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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.
1,325 questions in 34 reviews · Oral medicine and oral cancer
current versionsNo studies 164 · 12.4%Ungraded 841 · 63.5%Very low 209 · 15.8%Low 72 · 5.4%Moderate 38 · 2.9%High 1 · 0.1%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Anticonvulsants (gabapentin) vs Placebo Change in quality of life (QoL) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | SoF2: No included studies reported change in QoL. | 0 studies | No studies |
Dietary supplements (Catuama herbal compound) vs Placebo Adverse effects: insomnia · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months), Catuama Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | RR 2.69 [0.11, 63.96] | 1 study · 72 participants | Very low |
Topical treatments (capsaicin oral rinse) vs Placebo Relief of burning/discomfort (symptom relief; pain intensity) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months), capsaicin oral rinse Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | Capsaicin oral rinse (Marino 2010; Silvestre 2012) contributes to the topical treatments short-term symptom-relief comparison (insufficient/contradictory). Silvestre 2012 data not presented due to 23% first-phase… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Dietary supplements (alpha lipoic acid) vs Placebo Change in feeling of dryness · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | SoF5: No included studies reported change in feeling of dryness. | 0 studies | No studies |
Psychological therapies (cognitive therapy) vs Placebo Change in taste · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | SoF8: No included study reported change in taste. | 0 studies | No studies |
Dietary supplements (alpha lipoic acid +/- adjunctive ingredients) vs Placebo Adverse effects: intermittent facial skin rash · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | RR 8.71 [0.37, 205.80] | 1 study · 80 participants | Very low |
Systemic beta carotene or carotenoids (incl. lycopene) vs Placebo or no treatment Oral cancer development · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia · 24 months Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.71 [0.24, 2.09] | 2 studies · 132 participants | Very low |
Amisulpride (antipsychotic, 50 mg/day) vs Placebo Relief of burning/discomfort (symptom relief; pain intensity) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | Bogetto 1999 (amisulpride) included in the antidepressants/antipsychotics comparison but data not presented due to excessive attrition (19/24; 79%) in the placebo arm. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Anticonvulsants (gabapentin) vs Placebo Change in taste · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | SoF2: No included studies reported change in taste. | 0 studies | No studies |
Herbal extracts (tea components; Chinese herbal mixture; freeze-dried black raspberry gel) vs Placebo or no treatment Oral cancer development · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | SoF 4 (Herbal extracts vs placebo), Cancer development: SoF cell 'Not measured'. Effects text: cancer development was among the outcomes in Tsao 2009 (green tea extract) but it was not possible to analyse the data… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Cholinergics (bethanechol) vs Placebo Change in feeling of dryness · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | SoF4: No included studies reported change in feeling of dryness. | 0 studies | No studies |
Antidepressants (trazodone 200 mg/day) vs Placebo Relief of burning/discomfort (symptom relief; pain intensity) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | MD 1.26 [-0.24, 2.76] | 1 study · 37 participants | Very low |
Physical barriers (tongue protector) vs Placebo Adverse effects (narrative) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | SoF7. Adverse effects: single study narratively reported that no adverse events occurred from the use of tongue protectors; 50 participants (1 RCT); low. | 1 study · 50 participants | Low |
Benzodiazepines (systemic clordemetildiazepam 1 mg/day) vs Placebo Relief of burning/discomfort (symptom relief; pain intensity) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months), clordemetildiazepam Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | Bogetto 1999 (clordemetildiazepam) included in the benzodiazepine comparison but data not presented (79% placebo-arm attrition). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Vitamin A or retinoids (systemic or topical; incl. 13-cis-retinoic acid, acitretin) vs Placebo or no treatment Improvement of histological features (not improved) · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia · 3 months Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.43 [0.24, 0.76] | 1 study · 41 participants | Moderate |
Systemic beta carotene or carotenoids (incl. lycopene) vs Placebo or no treatment Safety of the intervention (adverse effects) · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia · 5 to 12 months Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | SoF 2, Safety of the intervention at 5 to 12 months: 'Systemic beta carotene did not cause any adverse effects in 1 study supplementing 10 mg/d (Nagao), and caused adverse effects of varying severity in 9% of… | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Cholinergics (bethanechol) vs Placebo Change in quality of life (QoL) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | SoF4: No included studies reported change in QoL. | 0 studies | No studies |
Antidepressants (trazodone 200 mg/day) vs Placebo Adverse effects: abdominal pains · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.32 [0.42, 4.15] | 1 study · 37 participants | Very low |
Dietary supplements (Catuama herbal compound) vs Placebo Relief of burning/discomfort (symptom relief; pain intensity) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months), Catuama Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | 'Catuama' herbal compound (Spanemberg 2012) contributes to the dietary supplements short-term symptom-relief comparison (insufficient/contradictory); no separate estimate reported. | 1 study · 72 participants | Ungraded |
Bowman-Birk inhibitor vs Placebo or no treatment Clinical resolution (oral lesion not completely resolved) · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia · 6 months Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.00 [0.91, 1.09] | 1 study · 21 participants | Low |
Physical barriers (tongue protector + reinforced self-control instruction) vs Placebo Relief of burning/discomfort (symptom relief; pain intensity) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | MD -1.10 [-2.14, -0.06] | 1 study · 50 participants | Very low |
Antidepressants (trazodone 200 mg/day) vs Placebo Adverse effects: headache · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.58 [0.30, 8.40] | 1 study · 37 participants | Very low |
Psychological therapies (cognitive therapy) vs Placebo Adverse effects · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | SoF8: No included study reported the occurrence of adverse events. | 0 studies | No studies |
Dietary supplements (Catuama herbal compound) vs Placebo Adverse effects: weight gain · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months), Catuama Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | RR 2.69 [0.11, 63.96] | 1 study · 72 participants | Very low |
Amitriptyline (antidepressant, 25 mg/day) vs Placebo Relief of burning/discomfort (symptom relief; pain intensity) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | Bogetto 1999 (amitriptyline) included but data not presented (79% placebo-arm attrition). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Dietary supplements (lycopene) vs Placebo Relief of burning/discomfort (symptom relief; pain intensity) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months), lycopene Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | Lycopene (Cano-Carrillo 2014) contributes to the dietary supplements short-term symptom-relief comparison (12 RCTs, insufficient/contradictory); no separate lycopene symptom-relief estimate reported. | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Topical treatments (topical urea 10%) vs Placebo Relief of burning/discomfort (symptom relief; pain intensity) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months), topical urea 10% Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | Topical urea 10% (Alvarenga da Silva 2014) contributes to the topical treatments short-term symptom-relief comparison (insufficient/contradictory); no separate estimate reported. | 1 study · 38 participants | Ungraded |
NSAIDs (ketorolac oral rinse; systemic celecoxib) vs Placebo or no treatment Oral cancer development · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | SoF 3 (NSAIDs vs placebo), Cancer development: SoF cell 'Not measured'. Effects text: cancer development was among outcomes in Papadimitrakopoulou 2008 (celecoxib) but did not occur in either arm, probably because of… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Bowman-Birk inhibitor vs Placebo or no treatment Oral cancer development · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | SoF 6 (Bowman-Birk inhibitor vs placebo), Cancer development: 'Not measured'. Effects text: 'Cancer development was not among the outcomes of the study testing the Bowman-Birk inhibitor (Armstrong 2013).' | 0 studies | No studies |
Antidepressants (trazodone 200 mg/day) vs Placebo Adverse effects: urinary incontinence · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | RR 3.16 [0.14, 72.84] | 1 study · 37 participants | Very low |
Dietary supplements (alpha lipoic acid +/- adjunctive ingredients) vs Placebo Adverse effects: gastrointestinal complaints · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | RR 4.00 [1.21, 13.27] | 3 studies · 138 participants | Very low |
Cholinergics (bethanechol) vs Placebo Change in taste · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | SoF4: No included studies reported change in taste. | 0 studies | No studies |
Anticonvulsants (gabapentin + alpha lipoic acid) vs Placebo Adverse effects: mild headache · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months), gabapentin with adjunctive ALA Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | RR 8.71 [0.37, 205.80] | 1 study · 80 participants | Very low |
Antidepressants (trazodone 200 mg/day) vs Placebo Adverse effects: drowsiness · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | RR 4.75 [1.18, 19.07] | 1 study · 37 participants | Very low |
Topical treatments (lactoperoxidase oral rinse / Biotene) vs Placebo Relief of burning/discomfort (symptom relief; pain intensity) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · long-term (>3 to 6 months), lactoperoxidase (Biotene) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | MD -1.50 [-3.91, 0.91] | 1 study · 18 participants | Very low |
Benzodiazepines (systemic clonazepam) vs Placebo Change in QoL - depression (surrogate marker) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months), systemic clonazepam Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | MD -0.20 [-0.95, 0.55] | 1 study · 20 participants | Very low |
Antidepressants (trazodone 200 mg/day) vs Placebo Adverse effects: palpitations · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.06 [0.17, 6.72] | 1 study · 37 participants | Very low |
Dietary supplements (alpha lipoic acid +/- adjunctive ingredients) vs Placebo Adverse effects: drowsiness · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.00 [0.07, 14.85] | 1 study · 38 participants | Very low |
Electromagnetic radiation (low-level laser therapy) vs Placebo Change in quality of life (QoL) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | MD -5.24 [-7.38, -3.09] | 1 study · 58 participants | Very low |
Herbal extracts (tea components; Chinese herbal mixture; freeze-dried black raspberry gel) vs Placebo or no treatment Improvement of histological features (not improved) · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia · 3 months Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | SoF 4, Histological changes (not improved) at 3 months: '2 studies (green tea extract capsules and freeze-dried raspberry gel) did not find evidence of benefit.' No GRADE. Effects text: Mallery raspberry RR 0.97… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Dietary supplements (lycopene) vs Placebo Change in QoL - depression (surrogate marker) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months), lycopene Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | MD -1.87 [-4.23, 0.49] | 1 study · 50 participants | Very low |
Surgical removal of the lesion (surgical excision, laser surgery, cryotherapy) vs Placebo or no treatment Outcome NR · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | 'We did not identify any RCTs that compared surgical treatments with placebo or no treatment.' Three surgical RCTs were found (Chee 2013, Lopez-Jornet 2013, Schwarz 2005) but all excluded because they did not include a… | NR | No studies |
Topical bleomycin vs Placebo or no treatment Improvement of histological features (not improved) · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia · 3 months Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.49 [0.22, 1.10] | 1 study · 21 participants | Very low |
Benzodiazepines (topical clonazepam) vs Placebo Adverse effects: spasmophilia · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months), topical clonazepam Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | RR 3.00 [0.13, 70.16] | 1 study · 48 participants | Very low |
Benzodiazepines (topical clonazepam) vs Placebo Relief of burning/discomfort (symptom relief; pain intensity) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · long-term (>3 to 6 months), topical clonazepam Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | MD -1.39 [-1.96, -0.83] | 1 study · 66 participants | Very low |
Antidepressants (trazodone) vs Placebo Change in taste · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | SoF1: No included studies reported change in taste. | 0 studies | No studies |
Anticonvulsants (gabapentin 300 mg/day) vs Placebo Adverse effects: drowsiness (gabapentin alone) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | RR 31.95 [1.84, 553.64] | 1 study · 80 participants | Very low |
Topical treatments (topical urea 10%) vs Placebo Change in feeling of dryness · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months), topical urea 10% Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | SoF9. Change in feeling of dryness short-term (xerostomia questionnaire, 1-5, lower better): single study narratively reported no difference before or after treatment; 38 participants (1 RCT, topical urea); very low. | 1 study · 38 participants | Very low |
Antidepressants (trazodone 200 mg/day) vs Placebo Adverse effects: dry mouth · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | RR 3.17 [0.36, 27.72] | 1 study · 37 participants | Very low |
Dietary supplements (hypericum perforatum / St John's Wort) vs Placebo Relief of burning/discomfort (symptom relief; pain intensity) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months), hypericum perforatum Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | Hypericum perforatum extract (Sardella 2008, the only low-risk-of-bias study) contributes to the dietary supplements short-term symptom-relief comparison (insufficient/contradictory); no separate estimate reported. | 1 study · 43 participants | Ungraded |