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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Metal-free cantilevered FDPs (feldspathic-veneered zirconia) vs Metal-ceramic cantilevered FDPs Plaque index (PI) · Adults (18 years or older) needing replacement of one premolar or incisor with a cantilevered fixed dental prosthesis · 24 months Metal‐free materials for fixed prosthodontic restorations (2017) · Cochrane | MD -0.10 [-1.04, 0.84] | 1 study · 19 participants | Ungraded |
Resin-based fissure sealant (2nd/3rd/4th generation) vs No sealant (control/no treatment) Adverse effects · Children and adolescents (general population, aged under 20 years) Pit and fissure sealants for preventing dental decay in permanent teeth (2017) · Cochrane | Two trials measured adverse effects. None were reported. | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Metal-free single crowns (full-contour zirconia) vs Cast gold (conventional metal) single crowns Crown failure · Adults (18 years or older) needing a single crown in the molar or premolar region · 12 months Metal‐free materials for fixed prosthodontic restorations (2017) · Cochrane | OR 0.83 [0.05, 13.44] | 1 study · 194 participants | Very low |
Periodontal treatment (scaling and root planing, polishing, or surgery), alone or with oral hygiene counselling, antiseptics, or antimicrobials vs No treatment Preterm birth < 35 weeks · Pregnant women considered to have periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) after dental examination Treating periodontal disease for preventing adverse birth outcomes in pregnant women (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.19 [0.81, 1.76] | 2 studies · 2557 participants | Very low |
Analgesic (any: NSAID, paracetamol, local anaesthetic or opioid) vs Control (placebo or no treatment) Quality of life or participant satisfaction · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies) Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment (2017) · Cochrane | Reported narratively by 2 studies (Wang 2012: SF-36 and SAS - significant reduction in SF-36 bodily pain at 30 days vs baseline, no significant between-group differences; Minor 2009: STAI and PANAS - no significant… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
ART using H-GIC vs Conventional treatment using composite (with local anaesthetic) Restoration failure (primary teeth) · Children with dental caries in primary teeth · Multiple lesions Atraumatic restorative treatment versus conventional restorative treatment for managing dental caries (2017) · Cochrane | OR 8.00 [1.24, 51.48] | 1 study · 30 participants | Ungraded |
Amifostine vs No treatment/placebo Disease-free survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · 24 months postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.94 [0.73, 1.21] | 1 study · 170 participants | Ungraded |
Chinese medicine vs No treatment/placebo Side effects · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · End of intervention; 1 month after RT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | Insufficient evidence of a difference for any side effects | 2 studies | Ungraded |
New types of fissure sealant (e.g. ormocer-based) vs No sealant (control) Outcome NR · Children and adolescents (general population, aged under 20 years) Pit and fissure sealants for preventing dental decay in permanent teeth (2017) · Cochrane | No studies comparing new types of fissure sealants with no sealant were included. | NR | No studies |
Amifostine vs No treatment/placebo Quality of life · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · End of RT; up to 3 months postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | MD 0.52 [-0.02, 1.06] | 1 study · 233 participants | Ungraded |
Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF; palifermin or repifermin), intravenous vs Placebo Number of days unable to take medicine orally · Adults with cancer receiving treatment Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | No studies reported this outcome (planned secondary outcome not measured by any study in the review) | 0 studies | No studies |
Amifostine vs No treatment/placebo Salivary flow rate (mg/5 min, unstimulated) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · 12 months postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | MD 0.32 [0.09, 0.55] | 1 study · 27 participants | Very low |
Amifostine vs No treatment/placebo Progression-free survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · 12 to 24 months postRT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | HR 0.94 [0.70, 1.27] | 2 studies · 247 participants | Ungraded |
ART using high-viscosity glass ionomer cement (H-GIC), hand instruments vs Conventional treatment using H-GIC (rotary instruments) Pain (during procedure, primary dentition) · People with dental caries in primary teeth (mainly children) · During procedure Atraumatic restorative treatment versus conventional restorative treatment for managing dental caries (2017) · Cochrane | MD -0.65 [-1.38, 0.07] | 1 study · 40 participants | Low |
Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) vs Placebo or no treatment Filled primary surfaces at 5 years · Pregnant women (for preventing dental caries in the primary teeth of their children) · 5 years Fluoride supplementation (with tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) in pregnant women for preventing… (2017) · Cochrane | MD 0.03 [-0.28, 0.34] | 1 study · 798 participants | Ungraded |
Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF; palifermin or repifermin), intravenous vs Placebo Adverse events · Adults with cancer receiving treatment Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | Adverse events attributed to KGF were typically oral-related or skin-related; mostly mild to moderate with very few serious events; reporting poor and inconsistent, not appropriate to meta-analyse (SoF comments cell,… | 16 studies | Ungraded |
Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF; pegfilgrastim, single dose) vs Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF; filgrastim, multiple doses) Oral mucositis (any severity) · Children receiving bone marrow/stem cell transplantation after conditioning therapy for mixed cancers · Children Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.02 [0.82, 1.27] | 1 study · 61 participants | Ungraded |
Biperiden plus pilocarpine vs No treatment Survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | Survival not reported. | 0 studies | No studies |
Metal-free cantilevered FDPs (feldspathic-veneered zirconia) vs Metal-ceramic cantilevered FDPs Cantilevered bridge failure · Adults (18 years or older) needing replacement of one premolar or incisor with a cantilevered fixed dental prosthesis · 12, 24 and 36 months Metal‐free materials for fixed prosthodontic restorations (2017) · Cochrane | At 12 months 19 participants were available; no failure and no complication were reported in either group. No failure was reported at 24 or 36 months. | 1 study · 19 participants | Very low |
Palifermin vs Placebo Salivary flow rate · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | None of the trials evaluating palifermin provided data on salivary flow rates. | 0 studies | No studies |
Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) vs Placebo or no treatment Children with caries in the primary teeth at 3 years · Pregnant women (for preventing dental caries in the primary teeth of their children) · 3 years Fluoride supplementation (with tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) in pregnant women for preventing… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.46 [0.75, 2.85] | 1 study · 938 participants | Very low |
Chlorhexidine mouthrinse (any concentration; 0.05% to 0.2%) used in conjunction with mechanical oral hygiene procedures vs Placebo/control mouthrinse, or no mouthrinse (mechanical oral hygiene alone); controls pooled (protocol's separate comparisons versus mechanical oral hygiene alone and versus placebo/control merged) Supragingival calculus formation (various calculus indices) · Children or adults with gingivitis or periodontitis capable of performing normal mechanical oral hygiene procedures… · 4 to 6 weeks Chlorhexidine mouthrinse as an adjunctive treatment for gingival health (2017) · Cochrane | SMD 0.02 [-0.09, 0.14] | 2 studies · 102 participants | Ungraded |
Metal-free cantilevered FDPs (feldspathic-veneered zirconia) vs Metal-ceramic cantilevered FDPs Gingival index (GI) · Adults (18 years or older) needing replacement of one premolar or incisor with a cantilevered fixed dental prosthesis · 24 months Metal‐free materials for fixed prosthodontic restorations (2017) · Cochrane | MD 0.03 [-0.75, 0.81] | 1 study · 19 participants | Ungraded |
ART using high-viscosity glass ionomer cement (H-GIC), hand instruments vs Conventional treatment using H-GIC (rotary instruments) Costs (direct and indirect) · People with dental caries in primary teeth (mainly children) Atraumatic restorative treatment versus conventional restorative treatment for managing dental caries (2017) · Cochrane | No studies reported on costs for this comparison. | 0 studies | No studies |
Epidermal growth factor (EGF), oral spray vs Placebo Oral mucositis (moderate to severe) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment · Chemoradiotherapy to the head and neck Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.06 [0.78, 1.43] | 1 study · 136 participants | Ungraded |
Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), intravenous vs Chlorhexidine mouthwash Oral mucositis (any severity) · Children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia receiving chemotherapy alone · Children Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.67 [0.54, 0.85] | 1 study · 90 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) vs Placebo or no treatment Fluorosis (maxillary teeth) at 5 years · Pregnant women (for preventing dental caries in the primary teeth of their children) · 5 years Fluoride supplementation (with tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) in pregnant women for preventing… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.79 [0.95, 3.40] | 1 study · 798 participants | Very low |
ART using H-GIC vs Conventional treatment using composite (with local anaesthetic) Pain (primary dentition) · Children with dental caries in primary teeth Atraumatic restorative treatment versus conventional restorative treatment for managing dental caries (2017) · Cochrane | OR 2.22 [0.51, 9.61] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Amifostine vs No treatment/placebo Dysgeusia (grade >= 2, 0-4 scale) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · End of RT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.24 [0.10, 0.61] | 1 study · 28 participants | Ungraded |
Ibuprofen taken pre-emptively (about 1 hour before treatment) vs Ibuprofen taken post-treatment Pain intensity (VAS 0-100 mm) · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies) · 24 hours Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment (2017) · Cochrane | MD -9.74 [-47.88, 28.40] | 2 studies · 69 participants | Very low |
Zinc supplements vs Acupuncture Outcome NR · Patients with taste disturbances (dysgeusia/hypogeusia; idiopathic, zinc-deficient, or secondary to chronic renal… Interventions for managing taste disturbances (2017) · Cochrane | Authors' conclusions: We were unable to draw any conclusions regarding the superiority of zinc supplements or acupuncture as none of the trials compared these interventions. | 0 studies | No studies |
Periodontal treatment (scaling and root planing, alone or with antimicrobials) vs Alternative (less intensive) periodontal treatment, alone or with placebo Mean birth weight · Pregnant women considered to have periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) after dental examination Treating periodontal disease for preventing adverse birth outcomes in pregnant women (2017) · Cochrane | Not pooled. Pirie 2013 (99 participants): mean difference in birth weight -0.07 kilograms. Macones 2010 (756 participants): difference in mean birth weight -67.7 grams. | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Resorbable (bioresorbable) plates or screws for fixation vs Titanium plates or screws for fixation Patient satisfaction (VAS 0 to 10) · Adults (>16 years old) undergoing orthognathic surgery · 4 to 6 months Resorbable versus titanium plates for orthognathic surgery (2017) · Cochrane | MD 0.17 [-0.67, 1.01] | 1 study · 60 participants | Very low |
Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF; pegfilgrastim, single dose) vs Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF; filgrastim, multiple doses) Normalcy of diet (total parenteral nutrition) · Children receiving bone marrow/stem cell transplantation after conditioning therapy for mixed cancers · Children Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.00 [0.94, 1.06] | 1 study · 61 participants | Ungraded |
Open surgical exposure vs Closed surgical exposure Complications or adverse effects · People with maxillary palatally displaced (impacted) canines, unilateral or bilateral (children/adolescents; mean ages… · Perioperative to alignment Open versus closed surgical exposure of canine teeth that are displaced in the roof of the mouth (2017) · Cochrane | SoF (Complications, no GRADE rating given): 'One surgical failure was due to detachment of the gold chain (closed group). One study reported two complications following surgery, both in the closed group: a… | 1 study | Ungraded |
NSAID (systemic) vs Paracetamol Rescue analgesia · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies) Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.5 [0.6, 3.6] | 1 study · 159 participants | Very low |
Selenium vs No intervention Xerostomia · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · 6 weeks after end of RT Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | No evidence that selenium reduced xerostomia; data unusable (bar charts with no standard deviations) (Buntzel 2010) | 1 study | Ungraded |
Chlorhexidine mouthrinse (any concentration; 0.05% to 0.2%) used in conjunction with mechanical oral hygiene procedures vs Placebo/control mouthrinse, or no mouthrinse (mechanical oral hygiene alone); controls pooled (protocol's separate comparisons versus mechanical oral hygiene alone and versus placebo/control merged) Gingivitis (gingival inflammation) measured by Gingival Index of Loe and Silness · Children or adults with gingivitis or periodontitis capable of performing normal mechanical oral hygiene procedures… · 4 to 6 weeks Chlorhexidine mouthrinse as an adjunctive treatment for gingival health (2017) · Cochrane | MD -0.21 [-0.31, -0.11] | 10 studies · 805 participants | High |
Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) vs Placebo or no treatment Decayed, missing and filled primary teeth (dmft) · Pregnant women (for preventing dental caries in the primary teeth of their children) Fluoride supplementation (with tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) in pregnant women for preventing… (2017) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Palifermin vs Placebo Overall survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region · 42 to 72 months from baseline Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | HR 1.00 [0.72, 1.39] | 3 studies | Moderate |
Topical NSAID (ketoprofen lysinate mouthwash, 160 mg) vs Topical NSAID (benzidamine hydrochloride mouthwash, 22.5 mg) Failure to complete orthodontic treatment due to pain · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies) Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment (2017) · Cochrane | The study did not report this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Periodontal treatment (scaling and root planing, alone or with antimicrobials) vs Alternative (less intensive) periodontal treatment, alone or with placebo Gestational age (preterm birth < 37 weeks) · Pregnant women considered to have periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) after dental examination · SRP + antimicrobial vs alternative mechanical treatment + placebo Treating periodontal disease for preventing adverse birth outcomes in pregnant women (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.40 [0.67, 2.92] | 1 study · 243 participants | Very low |
Metal-free implant-supported single crowns (zirconia veneered with feldspathic ceramic) vs Metal-ceramic implant-supported single crowns Marginal bone level (first bone to implant contact, FBIC) · Adults (18 years or older) with one missing tooth in the aesthetic zone needing an implant-supported single crown · 24 months, Mesial to crown Metal‐free materials for fixed prosthodontic restorations (2017) · Cochrane | MD -0.01 [-0.93, 0.91] | 1 study · 18 participants | Ungraded |
Periodontal treatment (scaling and root planing, alone or with antimicrobials) vs Alternative (less intensive) periodontal treatment, alone or with placebo Pre-eclampsia · Pregnant women considered to have periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) after dental examination Treating periodontal disease for preventing adverse birth outcomes in pregnant women (2017) · Cochrane | Pre-eclampsia: Not reported for this comparison. | 0 studies | No studies |
ART using glass ionomer cement (GIC) vs Conventional treatment using amalgam Restoration failure (primary teeth) · Children and adolescents with dental caries (primary teeth and permanent immature teeth) · Lesion type not reported Atraumatic restorative treatment versus conventional restorative treatment for managing dental caries (2017) · Cochrane | OR 0.78 [0.30, 2.02] | 1 study · 80 participants | Ungraded |
Dementia (any type or severity) vs Older people without dementia Retained roots (mean number) · Older people (aged 60 years or older) with dementia · Older people aged 60 years or older; community-dwelling, assisted-living, and nursing-home settings Oral health and orofacial pain in older people with dementia: a systematic review with focus on dental hard… (2017) | no estimate extracted | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) vs Placebo or no treatment Oral mucositis (severe) · Adults with cancer receiving treatment · RT to head and neck Interventions for preventing oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving treatment: cytokines and… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.37 [0.15, 0.87] | 2 studies · 54 participants | Low |
Antiseptic mouthrinse vs Placebo Salivary flow rate · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy (2017) · Cochrane | Salivary flow rate was only reported during radiotherapy (i.e. not at any of the time points of interest); no usable data (Lanzos 2010) | 1 study | Ungraded |
Open surgical exposure vs Closed surgical exposure Patient response: pain/soreness score (visual analogue scale 1 to 10) · People with maxillary palatally displaced (impacted) canines, unilateral or bilateral (children/adolescents; mean ages… · Postoperative Open versus closed surgical exposure of canine teeth that are displaced in the roof of the mouth (2017) · Cochrane | MD 0.00 [-1.09, 1.09] | 1 study · 60 participants | Ungraded |
Resin-based fissure sealant (2nd/3rd/4th generation) vs No sealant (control/no treatment) Caries on occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (36 months) · Children and adolescents (general population, aged under 20 years) · 36 months Pit and fissure sealants for preventing dental decay in permanent teeth (2017) · Cochrane | OR 0.17 [0.11, 0.27] | 7 studies | Ungraded |