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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Enamel matrix derivative (EMD) 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 | RR 0.14 [0.01, 2.67] | 1 study · 70 participants | Ungraded |
0.5% bupivacaine, 1:200,000 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 |
Autologous platelet concentrates (APC) + open flap debridement (OFD) vs OFD (open flap debridement) alone 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 studies | No studies |
Twin Block functional appliance vs Other functional appliances (Bionator, Herbst, R-appliance, Dynamax, Bite-Jumping) 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 0.08 [-0.6, 0.76] | 4 studies · 259 participants | Low |
CP 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 | Not reported | NR | No studies |
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 proximal caries · Proximal 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) | Specificity 95.5 [94, 97] | 22 studies | 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) Positive LR for detecting all (initial and 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 5.34 [4.2, 6.8] | 31 studies | Ungraded |
Planned, regular routine scale and polish (6-monthly; 12-monthly parallel) vs No scheduled scale and polish treatment Plaque · Dentate adults without severe periodontitis, regularly attending for dental care in primary care (UK general dental… · 24 months, 6-monthly (12-monthly parallel) Routine scale and polish for periodontal health in adults (2018) · Cochrane | MD -0.04 [-0.13, 0.05] | 1 study · 207 participants | Low |
Electrofulguration + calcium hydroxide (CH) vs Electrofulguration + zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) 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 0.94 [0.47, 1.88] | 1 study · 47 participants | Ungraded |
Erbium:YAG laser vs Formocresol (FC) 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 1.06 [0.28, 4.01] | 1 study · 97 participants | Ungraded |
Low income vs High income Mean number of decayed teeth (mean DT) · 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 0.22 [0.08, 0.35] | 1 study · 4568 participants | Ungraded |
Zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) vs Formocresol (FC) 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 0.83 [0.29, 2.38] | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Photodynamic therapy plus mechanical debridement vs Mechanical debridement alone Probing pocket depth (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 -0.09 [-1.41, 1.23] | 1 study · 10 participants | Very low |
Early treatment (two-phase) with headgear vs Early treatment (two-phase) with functional appliance Final ANB · 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 -0.04 [-0.49, 0.41] | 2 studies · 271 participants | Ungraded |
Low socioeconomic status (>22.4% of the population) vs Not applicable Mean DMFT · Adult participants in 25 meta-regression studies · Country-level study populations, Model 2 adjusted Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review… (2018) | Meta-regression coefficient 10.35391 | 7 studies | Ungraded |
GTR rm associated with bone substitutes + CAF vs SCTG + CAF 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 | Rosetti 2013: patient satisfaction survey indicated all patients satisfied with aesthetic results of both procedures at 18 months; no significant differences between 18- and 30-month assessments | 1 study | Ungraded |
18% CP paint-on gel (4x/day) vs 18% CP paint-on gel (2x/day) Tooth whitening - assessed by the dentist · Adults (>=18 years) undergoing home-based bleaching (including tetracycline- and smoking-stained teeth, any baseline… · 1 week Home‐based chemically‐induced whitening (bleaching) of teeth in adults (2018) · Cochrane | MD 1.39 [0.50, 2.28] | 1 study · 69 participants | Very low |
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 · 2009, New Zealand, New Zealand Socioeconomic status, oral health and dental disease in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. (2018) | AD 14.1 [5.1, 23.1] | 1 study · 2041 participants | Ungraded |
GTR rm + CAF vs GTR nrm + CAF Occurrence of adverse effects or postoperative complications · 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 | Roccuzzo 1996: membrane exposure reported between the first and second weeks of healing | 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) Specificity for detecting all (initial and 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 77.8 [70, 84] | 14 studies | Ungraded |
14% HP strip vs Placebo Tooth whitening - assessed by the dentist · Adults (>=18 years) undergoing home-based bleaching (including tetracycline- and smoking-stained teeth, any baseline… · 6 weeks Home‐based chemically‐induced whitening (bleaching) of teeth in adults (2018) · Cochrane | MD 5.16 [4.21, 6.11] | 1 study · 35 participants | Very low |
4% articaine plain vs 4% articaine, 1:200,000 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 0.03 [-0.66, 0.71] | 2 studies · 102 participants | Very low |
Ball (stud) attachment system vs Telescopic attachment system Prosthodontic maintenance: matrix replaced (short term) · 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 | RR 1.75 [0.71, 4.31] | 1 study · 22 participants | Very low |
Total-etching 36% phosphoric acid + acetone-based total-etch adhesive vs Acetone-based total-etch adhesive Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 12 and 24 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 3.00 [0.13, 69.52] | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |
Autologous platelet concentrates (APC) + open flap debridement (OFD) vs OFD (open flap debridement) alone 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 Autologous platelet concentrates for treating periodontal infrabony defects (2018) · Cochrane | MD 1.47 [1.11, 1.82] | 12 studies · 510 participants | Very low |
Any form of one-to-one oral hygiene advice (OHA) vs No OHA Adverse events · 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 | No adverse events due to OHA were reported in the included trials (review-wide; assessed across all 19 included studies). | NR | Ungraded |
HP strips vs Placebo 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 | Mild and transient tooth sensitivity and oral irritation were the most common adverse events reported in most of the trials | 7 studies | Ungraded |
ADMG + CAF vs CAF 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 related to patient's opinion: Not reported (SoF 2) | 0 studies | No studies |
Vitapex (calcium hydroxide/iodoform) vs ZOE + calcium hydroxide + iodoform (MPRCF, unnamed product) 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 21.79 [1.32, 360.78] | 1 study · 109 participants | Ungraded |
SPT performed by non-specialist clinicians (general dental practitioners under specialist prescription) vs SPT performed by specialists (specialist practice) Adverse events · 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 |
Chemical cured composite vs Compomer (polyacid-modified resin composite) Bracket (bond) failure · Patients with fixed orthodontic appliances attached to their teeth · To end of appliance treatment Adhesives for fixed orthodontic brackets (2018) · Cochrane | OR 0.86 [0.24, 2.98] | 1 study · 45 participants | Ungraded |
Medium income vs High income 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 [0.2, 0.6] | 1 study · 2041 participants | Ungraded |
3% prilocaine, 0.03 IU felypressin 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 |
14% HP strip vs Placebo Tooth whitening - assessed by the dentist · Adults (>=18 years) undergoing home-based bleaching (including tetracycline- and smoking-stained teeth, any baseline… · 3 weeks Home‐based chemically‐induced whitening (bleaching) of teeth in adults (2018) · Cochrane | MD 7.60 [6.18, 9.02] | 1 study · 28 participants | Very low |
Any form of one-to-one oral hygiene advice (OHA) vs No OHA Periodontal health: plaque levels · Children or adults (fit and healthy, or with a well-defined medical condition) · 6 to 36 months One‐to‐one oral hygiene advice provided in a dental setting for oral health (2018) · Cochrane | SoF: Both studies at all time points consistently showed a benefit in plaque reduction for OHA. Results: Hetland 1982 MD -0.41 (-0.54 to -0.28) at 3mo, -0.44 (-0.56 to -0.32) at 6mo; Hugoson 2007 MD -13.00 (-19.89 to… | 2 studies · 235 participants | Low |
1% STPP chewing gum vs Placebo Tooth whitening - assessed by the dentist · Adults (>=18 years) undergoing home-based bleaching (including tetracycline- and smoking-stained teeth, any baseline… · 6 weeks Home‐based chemically‐induced whitening (bleaching) of teeth in adults (2018) · Cochrane | MD 0.18 [0.10, 0.26] | 1 study · 108 participants | Very low |
4% prilocaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine Success of local 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 | RR 1.14 [0.91, 1.43] | 2 studies · 48 participants | Low |
Calcium hydroxide (CH) vs Zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) 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 2.50 [0.50, 12.50] | 2 studies · 110 participants | Low |
Fluoride in varnish vs No treatment Caries increment in permanent teeth · Children or adolescents · At least 1 year or school year, Randomisation year, NMR covariate Graphs of study contributions and covariate distributions for network meta-regression. (2018) | no estimate extracted | NR | Ungraded |
Endoflas (CH + ZOE + iodoform) vs Zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) 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 0.26 [0.05, 1.50] | 2 studies · 80 participants | Moderate |
3% prilocaine, 0.03 IU felypressin vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine Success of local anaesthesia, absence of pain (clinical testing of healthy pulps, hard and soft tissues) · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario… · Not reported (estimated < 2 hours) Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.86 [0.79, 0.95] | 2 studies · 907 participants | Moderate |
3% prilocaine, 0.03 IU felypressin vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine 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 studies | No studies |
Autologous platelet concentrates (APC) + guided tissue regeneration (GTR) vs GTR (guided tissue regeneration) alone Change in probing depth (PD) (mm) · Patients affected by infrabony defects requiring surgical treatment, regardless of their age or gender · 9 to 12 months Autologous platelet concentrates for treating periodontal infrabony defects (2018) · Cochrane | MD 0.68 [-0.66, 2.02] | 5 studies · 164 participants | Ungraded |
Metapex (calcium hydroxide/iodoform) vs Zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) 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 1.00 [0.31, 3.27] | 2 studies · 62 participants | Moderate |
4% articaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine Adverse effects: pain following injection, Heft-Parker VAS 0-170 mm · Participants of any age and gender undergoing dental procedures, and volunteers who took part in simulated scenario… · Measured at the time anaesthesia wore off Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane | MD 6.41 [1.01, 11.8] | 3 studies · 156 participants | Moderate |
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) Negative LR 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) | Negative LR 0.29 [0.2, 0.4] | 55 studies | Ungraded |
Placebo 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 |
Any surgical or non-surgical technique or material used for the treatment of post-extraction bleeding vs Another active intervention, placebo, or no treatment Treatment-associated average cost · 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 |
Single-stage alginate impression (simplified method) vs Two stage-two step zinc-oxide eugenol (ZoE) traditional method Operator-assessed quality of the denture (retention and stability) · Completely edentulous people · 3 to 6 months Final‐impression techniques and materials for making complete and removable partial dentures (2018) · Cochrane | There was insufficient evidence of a clear difference between groups for operator-assessed quality of the dentures for retention and stability of dentures (Regis 2013). | 1 study | 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) Positive 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… · Conventional meta-analysis (all studies) Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and… (2018) | Positive LR 3.46 [2.8, 4.3] | 67 studies | Ungraded |