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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. Every word you type has to appear somewhere in the question, and the closest matches are ranked first.
10,375 questions in 429 reviews · Oral Health
current versionsNo 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.
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Secondary education vs University education Prevalence of untreated decay (% DT > 0) · Adults aged 25 years and older in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States · 2007-2009, Canada, Canada Socioeconomic status, oral health and dental disease in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. (2018) | AD 15.2 [8.8, 21.6] | 1 study · 3278 participants | Ungraded |
Secondary education vs University education Mean number of decayed teeth (mean DT) · 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 0.4 [0.1, 0.6] | 1 study · 2041 participants | Ungraded |
SPC paint-on gel vs CP paint-on gel Adverse effects · Adults (>=18 years) undergoing home-based bleaching (including tetracycline- and smoking-stained teeth, any baseline… Home‐based chemically‐induced whitening (bleaching) of teeth in adults (2018) · Cochrane | One subject in 19% SPC group reported oral sensitivity; all adverse events mild (Barlow 2003) | 1 study | Ungraded |
Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) vs Formocresol (FC) 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 1.00 [0.16, 6.20] | 1 study · 30 participants | Ungraded |
Artesunate vs Artemether Death · Patients with severe malaria · Network meta-regression covariate: average age (years) Graphs of study contributions and covariate distributions for network meta-regression. (2018) | no estimate extracted | NR | Ungraded |
Any surgical or non-surgical technique or material used for the treatment of post-extraction bleeding vs Another active intervention, placebo, or no treatment Adverse events · People of any age and either gender with post-extraction bleeding, regardless of type of teeth (anterior or posterior,… Interventions for treating post‐extraction bleeding (2018) · Cochrane | No data are available as no RCTs have been conducted on interventions to treat post-extraction bleeding | 0 studies | No studies |
Antifibrinolytic therapy - locally-applied tranexamic acid (TXA) mouthwash/solution (SoF eligibility: TXA or EACA; all included trials used topical TXA) vs Placebo (placebo solution/mouthwash) Major bleeding requiring transfusion of packed red blood cells · People on continuous VKA treatment undergoing minor oral surgery or dental extractions (eligibility included DOACs and… · 7 days Antifibrinolytic therapy for preventing oral bleeding in people on anticoagulants undergoing minor oral… (2018) · Cochrane | RD -0.00 [-0.05, 0.04] | 2 studies · 128 participants | Ungraded |
1:5 diluted formocresol (FC) vs 1:25 diluted formocresol (FC) Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | No event in any participant (Goyal 2014); not estimable | 1 study · 30 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride in varnish vs Fluoride in gel Caries increment in permanent teeth (DMFS change from baseline) · Children or adolescents · At least 1 year or school year, Network meta-regression covariate: randomization year Graphs of study contributions and covariate distributions for network meta-regression. (2018) | no estimate extracted | NR | Ungraded |
Full strength formocresol (FC) vs 1:25 diluted formocresol (FC) 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 | No event in any participant; not estimable | 1 study · 30 participants | Ungraded |
Antifibrinolytic therapy - locally-applied tranexamic acid (TXA) mouthwash/solution (SoF eligibility: TXA or EACA; all included trials used topical TXA) vs Placebo (placebo solution/mouthwash) Number of immediate and delayed postoperative bleeding episodes requiring intervention · People on continuous VKA treatment undergoing minor oral surgery or dental extractions (eligibility included DOACs and… · Immediate (<24 h) and delayed (24 h to 10 days); bleeds occurred 1, 3 or 5 days postoperatively Antifibrinolytic therapy for preventing oral bleeding in people on anticoagulants undergoing minor oral… (2018) · Cochrane | RD -0.22 [-0.35, -0.10] | 1 study · 89 participants | Ungraded |
Enhanced one-to-one OHA vs One-to-one OHA (standard) Periodontal health: plaque levels · Children or adults (fit and healthy, or with a well-defined medical condition) · 2 to 12 months One‐to‐one oral hygiene advice provided in a dental setting for oral health (2018) · Cochrane | SoF: 2 studies did not report usable data; 1 study gave low-quality evidence of a benefit in plaque reduction at 5.5 months for enhanced OHA; 3 studies found little or no difference; 1 study gave weak evidence of a… | 6 studies · 440 participants | Very low |
Twin Block functional appliance (conventional) vs Modified Twin Block appliances 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 -0.23 [-0.67, 0.22] | 2 studies · 196 participants | Ungraded |
Late treatment (one-phase) with fixed functional appliance vs No treatment Incidence of incisal trauma · 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 | Incidence of incisal trauma: Not measured | NR | No studies |
Sevoflurane vs A different sedative agent Behaviour · Children and adolescents (0 to 16 years) needing dental treatment Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment (2018) · Cochrane | Any behavioural score - Sevoflurane versus (other sedatives): 1140 (3); VERY LOW | 3 studies · 1140 participants | Very low |
SPC paint-on gel vs HP strips Adverse effects · Adults (>=18 years) undergoing home-based bleaching (including tetracycline- and smoking-stained teeth, any baseline… Home‐based chemically‐induced whitening (bleaching) of teeth in adults (2018) · Cochrane | Tooth sensitivity and oral irritation most common adverse events with strip use; symptomatic only (Bizhang 2007) | 1 study | Ungraded |
Autologous platelet concentrates (APC) + open flap debridement (OFD) + bone graft (BG) vs OFD + BG (open flap debridement + bone graft) Change in clinical attachment level (CAL) (mm) · Patients affected by infrabony defects requiring surgical treatment, regardless of their age or gender · 9 to 12 months, Split-mouth studies only Autologous platelet concentrates for treating periodontal infrabony defects (2018) · Cochrane | MD 0.84 [0.62, 1.06] | 6 studies · 192 participants | Ungraded |
Maxillary distraction osteogenesis vs Orthognathic surgery (conventional Le Fort I osteotomy) Velopharyngeal function (complete velopharyngeal closure; deterioration/improvement) · Adolescents or adults (15 years or older) with an established diagnosis of complete cleft lip and alveolar process, or… · 17 months (mean) Maxillary distraction osteogenesis versus orthognathic surgery for cleft lip and palate patients (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.28 [0.65, 2.52] | 1 study · 21 participants | Very low |
Routine scale and polish every 6 months vs Routine scale and polish every 12 months Probing depth · Dentate adults without severe periodontitis, regularly attending for dental care in primary care (UK general dental… · 36 months Routine scale and polish for periodontal health in adults (2018) · Cochrane | MD 0.00 [-0.04, 0.04] | 1 study · 882 participants | High |
Single-stage alginate impression (simplified method) vs Two stage-two step elastomer (silicone, polysulfide, or polyether) conventional method Maxillary denture satisfaction · Completely edentulous people · 6 months Final‐impression techniques and materials for making complete and removable partial dentures (2018) · Cochrane | SMD -0.02 [-0.34, 0.29] | 2 studies · 155 participants | Very low |
2% mepivacaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine Adverse effects: paraesthesia 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 studies | No studies |
Single-stage alginate impression (simplified method) vs Two stage-two step elastomer (silicone, polysulfide, or polyether) conventional method Participant-reported oral health-related quality of life (OHIP-EDENT) · Completely edentulous people · 1 month Final‐impression techniques and materials for making complete and removable partial dentures (2018) · Cochrane | MD 0.05 [-2.37, 2.47] | 2 studies · 98 participants | Very low |
Enhanced one-to-one OHA vs One-to-one OHA (standard) 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), Munster Halvari 2012 (multiple psychological measures: autonomy, motivation, perceived competence), Tedesco 1992 (theory of reasoned action variables);… | 3 studies | Ungraded |
2% mepivacaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine Duration of anaesthesia · 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 studies | No studies |
Fixed functional appliance (FORSUS FRD) vs Intermaxillary elastics Final ANB · 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 -0.9 [-1.96, 0.16] | 1 study · 28 participants | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Buffered glutaraldehyde Outcome NR · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | Assessed pain, soft tissue, mobility, radiolucency, root resorption, pulp canal obliteration (Goyal 2016); no clinical/radiological failure outcome; pain, mobility, radiolucency, root resorption significantly favour MTA | 1 study · 60 participants | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Diode laser Outcome NR · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | Assessed pain, soft tissue, mobility, radiolucency, root resorption, premature tooth loss (Niranjani 2015); no clinical/radiological failure outcome; no significant differences (RR 0.33, 0.01 to 7.72) | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
3Mix (ciprofloxacin + metronidazole + minocycline) pulpotomy vs 3Mix pulpectomy 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 5.00 [0.25, 99.95] | 1 study · 60 participants | Ungraded |
4% articaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine vs 4% articaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine Speed of onset of anaesthesia · 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 studies | No studies |
Mechanical debridement plus local antimicrobial (minocycline microspheres or doxycycline gel) vs Mechanical debridement alone Tooth loss · Adults treated for periodontitis and receiving supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) Supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) for maintaining the dentition in adults treated for periodontitis (2018) · Cochrane | Not measured | 0 studies | No studies |
ADMG + CAF vs SCTG + CAF 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 -0.53 [-1.14, 0.08] | 4 studies · 100 participants | Low |
Antifibrinolytic therapy - locally-applied tranexamic acid (TXA) mouthwash/solution (SoF eligibility: TXA or EACA; all included trials used topical TXA) vs Placebo (placebo solution/mouthwash) Any postoperative complication except bleeding (e.g. wound infection) · People on continuous VKA treatment undergoing minor oral surgery or dental extractions (eligibility included DOACs and… · 7 days Antifibrinolytic therapy for preventing oral bleeding in people on anticoagulants undergoing minor oral… (2018) · Cochrane | RD -0.02 [-0.07, 0.03] | 2 studies · 128 participants | Ungraded |
Low level of schooling (>33.60% of the population) vs Not applicable Mean DMFT · Adult participants in 25 meta-regression studies · Country-level study populations, Unadjusted model Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review… (2018) | Meta-regression coefficient -2.301079 | 11 studies | Ungraded |
Primary education vs University education Prevalence of fair/poor self-rated oral health · 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 10.88 [8.42, 13.33] | 1 study · 5073 participants | Ungraded |
2% mepivacaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine Adverse effects: pain on injection (solution deposition) · 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: See comment (orphan study; unclear whether data relate to just solution deposition); 48 participants, 48 interventions (1 study). Not pooled/graded. | 1 study · 48 participants | Ungraded |
Zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) vs ZOE + calcium hydroxide + iodoform (unnamed product) 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 | Radiological failure favouring ZOE+CH+iodoform product | 1 study · 109 participants | Ungraded |
Visual caries detection (ICDAS visual/visual-tactile inspection) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted) Sensitivity 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) | Sensitivity 64.6 [57, 71] | 94 studies | Ungraded |
Low polymerization shrinkage resin composite (silorane, ormocer, bulk-fill or other modified-monomer composite) vs Conventional methacrylate-based resin composite Retention (restoration loss) · People with permanent posterior teeth restored with class I or II direct restorations · 12 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) | OR 0.83 [0.33, 2.09] | 11 studies · 1834 participants | Ungraded |
Calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) cement vs Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) 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 | No radiological failure in any participant at 6 months; not estimable | 1 study · 42 participants | Very low |
Ferric sulphate (FS) vs Formocresol (FC) 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 1.33 [0.73, 2.42] | 6 studies · 394 participants | Low |
ProRoot MTA vs RetroMTA 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 0.35 [0.04, 3.22] | 1 study · 96 participants | Ungraded |
5.9% HP strip vs 5.9% HP paint-on gel Tooth whitening - assessed by the dentist · Adults (>=18 years) undergoing home-based bleaching (including tetracycline- and smoking-stained teeth, any baseline… Home‐based chemically‐induced whitening (bleaching) of teeth in adults (2018) · Cochrane | MD 1.28 [0.77, 1.79] | 1 study · 33 participants | Ungraded |
Erbium:YAG laser vs Ferric sulphate (FS) 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 0.61 [0.19, 1.94] | 1 study · 97 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride in gel vs No treatment Caries increment in permanent teeth (DMFS change from baseline) · Children or adolescents · At least 1 year or school year, Network meta-regression covariate: randomization year Graphs of study contributions and covariate distributions for network meta-regression. (2018) | no estimate extracted | NR | Ungraded |
Slow-release fluoride device (fluoride glass beads) vs Placebo or usual care (control) Harms of slow-release fluoride devices · Children with high risk of dental decay Slow‐release fluoride devices for the control of dental decay (2018) · Cochrane | 132 (1 study); very low; Study reported that no irritations or other harms were reported | 1 study · 132 participants | Very low |
Low polymerization shrinkage resin composite (silorane, ormocer, bulk-fill or other modified-monomer composite) vs Conventional methacrylate-based resin composite Marginal discoloration · People with permanent posterior teeth restored with class I or II direct restorations · 12 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) | OR 1.53 [0.98, 2.41] | 13 studies · 2082 participants | Ungraded |
Electrosurgery vs Calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6, 12 and 24 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | No clinical failure in any participant at 6/12/24 months (Khorakian 2014); not estimable | 1 study · 102 participants | Ungraded |
Populations with a low level of schooling (>=33.60% of the population with low schooling) vs Populations with a higher level of schooling (<33.60% of the population with low schooling) 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), Overall Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review… (2018) | MEAN 10.87 [7.53, 14.20] | 11 studies | Ungraded |
5% CP gel in tray vs 10% CP gel in tray Tooth whitening - assessed by the dentist · Adults (>=18 years) undergoing home-based bleaching (including tetracycline- and smoking-stained teeth, any baseline… · 2 weeks Home‐based chemically‐induced whitening (bleaching) of teeth in adults (2018) · Cochrane | MD 0.41 [-2.17, 2.98] | 1 study · 21 participants | Very low |
Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) vs Ferric sulphate (FS) 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 4.39 [0.22, 87.82] | 2 studies · 110 participants | Very low |