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. Words match anywhere in the field.
75,239 questions in 5,342 reviews
current versionsNo 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.
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Side to side action powered toothbrush vs Counter oscillation powered toothbrush Adverse events · People of any age with no reported disability affecting their ability to practise normal self-toothbrushing;… Different powered toothbrushes for plaque control and gingival health (2010) · Cochrane | One trial (Khocht 1992) reported 'transient abrasions' in both powered toothbrush groups. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Bio-Oss (anorganic bovine bone) vs Bio-Oss + resorbable barrier Bone gain (horizontal - HDD) · Patients receiving immediate single implants in fresh extraction sockets (maxillary anterior/premolar sites) · up to 3 years Interventions for replacing missing teeth: dental implants in fresh extraction sockets (immediate,… (2010) · Cochrane | No statistically significant differences in bone gain between the two procedures for horizontal depth of the defect (HDD) (Chen 2007). | 1 study · 20 participants | Ungraded |
Mechanical debridement plus topical minocycline vs Mechanical debridement plus chlorhexidine gel Plaque · Adults with dental implants and peri-implant mucositis at baseline · 12 months Interventions for replacing missing teeth: maintaining and recovering soft tissue health around dental… (2010) · Cochrane | MD 6.00 [-9.07, 21.07] | 1 study · 32 participants | Ungraded |
Mechanical debridement with titanium curettes vs Mechanical debridement with ultrasonic device Plaque · Adults with dental implants and peri-implant mucositis at baseline · 6 months Interventions for replacing missing teeth: maintaining and recovering soft tissue health around dental… (2010) · Cochrane | MD 5.00 [-21.21, 31.21] | 1 study · 31 participants | Ungraded |
Ultrasonic powered toothbrush vs Multidimensional powered toothbrush Plaque (level reduction) · People of any age with no reported disability affecting their ability to practise normal self-toothbrushing;… · Short term (1-3 months) Different powered toothbrushes for plaque control and gingival health (2010) · Cochrane | One cross-over trial (Costa 2007) made this comparison; data were not available in a useable form. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Orthodontic treatment with appliances inducing stable, permanent orthodontic tooth movement (splints worn 8 to 12 weeks and surgical interventions excluded) vs Control: no treatment, placebo, or reassurance Adverse effects on oral health · Adults aged 18 years or older with clinically diagnosed TMD (exhibiting two or more of the listed signs and/or symptoms) · At least 6 months after the intervention Orthodontics for treating temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders (2010) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Counter oscillation powered toothbrush vs Rotation oscillation powered toothbrush Gingivitis (level reduction) · People of any age with no reported disability affecting their ability to practise normal self-toothbrushing;… · Short term (1-3 months), Adolescents Different powered toothbrushes for plaque control and gingival health (2010) · Cochrane | Trimpeneers 1997 (36 adolescents); no significant differences between counter oscillation and rotation oscillation for gingival index / bleeding index at 1 and 2 months (P values 0.06 to 0.75); data unsuitable for… | 1 study · 36 participants | Ungraded |
Multidimensional powered toothbrush vs Rotation oscillation powered toothbrush Plaque (level reduction) · People of any age with no reported disability affecting their ability to practise normal self-toothbrushing;… · Short term (1-3 months) Different powered toothbrushes for plaque control and gingival health (2010) · Cochrane | Analysis 6.1 Plaque < 3 months: 1 trial; totals not selected. The two trials making this comparison (Heasman 1999; Williams 2002) show no significant difference for plaque in the short term (1-3 months). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Sucralfate vs Placebo Mucositis eradicated · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | RR 1.13 [0.66, 1.94] | 2 studies · 84 participants | Ungraded |
Chlorhexidine mouthwash vs Salt and soda mouthwash Mucositis eradicated · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | RR 1.10 [0.90, 1.35] | 1 study · 138 participants | Ungraded |
Listerine mouthwash vs Placebo mouthwash Plaque · Adults with dental implants and peri-implant mucositis at baseline · 3 months Interventions for replacing missing teeth: maintaining and recovering soft tissue health around dental… (2010) · Cochrane | MD -0.88 [-0.93, -0.83] | 1 study · 20 participants | Ungraded |
Oral diazepam (benzodiazepine) vs Placebo Adverse events (reported; mild, no withdrawals) · Adult patients aged >=18 years, clinically or radiographically diagnosed with TMD (McNeill 1997 criteria); moderate to… · 15 days Pharmacological interventions for pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (2010) · Cochrane | Roldan et al 1990 (diazepam) reported adverse effects. Per the review's Adverse effects of interventions section: 'All but one study (Lobo et al 2004) reported adverse effects. Most of the reported adverse effects were… | 1 study · 41 participants | Ungraded |
Oral propranolol (beta-blocker) vs Placebo Change in pain index · Adult patients aged >=18 years, clinically or radiographically diagnosed with TMD (McNeill 1997 criteria); moderate to… · 1 week per period (cross-over) Pharmacological interventions for pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (2010) · Cochrane | Tchivileva et al 2010: statistically significant difference in reduction in pain index between the propranolol treatment period and the placebo treatment period (P = 0.02). | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Non-resorbable barrier (guided bone regeneration) vs Resorbable barrier + autogenous bone Bone gain (vertical - VDH) · Patients receiving immediate single implants in fresh extraction sockets (maxillary anterior/premolar sites) · up to 2 years Interventions for replacing missing teeth: dental implants in fresh extraction sockets (immediate,… (2010) · Cochrane | All treatments resulted in statistically significant bone gain, however no statistically significant differences were found between the three procedures (Chen 2005a). Vertical height of the defect (VDH). | 1 study · 25 participants | Ungraded |
Fluconazole (absorbed from GI tract) vs Ketoconazole (absorbed from GI tract) Mycological: eradication of oral candidiasis · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | RR 0.95 [0.52, 1.72] | 1 study · 37 participants | Ungraded |
Low dose rate interstitial radiotherapy vs High dose rate interstitial radiotherapy Locoregional control · People with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (ICD-O C01-C06) or oropharynx (ICD-O C09-C10); head and… Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | HR 1.00 [0.16, 6.44] | 1 study · 59 participants | Ungraded |
Hyperfractionated/accelerated split-course radiotherapy vs Accelerated radiotherapy with concomitant boost Total mortality · People with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (ICD-O C01-C06) or oropharynx (ICD-O C09-C10); head and… Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | Hyperfractionated/accelerated split course vs accelerated boost (Fu 1995, feasibility study, 75 participants): authors report no significant difference in total mortality; data not presented in a way that allows… | 1 study · 75 participants | Ungraded |
Oral diclofenac sodium (NSAID) vs Placebo Adverse events (reported; mild, no withdrawals) · Adult patients aged >=18 years, clinically or radiographically diagnosed with TMD (McNeill 1997 criteria); moderate to… · 2 weeks Pharmacological interventions for pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (2010) · Cochrane | Ekberg et al 1996 (diclofenac) reported adverse effects. Per the review's Adverse effects of interventions section: 'All but one study (Lobo et al 2004) reported adverse effects. Most of the reported adverse effects… | 1 study · 32 participants | Ungraded |
Side to side action powered toothbrush vs Rotation oscillation powered toothbrush Calculus · People of any age with no reported disability affecting their ability to practise normal self-toothbrushing;… · Short term (1-3 months) Different powered toothbrushes for plaque control and gingival health (2010) · Cochrane | One trial (Isaacs 1998) reported a significant reduction in lower lingual incisor calculus with rotation oscillation versus side to side in the short term (1-3 months). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Multidimensional powered toothbrush vs Side to side action powered toothbrush Gingivitis (level reduction) · People of any age with no reported disability affecting their ability to practise normal self-toothbrushing;… · Short term (1-3 months) Different powered toothbrushes for plaque control and gingival health (2010) · Cochrane | Analysis 5.2 Gingivitis < 3 months: 2 trials (Patters 2005; Zimmer 2005); considerable heterogeneity, so no statistical pooling was undertaken. | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Miconazole 50 mg tablet (partially absorbed) vs Miconazole 500 mg gel (partially absorbed) Clinical: eradication of oral candidiasis · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | RR 1.16 [0.91, 1.47] | 1 study · 282 participants | Ungraded |
Oral clonazepam (benzodiazepine) vs Placebo Participants' assessment of improvement of pain in right TMJ (VAS) · Adult patients aged >=18 years, clinically or radiographically diagnosed with TMD (McNeill 1997 criteria); moderate to… · 60 days Pharmacological interventions for pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (2010) · Cochrane | MD -0.74 [-3.14, 1.66] | 1 study · 20 participants | Ungraded |
Listerine mouthwash vs Placebo mouthwash Marginal bleeding · Adults with dental implants and peri-implant mucositis at baseline · 3 months Interventions for replacing missing teeth: maintaining and recovering soft tissue health around dental… (2010) · Cochrane | MD -0.20 [-0.25, -0.15] | 1 study · 20 participants | Ungraded |
Oral prazepam (benzodiazepine) vs Placebo No improvement in TMJ pain on external palpation · Adult patients aged >=18 years, clinically or radiographically diagnosed with TMD (McNeill 1997 criteria); moderate to… · 8 days, 5 mg prazepam Pharmacological interventions for pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (2010) · Cochrane | RR 0.75 [0.47, 1.19] | 1 study · 83 participants | Ungraded |
Hypnosis vs Inhalation sedation with nitrous oxide and oxygen Anxiety control and overall response to treatment during tooth extraction · Children aged 10 to 16 years undergoing orthodontic extractions (Braithwaite 2005) Hypnosis for children undergoing dental treatment (2010) · Cochrane | Hypnosis did not provide sufficient anxiety control during tooth extraction, and overall response to treatment remained statistically lower than response to inhalation sedation with nitrous oxide and oxygen (i.e. the… | 1 study · 10 participants | Ungraded |
Fluconazole (absorbed from GI tract) vs Itraconazole (absorbed from GI tract) Clinical: eradication of oral candidiasis · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | RR 1.14 [1.00, 1.30] | 2 studies · 293 participants | Ungraded |
Mechanical debridement with titanium curettes vs Mechanical debridement with ultrasonic device Change in probing pocket depth · Adults with dental implants and peri-implant mucositis at baseline · 6 months Interventions for replacing missing teeth: maintaining and recovering soft tissue health around dental… (2010) · Cochrane | MD -0.40 [-1.14, 0.34] | 1 study · 31 participants | Ungraded |
Oral clonazepam (benzodiazepine) vs Placebo Pain on palpation of right masseter muscle (VAS) · Adult patients aged >=18 years, clinically or radiographically diagnosed with TMD (McNeill 1997 criteria); moderate to… · 60 days Pharmacological interventions for pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (2010) · Cochrane | MD -1.11 [-2.66, 0.44] | 1 study · 20 participants | Ungraded |
Non-resorbable barrier (guided bone regeneration) vs Resorbable barrier + autogenous bone Bone gain (horizontal - HDD) · Patients receiving immediate single implants in fresh extraction sockets (maxillary anterior/premolar sites) · up to 2 years Interventions for replacing missing teeth: dental implants in fresh extraction sockets (immediate,… (2010) · Cochrane | All treatments resulted in statistically significant bone gain, however no statistically significant differences were found between the three procedures (Chen 2005a). Horizontal depth of the defect (HDD). | 1 study · 25 participants | Ungraded |
Immediate implants (placed in a fresh extraction socket just after tooth extraction) vs Delayed implants (placed at least 2 months after extraction, in healed bone) Perimplant marginal bone level changes · Patients with compromised teeth to be extracted who require single dental implants in fresh postextraction sockets · 1 year Interventions for replacing missing teeth: dental implants in fresh extraction sockets (immediate,… (2010) · Cochrane | No statistically significant differences for perimplant marginal bone level changes at 1 year (Lindeboom 2006). | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Any antifungal intervention for the treatment of oral candidiasis vs Placebo, no treatment, or another active antifungal intervention Cost of oral care · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | None of the studies reported: relief of pain, relief of dysphagia, incidence of systemic infection, amount of analgesia, days stay in hospital, cost of oral care, patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Phenytoin mouthrinse vs Placebo Quality of life · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis · 7 days Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | MD -15.10 [-26.04, -4.16] | 1 study · 12 participants | Ungraded |
Autogenous bone graft augmentation at the immediate implant site vs No augmentation Prosthesis failure · Patients receiving immediate single implants in fresh extraction sockets (maxillary anterior/premolar sites) · up to 2 years Interventions for replacing missing teeth: dental implants in fresh extraction sockets (immediate,… (2010) · Cochrane | In total two implants were lost in the autogenous bone group, whereas no complications or failures occurred in the non-augmented control group; underpowered, no statistically significant difference (Chen 2005b). | 1 study · 26 participants | Ungraded |
Altered fractionation radiotherapy (hyperfractionated and/or accelerated) vs Conventional (standard) fractionation radiotherapy Disease free survival · People with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (ICD-O C01-C06) or oropharynx (ICD-O C09-C10); head and… Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | HR 0.85 [0.70, 1.03] | 8 studies | Ungraded |
Oral prazepam (benzodiazepine) vs Placebo No improvement in spontaneous TMJ pain · Adult patients aged >=18 years, clinically or radiographically diagnosed with TMD (McNeill 1997 criteria); moderate to… · 8 days, 10 mg prazepam Pharmacological interventions for pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (2010) · Cochrane | RR 1.23 [0.81, 1.88] | 1 study · 83 participants | Ungraded |
Diclofenac vs Placebo Average pain scores (0-100 VAS) · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | MD -0.30 [-0.86, 0.26] | 1 study · 66 participants | Ungraded |
Intervention programmes - referral to specialist agencies for support in relation to domestic violence vs No intervention programme Severity of injury by self report · Adults (16 years of age and older) who present to any healthcare setting with dental or facial injury Domestic violence screening and intervention programmes for adults with dental or facial injury (2010) · Cochrane | No eligible randomised controlled trials were identified. The update search retrieved an additional 2129 references; after de-duplication this left 1381 potentially eligible studies, and after examination of titles and… | 0 studies | No studies |
Human placental extract vs Disprin (aspirin/betamethasone) Improvement in mucositis · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | RR 4.50 [2.29, 8.86] | 1 study · 120 participants | Ungraded |
Relaxation and imagery training vs Control (treatment as usual) Average pain scores (0-100 VAS) · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | MD -8.22 [-21.79, 5.35] | 1 study · 46 participants | Ungraded |
Intervention programmes - referral to specialist agencies for support in relation to domestic violence vs No intervention programme Frequency of physical assault by self report · Adults (16 years of age and older) who present to any healthcare setting with dental or facial injury Domestic violence screening and intervention programmes for adults with dental or facial injury (2010) · Cochrane | No eligible randomised controlled trials were identified. The update search retrieved an additional 2129 references; after de-duplication this left 1381 potentially eligible studies, and after examination of titles and… | 0 studies | No studies |
'Magic' mouthwash (lidocaine, diphenhydramine, aluminium hydroxide) vs Salt and soda mouthwash Mucositis eradicated · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | RR 0.98 [0.78, 1.24] | 1 study · 133 participants | Ungraded |
Hyaluronic acid gel (brushing) vs Chlorhexidine gel (brushing) Marginal bleeding · Adults with dental implants and healthy peri-implant soft tissues at baseline · 6 months Interventions for replacing missing teeth: maintaining and recovering soft tissue health around dental… (2010) · Cochrane | MD 0.20 [-0.28, 0.68] | 1 study · 30 participants | Ungraded |
Amine fluoride/stannous fluoride (AmF/SnF2) mouthwash vs Chlorhexidine mouthwash Staining index · Adults with dental implants and healthy peri-implant soft tissues at baseline · 3 months Interventions for replacing missing teeth: maintaining and recovering soft tissue health around dental… (2010) · Cochrane | MD 0.06 [-0.10, 0.22] | 1 study · 33 participants | Ungraded |
Topical methyl salicylate (Theraflex-TMJ) vs Placebo Spontaneous masseter muscle pain (numerical graph rating scale) · Adult patients aged >=18 years, clinically or radiographically diagnosed with TMD (McNeill 1997 criteria); moderate to… · 15 days Pharmacological interventions for pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (2010) · Cochrane | MD -2.00 [-2.38, -1.62] | 1 study · 52 participants | Ungraded |
Neutron radiotherapy vs Conventional photon radiotherapy Disease free survival · People with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (ICD-O C01-C06) or oropharynx (ICD-O C09-C10); head and… · 5 years Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | RR 0.63 [0.36, 1.09] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Screening for domestic violence vs Different screening tool Proportion of victims of domestic violence detected by self report · Adults (16 years of age and older) who present to any healthcare setting with dental or facial injury Domestic violence screening and intervention programmes for adults with dental or facial injury (2010) · Cochrane | No eligible randomised controlled trials were identified. The update search retrieved an additional 2129 references; after de-duplication this left 1381 potentially eligible studies, and after examination of titles and… | 0 studies | No studies |
Topical methyl salicylate (Theraflex-TMJ) vs Placebo Spontaneous TMJ pain (numerical graph rating scale) · Adult patients aged >=18 years, clinically or radiographically diagnosed with TMD (McNeill 1997 criteria); moderate to… · 15 days Pharmacological interventions for pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (2010) · Cochrane | MD -0.90 [-1.35, -0.45] | 1 study · 52 participants | Ungraded |
Hyperfractionated radiotherapy vs Conventional (standard) fractionation radiotherapy Locoregional control · People with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (ICD-O C01-C06) or oropharynx (ICD-O C09-C10); head and… Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | HR 0.74 [0.62, 0.89] | 3 studies · 966 participants | Ungraded |
Accelerated radiotherapy with concomitant boost vs Conventional (standard) fractionation radiotherapy Total mortality · People with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (ICD-O C01-C06) or oropharynx (ICD-O C09-C10); head and… Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | HR 0.95 [0.80, 1.13] | 3 studies · 1203 participants | Ungraded |
Oral glucosamine hydrochloride/chondroitin sulphate vs Placebo Total pain rating index (McGill Pain Questionnaire) · Adult patients aged >=18 years, clinically or radiographically diagnosed with TMD (McNeill 1997 criteria); moderate to… · 3 months Pharmacological interventions for pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (2010) · Cochrane | MD 1.60 [-8.29, 11.49] | 1 study · 45 participants | Ungraded |