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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.

Limit to evidence status or GRADE (optional)

75,239 questions in 5,342 reviews

current versions
No studies 15,213 · 20.2%Ungraded 10,323 · 13.7%Very low 17,528 · 23.3%Low 17,951 · 23.9%Moderate 11,190 · 14.9%High 3,034 · 4%

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.

QuestionEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
High-viscosity glass-ionomer ART restorations vs No comparator
Restoration survival · Permanent posterior teeth with single-surface cavities · 3 years, single-surface permanent posterior teeth, 3 years
Survival of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) sealants and restorations: a meta-analysis. (2011)
Survival percentage 85 [77, 91]6 studiesUngraded
Buffered 'Prophylin' prophylactic gel vs Placebo (unbuffered gel / water)
Oral health (oral pH, cariogenic bacteria, Candida) · Adults seeking treatment for the symptom of dry mouth (xerostomia) due to any cause (e.g. medication, Sjogren's…
Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies (2011) · Cochrane
No difference between buffered gel, unbuffered gel and water for oral pH, cariogenic bacteria or Candida species.1 study · 14 participantsUngraded
GM-CSF vs Sucralfate
Oral mucositis (severe) · Patients with cancer receiving radiotherapy, chemotherapy or targeted therapies · Median 28 days
Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2011) · Cochrane
RR 0.54 [0.24, 1.21]1 study · 40 participantsUngraded
Betaine (BET) toothpaste (4%) vs SLS toothpaste (1%) and combined BET+SLS toothpaste
Xerostomia (relief of oral dryness) · Adults seeking treatment for the symptom of dry mouth (xerostomia) due to any cause (e.g. medication, Sjogren's…
Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies (2011) · Cochrane
Rantanen 2003 (crossover): relief of oral dryness BET 44% vs BET+SLS 22% (P = 0.002) vs SLS 18% (P = 0.022) vs reference toothpaste 7% (P < 0.001); betaine-only significantly better than the other toothpastes. No…1 studyUngraded
Passive maxillary/obturating plate (worn until surgical closure of soft palate) vs No plate
Length (cm) · Infants up to 6 months (from term) born with cleft lip, cleft palate or cleft lip and palate (Pierre Robin sequence or… · 2 to 6 months
Feeding interventions for growth and development in infants with cleft lip, cleft palate or cleft lip and… (2011) · Cochrane
MD -1.05 [-2.20, 0.11]2 studies · 74 participantsUngraded
Laser (low level) vs Povidone
Oral mucositis (moderate to severe) · Patients with cancer receiving radiotherapy, chemotherapy or targeted therapies · Median 28 days
Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2011) · Cochrane
RR 0.29 [0.16, 0.54]1 study · 50 participantsUngraded
Honey vs No treatment
Oral mucositis (any severity) · Patients with cancer receiving radiotherapy, chemotherapy or targeted therapies · Median 28 days
Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2011) · Cochrane
RR 0.7 [0.56, 0.88]3 studiesUngraded
Psychosocial interventions (cognitive behavioural therapy, biofeedback, combination CBT/biofeedback, physical self-regulation/posture self-control) vs Usual care (conservative treatment: education, counselling, intraoral flat plane appliance)
Muscle palpation pain (long term) · Adults over 18 years of age with chronic orofacial pain (temporomandibular disorder (TMD)) · Long term (more than 3 months)
Psychosocial interventions for the management of chronic orofacial pain (2011) · Cochrane
Muscle palpation pain long term (greater than 3 months): 3 studies; results not pooled owing to substantial heterogeneity (I2=64%); insufficient evidence to draw conclusions for any individual intervention. One study…3 studiesUngraded
High-viscosity glass-ionomer ART sealants vs No comparator
Sealant retention · Permanent teeth · 3 years, partially and fully retained high-viscosity glass-ionomer ART sealants in permanent dentitions, 3 years
Survival of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) sealants and restorations: a meta-analysis. (2011)
Survival percentage 72 [72, 86]2 studiesUngraded
Beta carotene vs No treatment
Oral mucositis (severe) · Patients with cancer receiving radiotherapy, chemotherapy or targeted therapies · Median 28 days
Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2011) · Cochrane
RR 0.38 [0.14, 1.02]1 study · 20 participantsUngraded
High-viscosity glass-ionomer ART sealants vs No comparator
Sealant retention · Permanent teeth · 2 years, partially and fully retained high-viscosity glass-ionomer ART sealants in permanent dentitions, 2 years
Survival of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) sealants and restorations: a meta-analysis. (2011)
Survival percentage 82 [77, 86]2 studiesUngraded
Hypnosis vs Relaxation
Pain intensity (short term) · Adults over 18 years of age with chronic orofacial pain (temporomandibular disorder (TMD)) · Short term
Psychosocial interventions for the management of chronic orofacial pain (2011) · Cochrane
MD -1.84 [-3.26, -0.42]2 studies · 81 participantsUngraded
Artificial bone graft: InFuse (collagen matrix) impregnated with rhBMP-2 vs Traditional iliac crest cancellous bone graft
Number of participants discharged on the same day as surgery · Skeletally mature patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate and an alveolar cleft defect (>5 years; mean age 16.1…
Secondary bone grafting for alveolar cleft in children with cleft lip or cleft lip and palate (2011) · Cochrane
RR 201 study · 21 participantsUngraded
High-viscosity glass-ionomer ART sealants vs No comparator
Caries-free sealed pits and fissures · Permanent teeth with sealed pits and fissures · 5 years, permanent dentitions with high-viscosity glass-ionomer ART sealants, 5 years
Survival of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) sealants and restorations: a meta-analysis. (2011)
Caries-free percentage 90 [85, 94]2 studiesUngraded
Habit reversal vs Waiting list control
Pain intensity (short term / post-treatment) · Adults over 18 years of age with chronic orofacial pain (temporomandibular disorder (TMD)) · Short term (post-treatment)
Psychosocial interventions for the management of chronic orofacial pain (2011) · Cochrane
SMD -1.31 [-1.97, -0.65]1 studyUngraded
High-viscosity glass-ionomer ART sealants vs No comparator
Caries-free sealed pits and fissures · Permanent teeth with sealed pits and fissures · 2 years, permanent dentitions with high-viscosity glass-ionomer ART sealants, 2 years
Survival of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) sealants and restorations: a meta-analysis. (2011)
Caries-free percentage 100 [98, 100]3 studiesUngraded
Iseganan vs Placebo
Oral mucositis (moderate to severe) · Patients with cancer receiving radiotherapy, chemotherapy or targeted therapies · Median 28 days
Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2011) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studiesUngraded
Xanthum gum-containing spray (Xialine) vs Placebo spray (base without xanthum)
Xerostomia (EORTC dry mouth score) · Adults seeking treatment for the symptom of dry mouth (xerostomia) due to any cause (e.g. medication, Sjogren's…
Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies (2011) · Cochrane
Jellema 2001 (crossover, n=30, post-radiotherapy): no statistically significant difference between Xialine (xanthum gum) spray and placebo on the EORTC dry mouth score (Analysis 1.2). van der Reijden 1996: xanthum…2 studies · 30 participantsUngraded
ART sealant using high-viscosity glass ionomer (press-finger technique) vs None (single-arm survival proportion; no comparator)
Sealant retention (partially and fully retained) · Pits and fissures of permanent (posterior) teeth · 6 years, partially and fully retained high-viscosity glass-ionomer ART sealants in permanent dentitions, 6 years
Survival of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) sealants and restorations: a meta-analysis. (2011)
Proportion 0.59 [0.51, 0.67]1 studyUngraded
Flossing plus toothbrushing (self-performed; manual or automated floss) vs Toothbrushing alone (with or without a negative-control/placebo rinse)
Bad breath (halitosis) · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease)
Flossing for the management of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults (2011) · Cochrane
Not reported. No included study measured halitosis; the review notes it may be important to measure in future trials.0 studiesNo studies
Arthroscopy vs Open surgery
Clinical evaluations 12 months after surgery (6 pooled clinical signs) · Adults (older than 18 years) with a temporomandibular disorder (synovitis, disc displacement with or without… · 12 months
Arthroscopy for temporomandibular disorders (2011) · Cochrane
Peto OR 1.0 [0.45, 2.21]2 studies · 240 participantsUngraded
High-viscosity glass-ionomer ART sealants vs No comparator
Sealant retention · Permanent teeth · 5 years, partially and fully retained high-viscosity glass-ionomer ART sealants in permanent dentitions, 5 years
Survival of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) sealants and restorations: a meta-analysis. (2011)
Survival percentage 63 [56, 70]1 studyUngraded
Traditional iliac bone graft plus fibrin glue vs Traditional iliac bone graft alone
Radiographic assessment: coronal bone density (Hounsfield units) · Patients aged 7 to 16 years with unilateral or bilateral cleft lip and palate (alveolar cleft) · At least 3 months
Secondary bone grafting for alveolar cleft in children with cleft lip or cleft lip and palate (2011) · Cochrane
MD 150.89 [3.45, 298.33]1 study · 27 participantsUngraded
Polaprezinc vs Azulene
Oral mucositis (severe) · Patients with cancer receiving radiotherapy, chemotherapy or targeted therapies · Median 28 days
Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2011) · Cochrane
RR 0.09 [0.01, 0.65]1 study · 31 participantsUngraded
Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) spray vs Salinum linseed oil spray
Patient preference · Adults seeking treatment for the symptom of dry mouth (xerostomia) due to any cause (e.g. medication, Sjogren's…
Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies (2011) · Cochrane
Statistically significant preference for linseed spray: of 17 with a preference, more favoured linseed (Chi2 4.77, df=1; P = 0.029); 3 expressed no preference.1 study · 20 participantsUngraded
CMC spray / aloe vera gel / canola oil spray vs Mucin spray (and between each other)
Xerostomia (mean xerostomia score) · Adults seeking treatment for the symptom of dry mouth (xerostomia) due to any cause (e.g. medication, Sjogren's…
Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies (2011) · Cochrane
Momm 2005 (crossover, n=123): all four treatments significantly reduced dryness vs baseline (mean xerostomia score, scale 1 to 6: baseline 4.5 +/- 0.11; post-treatment aloe vera 3.7 +/- 0.11, CMC 3.8 +/- 0.12, canola…1 study · 123 participantsUngraded
Intervention NR
Total number of fractures radiographs · preventing and treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
Exercise for preventing and treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women (2011) · Cochrane
OR 0.61 [0.23, 1.64]4 studies · 539 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
Bone mineral density % change: spine · preventing and treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
Exercise for preventing and treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women (2011) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted24 studies · 1441 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
Bone mineral density % change: femoral neck · preventing and treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
Exercise for preventing and treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women (2011) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted19 studies · 1338 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Bone mineral density % change: total hip · preventing and treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
Exercise for preventing and treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women (2011) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted13 studies · 863 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
Bone mineral density % change: trochanter · preventing and treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
Exercise for preventing and treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women (2011) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted10 studies · 815 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
Adverse events: Falls · preventing and treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
Exercise for preventing and treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women (2011) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 378 participantsUngraded
Intervention NR
Other adverse events · preventing and treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
Exercise for preventing and treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women (2011) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted11 studies · 907 participantsUngraded
Intervention NR
Process of care · health professionals
Teaching critical appraisal skills in healthcare settings (2011) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Patient‐related outcomes · health professionals
Teaching critical appraisal skills in healthcare settings (2011) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Intervention NR
Knowledge · health professionals
Teaching critical appraisal skills in healthcare settings (2011) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted2 studies · 146 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Critical appraisal skills Heterogeneous measurement scales · health professionals
Teaching critical appraisal skills in healthcare settings (2011) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted3 studies · 160 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Weekly smoking · patients with preventing smoking in young people
Community interventions for preventing smoking in young people (2011) · Cochrane
OR 0.83 [0.59, 1.17]7 studies · 17508 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Monthly smoking · patients with preventing smoking in young people
Community interventions for preventing smoking in young people (2011) · Cochrane
OR 0.97 [0.81, 1.16]9 studies · 27077 participantsVery low
naltrexone vs placebo or no pharmacological treatments
retention and abstinence, all patients · patients with opioid dependence
Oral naltrexone maintenance treatment for opioid dependence (2011) · Cochrane
RR 1.43 [0.72, 2.82]6 studies · 393 participantsUngraded
naltrexone vs placebo or no pharmacological treatments
abstinence at · patients with opioid dependence
Oral naltrexone maintenance treatment for opioid dependence (2011) · Cochrane
RR 1.28 [0.8, 2.05]3 studies · 116 participantsUngraded
naltrexone vs placebo or no pharmacological treatments
side effects · patients with opioid dependence
Oral naltrexone maintenance treatment for opioid dependence (2011) · Cochrane
RR 1.29 [0.54, 3.11]4 studies · 159 participantsUngraded
Summary of findings: oral steroids vs control
Hearing loss [6 weeks] · Children with otitis media with effusion
Oral or topical nasal steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children (2011) · Cochrane
RR 1.09 [0.8, 1.49]1 study · 44 participantsModerate
Summary of findings: oral steroids plus antibiotic vs control plus antibiotic
OME resolution at long‐term · Children with otitis media with effusion
Oral or topical nasal steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children (2011) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Summary of findings: oral steroids plus antibiotic vs control plus antibiotic
Symptoms · Children with otitis media with effusion
Oral or topical nasal steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children (2011) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Summary of findings: oral steroids plus antibiotic vs control plus antibiotic
Adverse effects [2 weeks to 6 months] · Children with otitis media with effusion
Oral or topical nasal steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children (2011) · Cochrane
RR 1.5 [0.81, 2.78]2 studies · 255 participantsLow
Summary of findings: intranasal steroids vs control
Median days with hearing loss [3 months] · Children with otitis media with effusion
Oral or topical nasal steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children (2011) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted200 participantsModerate
Summary of findings: intranasal steroids vs control
Hearing loss (Audiometry failing) [9 months]2 · Children with otitis media with effusion
Oral or topical nasal steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children (2011) · Cochrane
RR 1.17 [0.87, 1.58]141 participantsModerate
Summary of findings: intranasal steroids vs control
OME resolution at short‐term · Children with otitis media with effusion
Oral or topical nasal steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children (2011) · Cochrane
RR 0.64 [0.31, 1.31]1 study · 44 participantsModerate
Summary of findings: intranasal steroids vs control
OME resolution at intermediate‐term · Children with otitis media with effusion
Oral or topical nasal steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children (2011) · Cochrane
RR 1.11 [0.85, 1.46]1 study · 172 participantsModerate