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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Ibuprofen (single postoperative oral dose; 200 mg to 512 mg) vs Paracetamol (acetaminophen) (single postoperative oral dose; 600 mg to 1000 mg) Patients not using rescue medication at 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 1.50 [1.25, 1.79] | 4 studies · 542 participants | High |
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) Patients' quality of life · 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 miniplates (transbuccal approach) vs One miniplate plus two screws (intraoral approach at external oblique ridge) Restoration of function (malocclusion) · Adults with fractures of the mandibular angle · Angle of mandible only Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | RR 0.46 [0.05, 4.17] | 1 study | 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) Patients' quality of life · 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 Wound dehiscence · Adults with fractures of the mandibular angle · 3 months, Angle of mandible only Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | RR 0.43 [0.19, 0.98] | 1 study · 138 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) 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 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) 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 |
2 mm locking titanium plates vs 2 mm non-locking titanium plates Post-operative pain · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | Agarwal 2011 reported a significant decrease in VAS pain from week 1 to the 3-month follow-up, with no difference between groups at the follow-up visits, but presented no supporting data. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Immediate mobilization vs 2 weeks delayed mobilization (IMF) Post-operative pain · Adults with mandibular fractures excluding condyles (fixed with 2 mm titanium miniplates) Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | Pain (scale 1 to 10) was minor in both groups with no significant differences (Table 4): 6 weeks 1.55 vs 1.20; 3 months 1.00 vs 2.64; 6 months 1.30 vs 2.71 (immediate release vs IMF). 95% confidence interval not… | 1 study | Ungraded |
2 mm locking titanium plates vs 2 mm non-locking titanium plates Drop-out rate due to protocol deviation · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | Early premature removal of IMF (from hours up to 2 weeks) was reported in 13 of the 90 participants analysed (Collins 2004); participants released their own IMF or reported that "the wires fell off". | 1 study · 90 participants | Ungraded |
2 mm titanium plates vs 2.5 mm bioresorbable plates Post-operative pain (residual pain, any severity) · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement · 1 month Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | RR 1.26 [0.57, 2.82] | 1 study · 40 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) 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 |
Ibuprofen (single postoperative oral dose; 200 mg to 512 mg) vs Paracetamol (acetaminophen) (single postoperative oral dose; 600 mg to 1000 mg) Patients using rescue medication at 8 hours · Patients with pain after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth (third molars) requiring bone removal or with baseline… · 8 hours postdosing Ibuprofen and/or paracetamol (acetaminophen) for pain relief after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth (2013) · Cochrane | RR 2.02 [1.57, 2.60] | 2 studies | 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) Patients not using rescue medication at 8 hours · Patients with pain after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth (third molars) requiring bone removal or with baseline… · 8 hours postdosing, Paracetamol 1000/500 mg/ibuprofen 400/200 mg vs single constituent drugs Ibuprofen and/or paracetamol (acetaminophen) for pain relief after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth (2013) · Cochrane | RR 1.60 [1.36, 1.88] | 2 studies · 467 participants | High |
Immediate mobilization vs 2 weeks delayed mobilization (IMF) Post-operative adverse events and complications · Adults with mandibular fractures excluding condyles (fixed with 2 mm titanium miniplates) Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | One wound separation and one infection in the immediate-mobilization group. Inferior alveolar nerve status (scale 1 to 3) showed no significant difference at 6 weeks (P=0.76), 3 months (P=0.87) or 6 months (P=0.99).… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Immediate mobilization vs 2 weeks delayed mobilization (IMF) Requirement for additional (surgical) interventions · Adults with mandibular fractures excluding condyles (fixed with 2 mm titanium miniplates) Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | In the IMF (delayed) group, one participant (7.7%) had a wound infection and plate exposure leading to plate removal 4 months post-operatively. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Two lag screws vs One lag screw (with arch bars and IMF) Intraoperative complications · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | Drill-bit fracture occurred during preparation in one participant in the two-lag-screws group. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Immediate mobilization vs 2 weeks delayed mobilization (IMF) Restoration of function (return to baseline bite) · Adults with mandibular fractures excluding condyles (fixed with 2 mm titanium miniplates) Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | Limited data: at the conclusion of the study all participants indicated that they had returned to their "baseline bite". | 1 study | Ungraded |
2 mm titanium plates vs 2.5 mm bioresorbable plates Segmental mobility · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement · 1 month Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | RR 3.84 [0.85, 17.4] | 1 study · 57 participants | Ungraded |
2 mm locking titanium plates vs 2 mm non-locking titanium plates Restoration of function (functional occlusion; bite force as surrogate) · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | Functional occlusion was achieved in all participants in both intervention groups (Agarwal 2011); the measurement of this outcome was not clearly reported. Bite force was reported as a surrogate/proxy outcome. | 1 study | Ungraded |
One microplate plus one miniplate vs Two miniplates Efficacy and stability of fixation (bite force) · Adults with isolated mandibular fractures in the interforaminal region Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | Only one study (Gupta 2012) compared one microplate in conjunction with one miniplate versus two miniplates in isolated interforaminal fractures; however, the data reported in the trial did not satisfy the review's… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Ibuprofen (single postoperative oral dose; 200 mg to 512 mg) vs Paracetamol (acetaminophen) (single postoperative oral dose; 600 mg to 1000 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… | 7 studies | Ungraded |
2 mm locking titanium plates vs 2 mm non-locking titanium plates Post-operative infection · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | OR 0.90 [0.1, 7] | 1 study | Ungraded |
3-dimensional (3D) miniplates vs Standard (Champy) plates Post-operative pain · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | Singh 2012 evaluated VAS pain at weeks 1, 4, 8 and month 3 and reported no significant difference between the groups, without supporting details. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Extraction of the primary maxillary canine vs Untreated control (no treatment) Time to eruption of the permanent canine · Children with palatally displaced maxillary canines (at least 80% aged 10 to 13 years); trials with craniofacial… · At least 6 months follow-up after the intervention Extraction of primary (baby) teeth for unerupted palatally displaced permanent canine teeth in children (2012) · Cochrane | Time to eruption of the permanent canine was reported by both trials. The paper reports there was 'no significant difference between the two interceptive approaches in the time required for canine eruption' (extraction… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Glucosamine sulfate (oral) vs Ibuprofen (oral) Maximum voluntary jaw opening (mm), change from baseline · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria · 90 days Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | MD 3.08 [-0.97, 7.13] | 1 study · 45 participants | Ungraded |
Intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate vs Intra-articular injection of corticosteroids (betamethasone) Complications (adverse effects) · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | RR 1.20 [0.44, 3.30] | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Extraction of the primary maxillary canine vs Untreated control (no treatment) Patient satisfaction and pain experience during extraction of the primary canine · Children with palatally displaced maxillary canines (at least 80% aged 10 to 13 years); trials with craniofacial… · At least 6 months follow-up after the intervention Extraction of primary (baby) teeth for unerupted palatally displaced permanent canine teeth in children (2012) · Cochrane | Neither trial reported the outcome of pain, or patient satisfaction. | 0 studies | No studies |
Intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate vs Intra-articular injection of corticosteroids (betamethasone) Presence of TMJ sounds · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria · 14 days Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | RR 0.59 [0.37, 0.95] | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Glucosamine sulfate (oral) vs Ibuprofen (oral) Extraoral masticatory muscle tenderness (number of tender sites), change from baseline · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria · 90 days Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | MD 0.38 [-2.30, 3.06] | 1 study · 45 participants | Ungraded |
Laser therapy Outcome NR · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | The review noted the noticeable absence of evidence for laser therapy; no eligible RCT evaluated it (Discussion). | 0 studies | No studies |
Diclofenac sodium (oral NSAID) vs Occlusal splint therapy Complications (adverse effects) · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | RR 1.07 [0.50, 2.28] | 1 study · 29 participants | Ungraded |
Glucosamine sulfate (oral) vs Ibuprofen (oral) Reported pain (mm on VAS), change from baseline · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria · 90 days Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | MD -4.57 [-9.91, 0.77] | 1 study · 45 participants | Ungraded |
Glucosamine sulfate (oral) vs Ibuprofen (oral) Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) - pain intensity, change from baseline · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria · 90 days Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | MD -2.69 [-7.38, 2.00] | 1 study · 45 participants | Ungraded |
Extraction of the primary maxillary canine plus cervical pull headgear vs Untreated control (no treatment) Prevalence of eruption/non-eruption of the palatally displaced permanent canine (successful eruption) · Children with palatally displaced maxillary canines (at least 80% aged 10 to 13 years); trials with craniofacial… · At least 6 months follow-up after the intervention Extraction of primary (baby) teeth for unerupted palatally displaced permanent canine teeth in children (2012) · Cochrane | Narrative (not pooled, not GRADE-rated). Leonardi 2004: successful eruption 80% with extraction plus cervical pull headgear, significantly higher than the untreated control group (Chi2 14.9; P<0.01). Baccetti 2008: the… | 2 studies · 81 participants | Ungraded |
Extraction of the primary maxillary canine vs Untreated control (no treatment) Incidence or prevalence of root resorption of the impacted canine and/or incisors and cyst formation · Children with palatally displaced maxillary canines (at least 80% aged 10 to 13 years); trials with craniofacial… · At least 6 months follow-up after the intervention Extraction of primary (baby) teeth for unerupted palatally displaced permanent canine teeth in children (2012) · Cochrane | Root resorption of the impacted canine and/or incisors and cyst formation was not reported by either included trial. | 0 studies | No studies |
Extraction of the primary maxillary canine vs Untreated control (no treatment) Improvement in the vertical position or angulation of the ectopic canine, measured from radiographs (inclination to midline, cusp-tip to occlusal line, medial crown position) · Children with palatally displaced maxillary canines (at least 80% aged 10 to 13 years); trials with craniofacial… · At least 6 months follow-up after the intervention Extraction of primary (baby) teeth for unerupted palatally displaced permanent canine teeth in children (2012) · Cochrane | Changes in the position of the displaced canine measured from radiographs, reported by both trials as medians (non-normal distribution): changes in the inclination of the canine to the midline, the distance of the… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate vs Intra-articular injection of corticosteroids (betamethasone) Pain on palpation of the affected/contralateral TMJ and masticatory muscles · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria · 14 days to 6 months Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | Pain on palpation of the affected and contralateral TMJ and masticatory muscles presented similar frequencies regardless of the time (Analyses 1.4-1.12); no statistically significant differences reported. Point… | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate vs Intra-articular injection of corticosteroids (betamethasone) Extent of mandibular movement (maximum jaw opening, lateral and contralateral movement, jaw protrusion) · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria · 14 days to 6 months Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | None of the mean differences between interventions for the measures of jaw movements (maximum jaw opening, lateral movement to affected side, contralateral movement, jaw protrusion; Analyses 1.16-1.27) showed… | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Reassurance / behavioral management (control of contributory factors) Outcome NR · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | The review noted the noticeable absence of evidence for reassurance among interventions for TMJ OA; no eligible RCT evaluated it (Discussion). | 0 studies | No studies |
Glucosamine sulfate (oral) vs Ibuprofen (oral) Pain-free maximum jaw opening (mm), change from baseline · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria · 90 days Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | MD 1.75 [-4.10, 7.60] | 1 study · 45 participants | Ungraded |
Extraction of the primary maxillary canine plus cervical pull headgear vs Extraction of the primary maxillary canine alone Prevalence of eruption/non-eruption of the palatally displaced permanent canine (successful eruption) · Children with palatally displaced maxillary canines (at least 80% aged 10 to 13 years); trials with craniofacial… · At least 6 months follow-up after the intervention Extraction of primary (baby) teeth for unerupted palatally displaced permanent canine teeth in children (2012) · Cochrane | Narrative (not pooled, not GRADE-rated). Leonardi 2004: extraction plus headgear (80%) gave significantly higher eruption than extraction alone (50%) (Chi2 4.69; P<0.05). Baccetti 2008: extraction plus headgear was… | 2 studies · 79 participants | Ungraded |
Arthrocentesis Outcome NR · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | No study evaluated arthrocentesis for TMJ OA, which should be explored in future trials (Research recommendations Table 1). | 0 studies | No studies |
Iontophoretically applied corticosteroids Outcome NR · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | The review noted the noticeable absence of evidence for iontophoretically applied corticosteroids; no eligible RCT evaluated it (Discussion). | 0 studies | No studies |
Intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate vs Intra-articular injection of corticosteroids (betamethasone) Reported pain (mm on VAS) · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria · 6 months Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | MD -17.00 [-32.60, -1.40] | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Glucosamine sulfate (oral) vs Ibuprofen (oral) Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) - pain interference, change from baseline · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria · 90 days Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | MD -6.74 [-14.70, 1.22] | 1 study · 45 participants | Ungraded |
Physiotherapy modalities (physiotherapy, short-wave diathermy, ultrasound) Outcome NR · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | The review noted the noticeable absence of evidence for physiotherapy, short-wave diathermy and ultrasound; no eligible RCT evaluated these (Discussion). | 0 studies | No studies |
Diclofenac sodium (oral NSAID) vs Occlusal splint therapy Morphological changes of the TMJs (assessed by CT) · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | The study reports morphological changes assessed by CT for the entire sample without distinction of group, so extraction was not possible. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Diclofenac sodium (oral NSAID) vs Occlusal splint therapy Pain (on movement and on palpation of the affected TMJ) · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria · 1 week and 3 months Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | Data for pain on movement or pain on palpation of the affected TMJ (both at 1 week and 3 months) could not be extracted, as they are described as percentages of an unclear total number. Narratively, diclofenac sodium… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Open TMJ surgery (arthroplasty / total joint replacement) Outcome NR · Adults (>18 years) with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) diagnosed by RDC/TMD or compatible criteria Interventions for managing temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (2012) · Cochrane | No study evaluated open surgery for TMJ OA, which should be explored in future trials (Research recommendations Table 1; Discussion). | 0 studies | No studies |