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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Oral prazepam (benzodiazepine) vs Placebo No improvement in TMJ pain during mastication · 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 1.18 [0.79, 1.77] | 1 study · 83 participants | Ungraded |
Accelerated radiotherapy with concomitant boost 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 | Accelerated/boost vs conventional, disease free survival: all four trials provided data; pooled estimate showed a statistically significant difference in favour of the accelerated/boost schedule, with statistical… | 4 studies · 1203 participants | Ungraded |
Hypnosis vs No hypnosis (no hypnotic intervention) Completion of treatment (yes/no) · Children and adolescents up to 16 years of age undergoing dental treatment Hypnosis for children undergoing dental treatment (2010) · Cochrane | Completion of treatment was a protocol-planned primary outcome but was not reported as an outcome by any of the three included studies; statistical analysis and meta-analysis were not possible due to the insufficient… | NR | No studies |
Split-course radiotherapy vs Accelerated 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… · 2 years Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | RR 1.33 [0.67, 2.67] | 1 study · 110 participants | Ungraded |
Side to side action 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;… · Long term (>3 months) Different powered toothbrushes for plaque control and gingival health (2010) · Cochrane | SMD -0.44 [-0.98, 0.11] | 1 study · 54 participants | Ungraded |
Hypnosis vs No hypnosis (no hypnotic intervention) Physiological measures during local anaesthesia (pulse rate and oxygen saturation) · Children aged 4 to 13 years with no previous dental experience undergoing restorative treatment with local anaesthesia… Hypnosis for children undergoing dental treatment (2010) · Cochrane | With regard to oxygen saturation and pulse rate, only pulse rate was significantly lower in the hypnosis group (P = 0.005); oxygen saturation did not differ significantly. (Gokli 1994; cross-over, 29 children.) | 1 study · 29 participants | Ungraded |
Gelclair vs Sucralfate and mucaine Mucositis severity (mild to moderate) · 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 0.50 [0.17, 1.46] | 1 study · 20 participants | Ungraded |
Pre-operative and post-operative radiotherapy vs Post-operative radiotherapy alone 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 1.13 [0.78, 1.64] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Oral gabapentin (anticonvulsant) vs Placebo Participants' assessment of global function (VAS) · Adult patients aged >=18 years, clinically or radiographically diagnosed with TMD (McNeill 1997 criteria); moderate to… · 12 weeks Pharmacological interventions for pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (2010) · Cochrane | MD -1.50 [-3.10, 0.10] | 1 study · 44 participants | Ungraded |
Hyperfractionated radiotherapy 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 0.78 [0.68, 0.90] | 3 studies · 966 participants | Ungraded |
Absorbed drug (fluconazole or ketoconazole) vs Drug not absorbed from GI tract (amphotericin B or nystatin) 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 1.82 [1.28, 2.57] | 3 studies · 189 participants | Ungraded |
Hyaluronic acid gel (brushing) vs Chlorhexidine gel (brushing) Plaque · 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 -0.47 [-1.08, 0.14] | 1 study · 30 participants | Ungraded |
Phosphoric etching (acid) gel vs Mechanical debridement and polishing Side effects (pain) · Adults with dental implants and healthy peri-implant soft tissues at baseline · 5 months Interventions for replacing missing teeth: maintaining and recovering soft tissue health around dental… (2010) · Cochrane | Nine out of 16 patients reported slight (7) to moderate (2) pain at the etching gel side compared to none in the debridement group (P < 0.001) | 1 study · 16 participants | Ungraded |
Side to side action powered toothbrush vs Rotation 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 | Grossman 1995 reported some discomfort with use of one mode of action brush; Hefti 2000 reported no difference in dentine hypersensitivity. | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Phenytoin mouthrinse 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 -1.70 [-3.85, 0.45] | 1 study · 12 participants | Ungraded |
Split-course radiotherapy vs Accelerated 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… · 2 years Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | RR 0.83 [0.29, 2.42] | 1 study · 110 participants | Ungraded |
Absorbed drug (fluconazole or ketoconazole) vs Drug not absorbed from GI tract (amphotericin B or nystatin) 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 1.29 [1.09, 1.52] | 3 studies · 207 participants | Ungraded |
Vitamin E (topical) vs Vitamin E (swallowed) Improvement in mucositis · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis · 5 days Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | RR 15.40 [4.01, 59.21] | 1 study · 63 participants | Ungraded |
Oral gabapentin (anticonvulsant) vs Placebo Number of tender sites on muscles of mastication (palpation index) · Adult patients aged >=18 years, clinically or radiographically diagnosed with TMD (McNeill 1997 criteria); moderate to… · 12 weeks Pharmacological interventions for pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (2010) · Cochrane | MD -4.56 [-6.99, -2.13] | 1 study · 44 participants | Ungraded |
Pre-operative and post-operative radiotherapy vs Post-operative radiotherapy alone 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 1.13 [0.78, 1.64] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Side to side action 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 | SMD 0.24 [0.02, 0.46] | 5 studies | Ungraded |
Morphine via pharmacokinetically based PCA (PKPCA) vs Morphine via patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) Daily mean opiate intake per hour · 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 3.60 [1.47, 5.73] | 1 study · 35 participants | Ungraded |
Side to side action powered toothbrush vs Counter 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 | SMD -0.02 [-0.37, 0.32] | 2 studies · 130 participants | Ungraded |
Clotrimazole (partially absorbed from GI tract) vs Placebo 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 6.13 [0.38, 99.14] | 1 study · 13 participants | Ungraded |
Any antifungal intervention for the treatment of oral candidiasis vs Placebo, no treatment, or another active antifungal intervention Amount of analgesia · 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 |
Resorbable barrier (guided bone regeneration) vs Non-resorbable barrier (guided bone regeneration) 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 · 23 participants | Ungraded |
Neutron radiotherapy vs Conventional photon 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… · 5 years Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | RR 0.97 [0.69, 1.36] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Altered fractionation radiotherapy (hyperfractionated and/or accelerated) vs Conventional (standard) fractionation radiotherapy Mortality · People with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (ICD-O C01-C06) or oropharynx (ICD-O C09-C10); head and… · 5 years, All included studies Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | HR 0.86 [0.76, 0.98] | 13 studies · 3751 participants | Very low |
Powered toothbrushing vs Manual toothbrushing Change in probing pocket depth · Adults with dental implants and healthy peri-implant soft tissues at baseline · 6 weeks Interventions for replacing missing teeth: maintaining and recovering soft tissue health around dental… (2010) · Cochrane | At 6 weeks there was no significant difference in change of probing pocket depths | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Oral gabapentin (anticonvulsant) vs Placebo Spontaneous pain in the TMJ (VAS) · Adult patients aged >=18 years, clinically or radiographically diagnosed with TMD (McNeill 1997 criteria); moderate to… · 12 weeks Pharmacological interventions for pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (2010) · Cochrane | MD -3.20 [-4.71, -1.69] | 1 study · 44 participants | Ungraded |
Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pethidine vs Staff-controlled delivery of pethidine 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 -21.00 [-45.79, 3.79] | 1 study · 20 participants | Ungraded |
Partially absorbed antifungal drug (e.g., clotrimazole, miconazole) vs Drug not absorbed from GI tract (e.g., nystatin, amphotericin B) Outcome NR · 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 | There were no trials comparing partially absorbed drugs with either absorbed drugs or drugs not absorbed. | 0 studies | No studies |
Accelerated radiotherapy (no split, boost or hyperfractionation) 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 | Accelerated vs conventional, total mortality: only one trial reported data (Skladowski 2006; IPD available). A statistically significant difference in favour of the altered fractionation was shown (Analysis 1.1). No… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Bio-Oss (anorganic bovine bone) vs Bio-Oss + resorbable barrier Bone gain (vertical - VDH) · 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 | All treatments resulted in statistically significant bone gain, however no statistically significant differences in bone gain were found between the two procedures for vertical height of the defect (VDH) (Chen 2007). | 1 study · 20 participants | Ungraded |
Any antifungal intervention for the treatment of oral candidiasis vs Placebo, no treatment, or another active antifungal intervention Incidence of systemic infection · 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 |
Oral diclofenac sodium (NSAID) vs Placebo Pain at rest (not improved) · 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 | RR 0.89 [0.46, 1.76] | 1 study · 32 participants | Ungraded |
Non-resorbable barrier (guided bone regeneration) vs Resorbable barrier + autogenous bone Major complications at the implant/donor site · 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 | Four complications occurred: two dehiscences in the resorbable group; one abscess and one dehiscence in the resorbable + autogenous bone group; none in the non-resorbable group. No statistically significant differences… | 1 study · 25 participants | Ungraded |
Intervention programmes - referral to specialist agencies for support in relation to domestic violence vs Different 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 |
Chlorhexidine mouthwash vs Salt and soda mouthwash Time to heal mucositis (days) · 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 -0.40 [-1.49, 0.69] | 1 study · 100 participants | Ungraded |
Hyperfractionated radiotherapy 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 | Hyperfractionated vs conventional, disease free survival: data available for one trial (Fu 2000); no statistically significant difference (Analysis 1.3). No pooled estimate reported. | 1 study | Ungraded |
'Magic' mouthwash (lidocaine, diphenhydramine, aluminium hydroxide) vs Salt and soda mouthwash 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 -0.60 [-10.92, 9.72] | 1 study · 57 participants | Ungraded |
Lower total dose radiotherapy (67.2 Gy over 5.6 weeks) vs Conventional/standard total dose radiotherapy (72 Gy) 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 1.13 [0.78, 1.64] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Ketoconazole (absorbed from GI tract) vs Placebo 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 5.09 [0.73, 35.49] | 1 study · 47 participants | Ungraded |
Sufentanil vs Morphine 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 5.40 [-3.10, 13.90] | 1 study · 60 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) Prosthesis failure · 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 | RR 4.33 [0.76, 24.56] | 2 studies · 110 participants | Ungraded |
'Magic' mouthwash (lidocaine, diphenhydramine, aluminium hydroxide) vs Salt and soda mouthwash Time to heal mucositis (days) · 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 0.17 [-0.97, 1.31] | 1 study · 91 participants | Ungraded |
Multidimensional 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) Different powered toothbrushes for plaque control and gingival health (2010) · Cochrane | SMD 0.24 [-0.10, 0.58] | 2 studies · 137 participants | Ungraded |
Resorbable barrier (guided bone regeneration) vs Non-resorbable barrier (guided bone regeneration) 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 · 23 participants | Ungraded |
Oral cyclobenzaprine (muscle relaxant) vs Placebo Jaw pain (VAS) · Adult patients aged >=18 years, clinically or radiographically diagnosed with TMD (McNeill 1997 criteria); moderate to… · 3 weeks Pharmacological interventions for pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (2010) · Cochrane | MD -1.30 [-2.67, 0.07] | 1 study · 41 participants | Ungraded |
Higher total dose radiotherapy (76.8 Gy over 6.4 weeks) vs Conventional/standard total dose radiotherapy (72 Gy) 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 1.08 [0.69, 1.70] | 1 study | Ungraded |