs Sodium hypochlorite 1.3% with normal saline final rinse
Proportion of participants or samples with positive bacterial growth culture, up to 72 hours after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
Vital bacterial counts decreased after the active intervention (MTAD) but live bacteria were present in all of the samples; no further usable data reported.1 studyUngraded
Sodium hypochlorite 5% (also 2.5%) vs Sodium hypochlorite 1%
Proportion of participants with moderate to severe pain up to 6 hours after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 1.3% with MTAD final rinse vs Sodium hypochlorite 1.3% with normal saline final rinse
Change in periapical radiolucency (radiography or CBCT), up to 1 year after treatment · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% vs Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% with hydrogen peroxide 3%
Proportion of participants with moderate to severe pain 72 hours to 14 days after the procedure · Patients aged 14 to 78 years with mature permanent teeth (fully formed roots), single or multi-rooted, with pulpal or…
Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth (2012) · Cochrane
RR 1.22 [0.4, 4.2]1 study · 167 participantsUngraded
Ultrasonic instrumentation used alone (any ultrasonic device designed specifically for root canal treatment and capable of the active or passive removal of dentine within the root canal) vs Hand instrumentation used alone (files and reamers used manually)
Outcome NR · People over 18 years of age with single or multiple permanent teeth with a completely formed apex and no evidence of…
Hand and ultrasonic instrumentation for orthograde root canal treatment of permanent teeth (2008) · Cochrane
No eligible randomised controlled trials were identified.NRNo studies
Hand instrumentation in conjunction with (as an adjunct to) an ultrasonic device designed specifically for root canal treatment and capable of the active or passive removal of dentine within the root canal vs Hand instrumentation used alone (files and reamers used manually)
Outcome NR · People over 18 years of age with single or multiple permanent teeth with a completely formed apex and no evidence of…
Hand and ultrasonic instrumentation for orthograde root canal treatment of permanent teeth (2008) · Cochrane
No eligible randomised controlled trials were identified.NRNo studies
Conditioning and sealing with an adhesive resin (smear-removing bonding system) vs Conventional calcium hydroxide lining
Maintenance of pulp vitality (freedom from pulpal breakdown) up to 36 months · Healthy adults with asymptomatic posterior permanent teeth with deep caries and a vital (non-exposed) pulp requiring… · 36 months
Pulp management for caries in adults: maintaining pulp vitality (2007) · Cochrane
Whitworth 2005: 602 teeth randomised; 39 emergency recalls over the 36 months after restoration, with pulp breakdown associated with 16 teeth. The authors concluded that "dentists should be confident that pulps will be…1 study · 602 participantsUngraded
Glycerrhetinic acid/antibiotic mixture vs Calcium hydroxide
Clinical success (survival free of symptoms) at 24 months · Adults with asymptomatic teeth with vital carious pulp exposures · 24 months
Pulp management for caries in adults: maintaining pulp vitality (2007) · Cochrane
Shovelton 1971 (Analysis 1.1): 275 teeth followed for 2 years (235 at 6 months, 160 at 12 months, 85 analysed at 24 months). Success rates 50% to 80%. Ledermix and calcium hydroxide had the highest success rates,…1 study · 275 participantsUngraded
Prefabricated metal post and core (Category II) vs Metal custom-cast post and core (Category I)
Outcome NR · Participants with permanent endodontically-treated (root-filled) teeth for which a post is indicated to retain the… · Minimum 6 months (planned)
Root canal posts for the restoration of root filled teeth (2007) · Cochrane
No included trial compared metal-cast posts with prefabricated metal posts (a planned primary comparison); no eligible study identified.0 studiesNo studies
Ledermix (corticosteroid/antibiotic pulp-capping cement) vs Calcium hydroxide
Clinical success (survival free of symptoms) at 24 months · Adults with asymptomatic teeth with vital carious pulp exposures · 24 months
Pulp management for caries in adults: maintaining pulp vitality (2007) · Cochrane
Shovelton 1971 (Analysis 1.1): 275 teeth followed for 2 years (235 at 6 months, 160 at 12 months, 85 analysed at 24 months). Success rates 50% to 80%. Ledermix and calcium hydroxide had the highest success rates,…1 study · 275 participantsUngraded
Ledermix (corticosteroid/antibiotic pulp-capping cement) vs Glycerrhetinic acid/antibiotic mixture
Clinical success (survival free of symptoms) at 24 months · Adults with asymptomatic teeth with vital carious pulp exposures · 24 months
Pulp management for caries in adults: maintaining pulp vitality (2007) · Cochrane
Shovelton 1971 (Analysis 1.1): 275 teeth followed for 2 years (235 at 6 months, 160 at 12 months, 85 analysed at 24 months). Success rates 50% to 80%. Ledermix and calcium hydroxide had the highest success rates,…1 study · 275 participantsUngraded
Metal post of one alloy type vs Metal post of a different alloy type
Outcome NR · Participants with permanent endodontically-treated (root-filled) teeth for which a post is indicated to retain the… · Minimum 6 months (planned)
Root canal posts for the restoration of root filled teeth (2007) · Cochrane
No included trial evaluated alloy type in metal posts (a planned secondary comparison); no eligible study identified.0 studiesNo studies
Potassium nitrate/dimethyl isosorbide/polycarboxylate cement (KNO3/DMI/PCa) vs Potassium nitrate/polycarboxylate cement (KNO3/PCa)
Clinical success (absence of periapical pathology, tenderness to pressure and fistula formation) at 24 months · Adults with asymptomatic vital pulpal exposures from caries · 24 months
Pulp management for caries in adults: maintaining pulp vitality (2007) · Cochrane
Hodosh 2003 (Analysis 3.1): all 18 patients receiving KNO3/DMI/PCa responded favourably (0/18 developed clinical symptoms) versus 9/17 in the KNO3/PCa group; symptomatic teeth required endodontic therapy or extraction.…1 study · 35 participantsUngraded