Gap finder
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Endoflas chlorophenol free (Endoflas-CF) vs Zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) 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 1.33 [0.35, 5.03] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Radiographic caries detection (bitewing radiography) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted) PPV 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) | PPV 32.1 | 11 studies | Ungraded |
Fluorides combined with CPP-ACP vs Fluorides alone (monotherapy) Laser fluorescence (LF) change · Patients with early caries lesions in permanent teeth (non-fluoridated water area) · Post-treatment (12-24 weeks), In vivo clinical trial (human oral cavity; smooth-surface early caries lesions), Location of lesions: smooth surfaces Efficacy of fluorides and CPP-ACP vs fluorides monotherapy on early caries lesions: A systematic review and… (2018) | MD -13.90 [-39.25, 11.46] | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Sealapex (eugenol-free calcium hydroxide) vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) 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 0.50 [0.10, 2.43] | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride in varnish 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 |
Photodynamic therapy plus mechanical debridement vs Mechanical debridement alone Clinical attachment level (mm) · Adults treated for periodontitis and receiving supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) · 12 months Supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) for maintaining the dentition in adults treated for periodontitis (2018) · Cochrane | MD -0.97 [-3.51, 1.57] | 1 study · 10 participants | Very low |
Ball (stud) attachment system vs Magnetic attachment system Patient satisfaction / quality of life (validated measure) · Edentulous adults receiving mandibular implant overdentures (opposing conventional complete maxillary dentures) Interventions for replacing missing teeth: attachment systems for implant overdentures in edentulous jaws (2018) · Cochrane | Two trials (Cune 2010; Naert 1999) reported patient satisfaction. However, we could not use any data from these studies. Quality of life as assessed by a validated measure was not recorded in any of the trials. | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Full strength formocresol (FC) vs 1:5 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 |
Enamel matrix derivative (EMD) vs 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 | RR 0.80 [0.23, 2.83] | 2 studies · 100 participants | Very low |
Low income vs High income Prevalence of untreated decay (% DT > 0) · Adults aged 25 years and older in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States · 2003-2004, United States, United States Socioeconomic status, oral health and dental disease in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. (2018) | AD 8.93 [4.79, 13.06] | 1 study · 4568 participants | Ungraded |
EMP + CAF vs 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 0.22 [-0.02, 0.45] | 3 studies · 136 participants | Low |
3% prilocaine, 0.03 IU felypressin vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine Adverse effects: allergy to local anaesthetic · 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 |
3Mix (ciprofloxacin + metronidazole + minocycline) pulpotomy vs 3Mix pulpectomy 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 11.00 [0.64, 190.53] | 1 study · 60 participants | Ungraded |
Radiographic caries detection (bitewing radiography) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted) NPV for detecting 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) | NPV 94.3 | 36 studies | Ungraded |
EMP + CAF vs CAF 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 0.07 [-0.25, 0.40] | 3 studies · 136 participants | Low |
Routine scale and polish every 6 months vs Routine scale and polish every 12 months Gingivitis · Dentate adults without severe periodontitis, regularly attending for dental care in primary care (UK general dental… · 24 to 36 months Routine scale and polish for periodontal health in adults (2018) · Cochrane | SMD 0.03 [-0.09, 0.15] | 2 studies · 1090 participants | High |
Radiographic caries detection (bitewing radiography) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted) PPV for detecting 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) | PPV 39.5 | 36 studies | 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) Specificity for detecting 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) | Specificity 84.9 [82, 89] | 55 studies | Ungraded |
Ketamine/midazolam 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 - Ketamine/midazolam versus (other sedatives): 27 (1); VERY LOW | 1 study · 27 participants | Very low |
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) PPV 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) | PPV 35.6 | 51 studies | Ungraded |
4% articaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine Adverse effects: allergy to local anaesthetic · 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 |
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 · 18 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) | Only two articles, both testing silorane resins, evaluated marginal discoloration after 18 months; one favored the experimental group and one the control group, with the meta-analysis showing no difference in the… | 2 studies | 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) Association with dental caries experience (DMFT) by random-effects meta-regression · Adults aged 19-60 years · Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016), Adjusted (Model 1) Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review… (2018) | Meta-regression coefficient 7.205453 | NR | Ungraded |
0.5% bupivacaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine 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 3.32 [0.27, 6.37] | 2 studies · 63 participants | Low |
Low polymerization shrinkage resin composite (silorane, ormocer, bulk-fill or other modified-monomer composite) vs Conventional methacrylate-based resin composite Postoperative sensitivity · People with permanent posterior teeth restored with class I or II direct restorations · 24 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) | Six articles (seven experimental groups) evaluated postoperative sensitivity after 24 months; four showed no sensitivity in either group and three favored the control group, but the overall meta-analytic effect was not… | 6 studies | Ungraded |
4% articaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 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 |
Personalised one-to-one OHA vs Routine one-to-one OHA Economic net benefits (cost effectiveness) · 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 | Ramsay 2018 reported economic net benefits of OHA; measured, not synthesised or GRADE-rated. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Ball (stud) attachment system vs Magnetic attachment system Prosthodontic maintenance (general categorization) · Edentulous adults receiving mandibular implant overdentures (opposing conventional complete maxillary dentures) Interventions for replacing missing teeth: attachment systems for implant overdentures in edentulous jaws (2018) · Cochrane | Recorded by Cristache 2014, Cune 2010 and Naert 1999; they did not provide usable data for inclusion in the review. | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Fixed functional appliance (FORSUS FRD) vs Intermaxillary elastics 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 0.28 [-0.35, 0.91] | 1 study · 28 participants | Ungraded |
18% CP paint-on gel vs 16.4% CP paint-on gel 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 -0.70 [-2.21, 0.81] | 1 study · 93 participants | Very low |
Vitapex (calcium hydroxide/iodoform) vs Sealapex (eugenol-free calcium hydroxide) 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 0.20 [0.01, 3.92] | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Calcium hydroxide/iodoform (CH/iodoform) vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) 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 1.17 [0.87, 1.59] | 1 study · 65 participants | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Caries and/or fillings in adjacent teeth · Occlusal surfaces (extraction vs FPM present; more decayed/filled with extraction) Consequences of early extraction of compromised first permanent molar: a systematic review. (2018) | OR 1.64 [1.35, 2.1] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Biodentine vs Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) 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 | RR 1.72 [0.42, 6.99] | 4 studies · 234 participants | Low |
EMP + CAF vs SCTG + CAF Occurrence of adverse effects or postoperative complications · Adult patients with single (localised) recession-type defects (Miller Class I/II, at least 3 mm) Root coverage procedures for treating localised and multiple recession‐type defects (2018) · Cochrane | McGuire 2012: patient-reported discomfort statistically significantly higher for SCTG than EMP + CAF, only at 1 month postoperatively | 1 study | Ungraded |
Lower university education (<33.78% 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 -0.3066788 | 18 studies | Ungraded |
Early treatment (two-phase: phase 1 in childhood, phase 2 in adolescence) with functional appliance vs Late treatment (one-phase in adolescence) with functional appliance Self concept · 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 | MD -3.63 [-7.66, 0.4] | 1 study · 135 participants | Ungraded |
Oral midazolam 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 - Oral midazolam versus (other sedatives): 654 (7); VERY LOW | 7 studies · 654 participants | Very low |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Simvastatin 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 estimable | 1 study · 160 participants | Ungraded |
16% CP gel in tray + ACP vs 16% 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… · 6 months Home‐based chemically‐induced whitening (bleaching) of teeth in adults (2018) · Cochrane | MD 0.78 [0.37, 1.19] | 1 study · 27 participants | Low |
Any attachment system for maxillary implant overdentures vs A different attachment system for maxillary implant overdentures Outcome NR · Edentulous adults receiving maxillary implant overdentures Interventions for replacing missing teeth: attachment systems for implant overdentures in edentulous jaws (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) Clinical 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 | No clinical failure in any participant (Fernandes 2015); not estimable | 1 study · 30 participants | Ungraded |
Radiographic caries detection (bitewing radiography) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted) Specificity for detecting 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) | Specificity 89.1 [86, 92] | 38 studies | Ungraded |
Fluoride in rinse vs Placebo 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 |
3Mixtatin vs Simvastatin 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 estimable | 1 study · 160 participants | Ungraded |
Glutaraldehyde + zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) vs Full strength formocresol (FC) Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 3 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.46 [0.09, 2.28] | 1 study · 48 participants | Ungraded |
Ferric sulphate (FS) vs Formocresol (FC) 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 1.38 [0.45, 4.27] | 6 studies · 394 participants | Low |
Radiographic caries detection (bitewing radiography) 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 proximal caries · Proximal 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 44.4 [38, 51] | 22 studies | Ungraded |
Ball (stud) attachment system vs Magnetic attachment system Re-treatment: repair of attachment system (medium term) · Edentulous adults receiving mandibular implant overdentures (opposing conventional complete maxillary dentures) · Medium term (3 to 5 years) Interventions for replacing missing teeth: attachment systems for implant overdentures in edentulous jaws (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.75 [0.65, 4.72] | 1 study · 69 participants | Very low |
HDI (quantitative) vs Populations in countries with a higher Human Development Index (very high, HDI >=0.800) Association with dental caries experience (DMFT) by random-effects meta-regression · Adults aged 19-60 years · Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016), Adjusted (Model 2) Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review… (2018) | Meta-regression coefficient 6.901906 | NR | Ungraded |