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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. Every word you type has to appear somewhere in the question, and the closest matches are ranked first. Each row links to its question's own page, which gathers every review that asked it, however worded; see the questions asked by more than one review.

Limit to evidence status or GRADE (optional)

10,375 questions in 429 reviews · Oral Health

current versions
No studies 1,344 · 13%Ungraded 6,832 · 65.9%Very low 1,228 · 11.8%Low 613 · 5.9%Moderate 290 · 2.8%High 68 · 0.7%

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
Abutment mobility · Partially edentulous people requiring a tooth- and tissue-supported (distal-extension) removable partial denture · 1 year, right abutment
Final‐impression techniques and materials for making complete and removable partial dentures (2018) · Cochrane
RR 2.90 [0.87, 9.61]1 studyVery low
Behaviour · Children and adolescents (0 to 16 years) needing dental treatment
Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment (2018) · Cochrane
Any behavioural score - Chloral hydrate/hydroxyzine versus (other sedatives): 235 (6); VERY LOW6 studies · 235 participantsVery low
Success of local anaesthesia (clinical; orphan data) · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
No data available for meta-analysis; orphan data summarized in Table 6. Not pooled/graded.NRUngraded
Preterm birth stratified by gestational age at birth (moderate-to-late 32 to <37, very 28 to <32, extremely <28 weeks) · Pregnant women · Pregnant women assessed around delivery in observational studies across multiple countries (Mexico, Malawi, India, France, Jordan, Finland, Tanzania); mostly retrospective cohort and case-control designs, By gestational age at birth
Dental caries and preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2018)
no estimate extracted0 studiesUngraded
Patient-reported changes in knowledge, attitudes and quality of life · Children or adults (fit and healthy, or with a well-defined medical condition)
One‐to‐one oral hygiene advice provided in a dental setting for oral health (2018) · Cochrane
Hoogstraten 1983 (dental knowledge, attitude, behaviour, fear of dental treatment) and Memarpour 2016 (parents' knowledge and performance regarding oral health); measured, not synthesised or GRADE-rated.2 studiesUngraded
Mean number of decayed teeth (mean DT) · Adults aged 25 years and older in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States · 2004-2006, Australia, Australia
Socioeconomic status, oral health and dental disease in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. (2018)
AD 0.35 [0.24, 0.46]1 study · 5073 participantsUngraded
Plaque · Dentate adults without severe periodontitis, regularly attending for dental care in primary care (UK general dental… · 24 months
Routine scale and polish for periodontal health in adults (2018) · Cochrane
MD -0.04 [-0.13, 0.05]1 study · 207 participantsLow
Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 12 months
Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane
RR 42.63 [2.65, 685.54]1 study · 109 participantsUngraded
Prevalence of fair/poor self-rated oral health · Adults aged 25 years and older in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States · 2009, New Zealand, New Zealand
Socioeconomic status, oral health and dental disease in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. (2018)
AD 4.2 [-2.9, 11.2]1 study · 2041 participantsUngraded
Aesthetic condition change related to patient's opinion · Adult patients with single (localised) recession-type defects (Miller Class I/II, at least 3 mm) · Short term (6 to 12 months)
Root coverage procedures for treating localised and multiple recession‐type defects (2018) · Cochrane
Aesthetic condition change was not reported for this comparison0 studiesNo studies
Ferric sulphate (FS) + mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Ferric sulphate (FS)
Outcome NR · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · mean 22 months
Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane
Assessed pain, soft tissue, mobility, adjacent tissue inflammation, radiolucency, root resorption, pulp canal obliteration (Doyle 2010); no clinical/radiological failure outcome; no significant differences1 study · 135 participantsUngraded
Oral health-related quality of life · Patients affected by infrabony defects requiring surgical treatment, regardless of their age or gender
Autologous platelet concentrates for treating periodontal infrabony defects (2018) · Cochrane
No quantitative analysis regarding patients' quality of life was possible (no data).0 studiesNo studies
Sensitivity for detecting all (initial and advanced) occlusal caries · Occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly… · Private practice, rural northern Germany, Tailored to Germany
Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and… (2018)
Sensitivity 36.0 [20, 56]9 studiesUngraded
Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 12 months
Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane
RR 4.75 [1.21, 18.55]4 studies · 161 participantsLow
Negative LR for detecting all (initial and advanced) occlusal caries · Occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly… · Private practice, rural northern Germany, Tailored to Germany
Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and… (2018)
Negative LR 0.76 [0.58, 0.99]9 studiesUngraded
Marginal discoloration · People with permanent posterior teeth restored with class I or II direct restorations · 60 months, Posterior class I/II restorations in permanent teeth; multicenter randomized controlled trials conducted across Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East
Meta-analysis of the clinical behavior of posterior direct resin restorations: Low polymerization shrinkage… (2018)
Two articles (three experimental groups) evaluated marginal discoloration after 60 months; the meta-analysis showed no difference in the overall effect.2 studiesUngraded
Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · up to 24 months
Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane
No radiological failure in any participant; not estimable1 study · 50 participantsUngraded
Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6 and 12 months
Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane
RR 0.50 [0.15, 1.64]1 study · 30 participantsUngraded
Positive LR for detecting advanced proximal caries · Proximal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly… · Public health clinic, Giza (Cairo), Egypt, Tailored to Egypt
Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and… (2018)
Positive LR 9.82 [7.3, 13.3]22 studiesUngraded
Tooth whitening - assessed by the dentist · Adults (>=18 years) undergoing home-based bleaching (including tetracycline- and smoking-stained teeth, any baseline… · 2 days
Home‐based chemically‐induced whitening (bleaching) of teeth in adults (2018) · Cochrane
MD 0.89 [0.77, 1.01]1 study · 37 participantsVery low
Clinical attachment level change · Adult patients with single (localised) recession-type defects (Miller Class I/II, at least 3 mm) · Short term (6 to 12 months)
Root coverage procedures for treating localised and multiple recession‐type defects (2018) · Cochrane
MD -0.52 [-1.34, 0.30]2 studiesUngraded
Intervention NR
Overall failure
Pulpotomy versus pulpectomy in the treatment of vital pulp exposure in primary incisors. A systematic review… (2018)
no estimate extracted2 studiesUngraded
Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 12 months
Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane
No radiological failure in any participant; not estimable1 study · 160 participantsUngraded
Specificity for detecting advanced occlusal caries · Occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly… · Conventional meta-analysis (all studies)
Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and… (2018)
Specificity 90.9 [88, 93]94 studiesUngraded
Prosthodontic maintenance (general categorization) · Edentulous adults receiving mandibular implant overdentures (opposing conventional complete maxillary dentures) · Short term (1 to 3 years)
Interventions for replacing missing teeth: attachment systems for implant overdentures in edentulous jaws (2018) · Cochrane
Recorded by Kappel 2016 and Walton 2002; they did not provide usable data for inclusion in the review.2 studiesUngraded
Successful (complete) closure of oro-antral communication · People of any age with oro-antral communications, fistulae, or both caused by dental procedures · One month after surgery
Interventions for treating oro‐antral communications and fistulae due to dental procedures (2018) · Cochrane
RR 1.00 [0.83, 1.20]1 study · 20 participantsVery low
Final overjet · Adolescents (age 12 to 16 years) receiving orthodontic treatment to correct prominent upper front teeth (Class II… · End of orthodontic treatment
Orthodontic treatment for prominent upper front teeth (Class II malocclusion) in children and adolescents (2018) · Cochrane
MD 0.74 [0.15, 1.33]2 studies · 154 participantsLow
Time required for healing · People of any age with oro-antral communications, fistulae, or both caused by dental procedures
Interventions for treating oro‐antral communications and fistulae due to dental procedures (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Duration of anaesthesia (soft tissue, simulated) · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
MD 222.88 [135.99, 309.76]6 studies · 232 participantsVery low
Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 24 months
Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane
RR 0.33 [0.01, 7.81]1 study · 50 participantsUngraded
Patient satisfaction with advice provided · Children or adults (fit and healthy, or with a well-defined medical condition)
One‐to‐one oral hygiene advice provided in a dental setting for oral health (2018) · Cochrane
Aljafari 2017 reported parent and child satisfaction with their educational intervention; measured, not synthesised or GRADE-rated.1 studyUngraded
Negative LR for detecting all (initial and advanced) occlusal caries · Occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly… · Public health clinic, Giza (Cairo), Egypt, Tailored to Egypt
Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and… (2018)
Negative LR 0.75 [0.6, 0.94]11 studiesUngraded
Behaviour · Children and adolescents (0 to 16 years) needing dental treatment
Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment (2018) · Cochrane
Any behavioural score - Ketamine versus (other sedatives): 494 (8); VERY LOW8 studies · 494 participantsVery low
Final overjet · Children (7 to 11 years) and adolescents (12 to 16 years) with prominent upper front teeth (Class II malocclusion) · End of orthodontic treatment (phase II)
Orthodontic treatment for prominent upper front teeth (Class II malocclusion) in children and adolescents (2018) · Cochrane
MD 0.21 [-0.1, 0.51]3 studies · 343 participantsLow
Incidence of incisal trauma · Children (7 to 11 years) and adolescents (12 to 16 years) with prominent upper front teeth (Class II malocclusion) · End of phase I (growth modification phase)
Orthodontic treatment for prominent upper front teeth (Class II malocclusion) in children and adolescents (2018) · Cochrane
OR 0.72 [0.35, 1.49]2 studies · 281 participantsUngraded
Duration of anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps) · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
MD 21.87 [-10.96, 54.71]3 studies · 52 participantsVery low
Speed of onset of anaesthesia (pulpal, electric pulp tester; healthy pulps) · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
MD -1.23 [-2.31, -0.16]3 studies · 85 participantsLow
Clinical attachment level change · Adult patients with single (localised) recession-type defects (Miller Class I/II, at least 3 mm) · Short term (6 to 12 months)
Root coverage procedures for treating localised and multiple recession‐type defects (2018) · Cochrane
MD 0.51 [-0.25, 1.27]2 studies · 50 participantsLow
Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 24 months
Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane
RR 3.11 [1.61, 6.02]1 study · 120 participantsLow
Behaviour · Children and adolescents (0 to 16 years) needing dental treatment
Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment (2018) · Cochrane
Any behavioural score - Midazolam (any mode of delivery): 394 (10 studies); VERY LOW. Insufficient evidence to determine whether any specific dose of intranasal midazolam is effective; weak evidence oral midazolam…10 studies · 394 participantsVery low
Quality of life · Children (80% aged <= 16 years) with a Class II division 2 malocclusion (deep bite and retroclined upper front teeth)
Orthodontic treatment for deep bite and retroclined upper front teeth in children (2018) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Development and eruption of the third molar · Children aged 5 to 15 years with a compromised first permanent molar · Hospital-based oral surgery and orthodontic departments (Turkey)
Consequences of early extraction of compromised first permanent molar: a systematic review. (2018)
OR 2.86 [1.37, 5.96]2 studiesUngraded
Formocresol (FC) pulpotomy vs Calcium hydroxide pulpectomy
Outcome NR · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth
Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane
Coser 2008 randomised 51 teeth; no data provided for any outcome0 studiesNo studies
Gingival recession depth change · Adult patients with single (localised) recession-type defects (Miller Class I/II, at least 3 mm) · Short term (6 to 12 months)
Root coverage procedures for treating localised and multiple recession‐type defects (2018) · Cochrane
MD 0.40 [0.11, 0.68]2 studies · 104 participantsLow
Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6 months
Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane
RR 1.25 [0.38, 4.12]2 studies · 50 participantsLow
Adverse effects: pain following injection · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario…
Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane
SoF: Not measured.0 studiesNo studies
Dental caries experience (DMFT) · Adults aged 19-60 years · Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016), Low schooling (>=33.60% with low schooling)
Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review… (2018)
MEAN 9.63 [4.38, 14.89]5 studiesUngraded
PAR score · Children (7 to 11 years) and adolescents (12 to 16 years) with prominent upper front teeth (Class II malocclusion) · End of orthodontic treatment (phase II)
Orthodontic treatment for prominent upper front teeth (Class II malocclusion) in children and adolescents (2018) · Cochrane
MD -0.81 [-2.21, 0.58]2 studies · 224 participantsUngraded
Sites with complete root coverage · Adult patients with single (localised) recession-type defects (Miller Class I/II, at least 3 mm) · Short term (6 to 12 months)
Root coverage procedures for treating localised and multiple recession‐type defects (2018) · Cochrane
OR 1.33 [0.46, 3.85]2 studiesUngraded
Advanced proximal carious lesions · Permanent molar surfaces in diagnostic accuracy studies (mostly in vitro; clinical) · All included studies, Conventional meta-analysis (all studies)
Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and… (2018)
Specificity 95.5 [94, 97]22 studiesUngraded