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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Fluoride in dentifrice 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 |
CP gel in tray vs HP gel in tray 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 | No difference between HP and CP in tray groups in tooth sensitivity and oral irritation | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Altered-cast impression technique (ACIP), polyether vs One-piece cast technique (OPC), polyether Participant-reported quality of the denture (general satisfaction) · Partially edentulous people requiring a tooth- and tissue-supported (distal-extension) removable partial denture · 1 year Final‐impression techniques and materials for making complete and removable partial dentures (2018) · Cochrane | The study reported that 50 of 57 participants were moderately to completely satisfied, with no significant difference between the groups. Data not reported separately for each group. | 1 study · 57 participants | Low |
4% articaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine vs 4% articaine, 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… · 5 minutes post-injection to end of clinical procedure Injectable local anaesthetic agents for dental anaesthesia (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.85 [0.71, 1.02] | 3 studies · 930 participants | Very low |
Populations in countries with a lower Human Development Index (high category, HDI <0.800) vs Populations in countries with a higher Human Development Index (very high, HDI >=0.800) 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), High HDI (<0.800) Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review… (2018) | MEAN 10.01 [5.34, 14.69] | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Metapex (calcium hydroxide/iodoform) vs Zinc oxide and propolis (ZOP) 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 0.80 [0.26, 2.45] | 1 study · 32 participants | Ungraded |
Portland cement (PC) vs Full strength formocresol (FC) 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 2.00 [0.19, 21.06] | 1 study · 70 participants | Ungraded |
Acetone-based total-etch adhesive vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) 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 estimable | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Ferric sulphate (FS) 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; no significant differences | 1 study · 60 participants | Ungraded |
Zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) vs RC Fill Outcome NR · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | Listed as a pulpectomy comparison; no extractable outcome data reported in this version | 0 studies | No studies |
Radiographic caries detection vs Reference standard (often histological; also invasive opening) Advanced proximal carious lesions · Permanent molar surfaces in diagnostic accuracy studies (mostly in vitro; clinical) · Egypt public health clinic, Tailored meta-analysis (Egypt) Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and… (2018) | Sensitivity 44.4 [38, 51] | 22 studies | Ungraded |
Primary 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 · 2003-2004, United States, United States Socioeconomic status, oral health and dental disease in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. (2018) | AD 20.11 [15.76, 24.47] | 1 study · 4568 participants | Ungraded |
Sealapex (eugenol-free calcium hydroxide) vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) 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 [0.10, 2.43] | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
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 · 2004-2006, Australia, Australia Socioeconomic status, oral health and dental disease in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. (2018) | AD 14.4 [7.7, 21.0] | 1 study · 5073 participants | Ungraded |
Endoflas (CH + ZOE + iodoform) vs RC Fill Outcome NR · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | Listed as a pulpectomy comparison but no extractable outcome data reported in this version | 0 studies | No studies |
4% articaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine vs 4% articaine, 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: See comment, not estimable; 63 participants, 187 interventions (1 study); 1 case of urticaria occurred (unclear which anaesthetic). Not pooled/graded. | 1 study · 63 participants | Ungraded |
FMA stepwise advancement (SWG) vs FMA single step advancement (SSG) 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 [-0.26, 0.72] | 1 study · 34 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride in gel 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 |
GTR rm + CAF vs SCTG + CAF 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 0.61 [0.30, 1.24] | 3 studies · 98 participants | Low |
Planned, regular routine scale and polish (6-monthly; 12-monthly parallel) vs No scheduled scale and polish treatment Attachment change · Dentate adults without severe periodontitis, regularly attending for dental care in primary care (UK general dental… Routine scale and polish for periodontal health in adults (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Early treatment (two-phase) with headgear vs Early treatment (two-phase) with functional appliance Final overjet · 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 0.75 [0.21, 1.29] | 2 studies · 271 participants | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs IRM (intermediate restorative material) Outcome NR · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | Listed as a pulpectomy comparison; no extractable outcome data reported in this version | 0 studies | No studies |
Post-secondary 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 · 2003-2004, United States, United States Socioeconomic status, oral health and dental disease in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. (2018) | AD 20.8 [16.3, 25.4] | 1 study · 4568 participants | Ungraded |
6% 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 2.90 [1.73, 4.07] | 1 study · 37 participants | Very low |
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) 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 7.00 [0.39, 124.83] | 1 study · 30 participants | Ungraded |
Older mean age (>33.4 years) vs Not applicable Mean DMFT · Adult participants in 25 meta-regression studies · Country-level study populations, Model 1 adjusted Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review… (2018) | Meta-regression coefficient 5.248158 | 6 studies | Ungraded |
2% mepivacaine, 1:20,000 levonordefrin vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine 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 clinical success data summarized in Table 6 (e.g. clinical anaesthesia success 2% lidocaine 1:100,000 64/110 vs 2% mepivacaine 1:20,000 levonordefrin 99/113). Not… | NR | Ungraded |
10% CP gel in tray 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… · 2-year follow-up Home‐based chemically‐induced whitening (bleaching) of teeth in adults (2018) · Cochrane | MD 1.20 [-0.35, 2.75] | 1 study · 81 participants | Very low |
Ball (stud) attachment system vs Magnetic attachment system Patient preference (cross-over trials) · 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 | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Biofunctional Prosthetic System (BPS): closed-mouth two stage-two step final impression with addition silicone elastomer vs Conventional complete denture technique (CCD): open-mouth two stage-two step conventional technique using elastomer Participant-reported quality of the denture (denture satisfaction, VAS) · Completely edentulous people · 3 months Final‐impression techniques and materials for making complete and removable partial dentures (2018) · Cochrane | VAS median scores: BPS 86.5; CCD 88. No clear difference between groups | 1 study · 10 participants | Very low |
Vitapex (calcium hydroxide/iodoform) vs RC Fill Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6, 12 and 30 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | No clinical failure in any participant at 6/12/30 months (Pramila 2016); not estimable | 1 study · 86 participants | Ungraded |
HP strips 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 | Very thin gel had less tooth sensitivity than thicker gel despite higher HP; not significant | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Aloe vera vs Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) 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 28.00 [4.07, 192.79] | 1 study · 60 participants | Ungraded |
4% articaine, 1:200,000 epinephrine vs 4% articaine, 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: See comment (orphan study; exact time of follow-up not reported); 86 participants, 172 interventions (1 study). Not pooled/graded. | 1 study · 86 participants | Ungraded |
Planned, regular routine scale and polish (6-monthly; 12-monthly parallel) vs No scheduled scale and polish treatment Calculus · Dentate adults without severe periodontitis, regularly attending for dental care in primary care (UK general dental… · 24 to 36 months, 6-monthly (12-monthly parallel) Routine scale and polish for periodontal health in adults (2018) · Cochrane | SMD -0.32 [-0.44, -0.20] | 2 studies · 1086 participants | High |
SPC paint-on gel vs HP 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 | Tooth sensitivity in one subject from both groups; one subject in 19% SPC reported oral sensitivity; all mild (Gerlach 2003) | 1 study | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) 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 0.20 [0.03, 1.59] | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Early extraction of a compromised first permanent molar vs Non-extraction (retained first permanent molar) or contralateral non-extraction side Post-extraction space (spontaneous space closure / decrease in space) · Children aged 5 to 15 years with a compromised first permanent molar · Hospital- and clinic-based pediatric dental settings (Sweden, Romania, UK, Palestine, Turkey) Consequences of early extraction of compromised first permanent molar: a systematic review. (2018) | Spontaneous space closure ranged from 45.5% to 85.2% overall (maxilla 33.3% to 94%, mandible 50% to 75%). Table 3 conclusion: early extraction of compromised FPM leads to decrease in post extraction space (Category III… | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Planned, regular routine scale and polish (6-monthly; 12-monthly parallel) vs No scheduled scale and polish treatment Oral health-related quality of life (OHIP-14) · Dentate adults without severe periodontitis, regularly attending for dental care in primary care (UK general dental… · 36 months, 6-monthly (12-monthly parallel) Routine scale and polish for periodontal health in adults (2018) · Cochrane | MD -0.30 [-1.24, 0.64] | 1 study · 795 participants | High |
4% articaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine vs 2% lidocaine, 1:100,000 epinephrine 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 56.88 [44.08, 69.69] | 2 studies · 422 participants | Low |
Portland cement (PC) vs Full strength 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 0.80 [0.23, 2.73] | 1 study · 70 participants | Ungraded |
Total-etching 36% phosphoric acid + acetone-based total-etch adhesive vs Non-rinse conditioner + acetone-based total-etch adhesive 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 7.00 [0.38, 127.33] | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |
Older adults (population mean age >33.4 years) vs Younger adults (population mean age <=33.4 years) 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), Older (mean age >33.4 years) Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review… (2018) | MEAN 11.50 [6.49, 16.51] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) + sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) 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 0.33 [0.01, 7.88] | 1 study · 62 participants | Ungraded |
Human Development Index (quantitative) 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 6.901906 | 7 studies | Ungraded |
XCM + 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 0.37 [-0.09, 0.83] | 2 studies · 104 participants | Low |
2% mepivacaine, 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 |
Primary 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 0.80 [0.41, 1.20] | 1 study · 2041 participants | 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 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 0.62 [-0.66, 1.91] | 3 studies · 360 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 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) | NPV 85.0 | 11 studies | Ungraded |