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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. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Occlusal splint vs Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) Pain in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) · People with sleep bruxism (tooth grinding or clenching); children (greater than 1 year old) and adults; diagnosis… Occlusal splints for treating sleep bruxism (tooth grinding) (2007) · Cochrane | Occlusal splint versus TENS, pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) (Alvarez-Arenal 2002): the event did not occur in either group, so the risk ratio was not estimable. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Chlorhexidine vs Placebo or no treatment Oral candidiasis (present) · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 0.59 [0.19, 1.83] | 3 studies · 115 participants | Ungraded |
Occlusal splint vs Behaviour therapy (sleep hygiene, relaxation, psychotherapy, hypnosis, biofeedback) Outcome NR · People with sleep bruxism (tooth grinding or clenching); children (greater than 1 year old) and adults; diagnosis… Occlusal splints for treating sleep bruxism (tooth grinding) (2007) · Cochrane | Behaviour therapy remained a planned comparator, but no included trial compared occlusal splint with behaviour therapy; no eligible study. | 0 studies | No studies |
Ledermix (corticosteroid/antibiotic pulp-capping cement) vs Glycerrhetinic acid/antibiotic mixture Clinical success (survival free of symptoms) at 24 months · Adults with asymptomatic teeth with vital carious pulp exposures · 24 months Pulp management for caries in adults: maintaining pulp vitality (2007) · Cochrane | Shovelton 1971 (Analysis 1.1): 275 teeth followed for 2 years (235 at 6 months, 160 at 12 months, 85 analysed at 24 months). Success rates 50% to 80%. Ledermix and calcium hydroxide had the highest success rates,… | 1 study · 275 participants | Ungraded |
Occlusal splint vs Mandibular advancement device Comfort (visual analogue scale) · People with sleep bruxism (tooth grinding or clenching); children (greater than 1 year old) and adults; diagnosis… Occlusal splints for treating sleep bruxism (tooth grinding) (2007) · Cochrane | Occlusal splint versus mandibular advancement device, comfort (median VAS 0 to 100 mm) (Landry 2006): occlusal splint 79 mm, MAD free 41 mm, MAD min 15 mm, MAD max 12 mm; the occlusal splint was rated most comfortable. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Occlusal splint vs Palatal splint Awakenings per hour · People with sleep bruxism (tooth grinding or clenching); children (greater than 1 year old) and adults; diagnosis… Occlusal splints for treating sleep bruxism (tooth grinding) (2007) · Cochrane | MD 0.40 [-2.51, 3.31] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Metal post of one alloy type vs Metal post of a different alloy type Outcome NR · Participants with permanent endodontically-treated (root-filled) teeth for which a post is indicated to retain the… · Minimum 6 months (planned) Root canal posts for the restoration of root filled teeth (2007) · Cochrane | No included trial evaluated alloy type in metal posts (a planned secondary comparison); no eligible study identified. | 0 studies | No studies |
Itraconazole vs Fluconazole Oral candidiasis (present) · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | 1 study (Huijgens 1999); no evidence of a difference; single-study total not pooled | 1 study | Ungraded |
Antifungal drugs absorbed from GI tract (fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole) vs Placebo or no treatment Cost of oral care · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | No trial reported this planned secondary outcome for any comparison in this review | NR | No studies |
Antifungal drugs absorbed from GI tract (fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole) vs Placebo or no treatment Good compliance · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 1.06 [0.89, 1.27] | 2 studies · 615 participants | Ungraded |
Norfloxacin plus amphotericin B vs Amphotericin B Oral candidiasis (present) · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 0.38 [0.15, 1.0] | 1 study · 106 participants | Ungraded |
Occlusal splint vs Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) Clicks in TMJ on oral opening and closing · People with sleep bruxism (tooth grinding or clenching); children (greater than 1 year old) and adults; diagnosis… Occlusal splints for treating sleep bruxism (tooth grinding) (2007) · Cochrane | RR 0.60 [0.19, 1.92] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Occlusal splint vs No treatment Increase in the size of wear facets (canine teeth) · People with sleep bruxism (tooth grinding or clenching); children (greater than 1 year old) and adults; diagnosis… · children (age 3 to 5 years) Occlusal splints for treating sleep bruxism (tooth grinding) (2007) · Cochrane | RR 0.20 [0.03, 1.15] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Occlusal splint vs Palatal splint Arousal index · People with sleep bruxism (tooth grinding or clenching); children (greater than 1 year old) and adults; diagnosis… Occlusal splints for treating sleep bruxism (tooth grinding) (2007) · Cochrane | MD 1.22 [-3.61, 6.05] | 2 studies · 39 participants | Ungraded |
Antifungal drugs absorbed from GI tract (fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole) vs Placebo or no treatment Duration of stay in hospital (days) · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | No trial reported this planned secondary outcome for any comparison in this review | NR | No studies |
Antifungal drugs partially absorbed from GI tract (miconazole, clotrimazole) vs Placebo or no treatment Toxicity (adverse events probably due to drug) · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | 2 studies, 60 participants; effect not estimable (no events reported) | 2 studies · 60 participants | Ungraded |
Chlorhexidine vs Chlorhexidine plus nystatin Oral candidiasis (present) · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 1.62 [0.64, 4.1] | 1 study · 52 participants | Ungraded |
Potassium nitrate/dimethyl isosorbide/polycarboxylate cement (KNO3/DMI/PCa) vs Potassium nitrate/polycarboxylate cement (KNO3/PCa) Clinical success (absence of periapical pathology, tenderness to pressure and fistula formation) at 24 months · Adults with asymptomatic vital pulpal exposures from caries · 24 months Pulp management for caries in adults: maintaining pulp vitality (2007) · Cochrane | Hodosh 2003 (Analysis 3.1): all 18 patients receiving KNO3/DMI/PCa responded favourably (0/18 developed clinical symptoms) versus 9/17 in the KNO3/PCa group; symptomatic teeth required endodontic therapy or extraction.… | 1 study · 35 participants | Ungraded |
Occlusal splint vs Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) Clicks in TMJ on oral opening or closing · People with sleep bruxism (tooth grinding or clenching); children (greater than 1 year old) and adults; diagnosis… Occlusal splints for treating sleep bruxism (tooth grinding) (2007) · Cochrane | RR 1.00 [0.33, 3.02] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Occlusal splint vs Placebo Outcome NR · People with sleep bruxism (tooth grinding or clenching); children (greater than 1 year old) and adults; diagnosis… Occlusal splints for treating sleep bruxism (tooth grinding) (2007) · Cochrane | Placebo remained a planned comparator in the review methods (Types of interventions), but none of the five included trials compared occlusal splint with placebo; no eligible study. | 0 studies | No studies |
Occlusal splint vs Palatal splint Episodes with grinding noise · People with sleep bruxism (tooth grinding or clenching); children (greater than 1 year old) and adults; diagnosis… Occlusal splints for treating sleep bruxism (tooth grinding) (2007) · Cochrane | MD 0.90 [-10.19, 11.99] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Occlusal splint vs Mandibular advancement device Sleep bruxism episodes per hour of sleep · People with sleep bruxism (tooth grinding or clenching); children (greater than 1 year old) and adults; diagnosis… · MAD in 75% advancement (MAD max) Occlusal splints for treating sleep bruxism (tooth grinding) (2007) · Cochrane | MD 5.9 | 1 study | Ungraded |
Antifungal drugs absorbed from GI tract (fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole) vs Placebo or no treatment Death associated with fungal infection · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 1.44 [0.14, 15.43] | 3 studies · 718 participants | Ungraded |
Itraconazole vs Fluconazole Systemic fungal infection · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 1.0 [0.26, 3.89] | 1 study · 202 participants | Ungraded |
Paracetamol (single oral dose, any dose or formulation; subgroups up to 1000 mg and 1000 mg or more) vs Placebo Achieving at least 50% pain relief at 4 hours (using pain intensity measurements / SPID) · Patients requiring surgical removal of a lower wisdom tooth or teeth, with baseline moderate to severe pain (surgery… · 4 hours Paracetamol for pain relief after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth (2007) · Cochrane | RR 4.87 [2.83, 8.37] | 17 studies · 1658 participants | Ungraded |
Occlusal splint vs No treatment Increase in the size of wear facets (canine teeth) · People with sleep bruxism (tooth grinding or clenching); children (greater than 1 year old) and adults; diagnosis… · 6 months of follow up, children (age 3 to 5 years) Occlusal splints for treating sleep bruxism (tooth grinding) (2007) · Cochrane | RR 0.20 [0.03, 1.15] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Ketoconazole 400 mg vs Ketoconazole 200 mg Oral candidiasis (present) · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | 1 study (Scrimgeour 1985); no patient experienced oral candidiasis, not estimable | 1 study | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs Attention control (attention/contact without an active psychological intervention) Plaque score · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | Weinstein 1996 reported that the psychological intervention led to improvements in plaque score greater than that noted in the attention control group; however the sample size in each arm was very small (n=5) and the… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Occlusal splint vs Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) Headaches · People with sleep bruxism (tooth grinding or clenching); children (greater than 1 year old) and adults; diagnosis… Occlusal splints for treating sleep bruxism (tooth grinding) (2007) · Cochrane | Occlusal splint versus TENS, headaches (Alvarez-Arenal 2002): the event did not occur in either group, so the risk ratio was not estimable (Risk Ratio, M-H, Fixed, 95% CI; subtotals only). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Antifungal drugs absorbed from GI tract (fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole) vs Placebo or no treatment Patient quality of life · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | No trial reported this planned secondary outcome for any comparison in this review | NR | No studies |
Paracetamol (single oral dose, any dose or formulation; subgroups up to 1000 mg and 1000 mg or more) vs Placebo Achieving at least 50% pain relief at 6 hours (using pain intensity measurements / SPID) · Patients requiring surgical removal of a lower wisdom tooth or teeth, with baseline moderate to severe pain (surgery… · 6 hours Paracetamol for pain relief after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth (2007) · Cochrane | RR 3.41 [2.34, 4.97] | 13 studies · 1184 participants | Ungraded |
Occlusal splint vs Mandibular advancement device Preference (device preferred by participants) · People with sleep bruxism (tooth grinding or clenching); children (greater than 1 year old) and adults; diagnosis… Occlusal splints for treating sleep bruxism (tooth grinding) (2007) · Cochrane | Occlusal splint versus mandibular advancement device, preference (Landry 2006): 12 of 13 participants preferred the occlusal splint over the mandibular advancement device (MAD free); a higher proportion of benefitted… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs No (active) intervention (usual/standard dental care or no-treatment control) Pocket (probing) depth · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) · 4 months Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | Little 1997: no change in pocket depth; there were no differences between the intervention and control groups in overall change in pocket depth. (Some analyses suggested greater change in the intervention group when… | 1 study · 107 participants | Ungraded |
Thymostimulin vs Placebo or no treatment Oral candidiasis (present) · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 0.4 [0.12, 1.32] | 1 study · 35 participants | Ungraded |
Cast post and core with a diaphragm vs Cast post and core without a diaphragm Outcome NR · Participants with permanent endodontically-treated (root-filled) teeth for which a post is indicated to retain the… · Minimum 6 months (planned) Root canal posts for the restoration of root filled teeth (2007) · Cochrane | No included trial evaluated the presence of a diaphragm in cast posts (a planned secondary comparison); no eligible study identified. | 0 studies | No studies |
Antifungal drugs absorbed from GI tract vs Antifungal drugs not absorbed from GI tract Empirical antifungal treatment · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 0.89 [0.68, 1.16] | 4 studies · 1031 participants | Ungraded |
Itraconazole vs Fluconazole Toxicity (adverse events probably due to drug) · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | 2 studies, 232 participants; effect not estimable | 2 studies · 232 participants | Ungraded |
Dycal (calcium hydroxide material) vs Cavitec (zinc oxide eugenol material) Clinical symptoms at 12 months · Adults (aged 20 to 60 years, mean 27) with deep carious lesions in permanent teeth (indirect or direct pulp capping,… · 12 months, Complete caries removal Pulp management for caries in adults: maintaining pulp vitality (2007) · Cochrane | Analysis 2.2 (clinical symptoms at 12 months following complete caries removal, Dycal vs Cavitec). Fitzgerald 1991: 151 teeth in 55 patients (analysis at tooth level, not patient level); substantial attrition (11 teeth… | 1 study · 151 participants | Ungraded |
Calcium hydroxide vs Zinc oxide eugenol Clinical success (survival free of symptoms) at 24 months · Adults with asymptomatic teeth with vital carious pulp exposures · 24 months Pulp management for caries in adults: maintaining pulp vitality (2007) · Cochrane | Shovelton 1971 (Analysis 1.1): 275 teeth followed for 2 years (235 at 6 months, 160 at 12 months, 85 analysed at 24 months). Success rates 50% to 80%. Ledermix and calcium hydroxide had the highest success rates,… | 1 study · 275 participants | Ungraded |
Norfloxacin plus amphotericin B vs Amphotericin B Systemic fungal infection · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 0.67 [0.2, 2.23] | 1 study · 106 participants | Ungraded |
Life (calcium hydroxide material) vs Cavitec (zinc oxide eugenol material) Clinical symptoms at 12 months · Adults (aged 20 to 60 years, mean 27) with deep carious lesions in permanent teeth (indirect or direct pulp capping,… · 12 months, Complete caries removal Pulp management for caries in adults: maintaining pulp vitality (2007) · Cochrane | Analysis 2.2 (clinical symptoms at 12 months following complete caries removal, Life vs Cavitec). Fitzgerald 1991: 151 teeth in 55 patients (analysis at tooth level, not patient level); substantial attrition (11 teeth… | 1 study · 151 participants | Ungraded |
Life (calcium hydroxide pulp-capping material) vs Dycal (calcium hydroxide pulp-capping material) Clinical symptoms at 12 months · Adults (aged 20 to 60 years, mean 27) with deep carious lesions in permanent teeth (indirect or direct pulp capping,… · 12 months, Complete caries removal Pulp management for caries in adults: maintaining pulp vitality (2007) · Cochrane | Analysis 2.2 (clinical symptoms at 12 months following complete caries removal, Life vs Dycal). Fitzgerald 1991: 151 teeth in 55 patients (analysis at tooth level, not patient level); substantial attrition (11 teeth… | 1 study · 151 participants | Ungraded |
Potassium nitrate/dimethyl isosorbide/polycarboxylate cement (KNO3/DMI/PCa) vs Polycarboxylate cement (PCa) alone Clinical success (absence of periapical pathology, tenderness to pressure and fistula formation) at 24 months · Adults with asymptomatic vital pulpal exposures from caries · 24 months Pulp management for caries in adults: maintaining pulp vitality (2007) · Cochrane | Hodosh 2003 (Analysis 3.1): all 18 patients receiving KNO3/DMI/PCa responded favourably (0/18 developed clinical symptoms) versus 10/12 in the PCa group. "The results in groups two and three were statistically… | 1 study · 30 participants | Ungraded |
Glycerrhetinic acid/antibiotic mixture vs Zinc oxide eugenol Clinical success (survival free of symptoms) at 24 months · Adults with asymptomatic teeth with vital carious pulp exposures · 24 months Pulp management for caries in adults: maintaining pulp vitality (2007) · Cochrane | Shovelton 1971 (Analysis 1.1): 275 teeth followed for 2 years (235 at 6 months, 160 at 12 months, 85 analysed at 24 months). Success rates 50% to 80%. Ledermix and calcium hydroxide had the highest success rates,… | 1 study · 275 participants | Ungraded |
Antifungal drugs partially absorbed from GI tract (miconazole, clotrimazole) vs Placebo or no treatment Oral candidiasis (present) · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 0.16 [0.06, 0.46] | 4 studies · 292 participants | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs No (active) intervention (usual/standard dental care or no-treatment control) Gingival bleeding · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) · 4 months Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | Little 1997 reported decreased gingival bleeding in the active intervention group: gingival bleeding present in 9% of the intervention group at baseline and 4% at 4-month follow up, versus 10% of the control group on… | 1 study · 107 participants | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs No (active) intervention (usual/standard dental care or no-treatment control) Attachment loss · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) · 4 months Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | Little 1997: no change in attachment loss; no differences between the intervention and control groups in overall change in attachment (loss of attachment) markers. | 1 study · 107 participants | Ungraded |
Antifungal drugs absorbed from GI tract (fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole) vs Placebo or no treatment Amount of analgesia · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | No trial reported this planned secondary outcome for any comparison in this review | NR | No studies |
Antifungal drugs absorbed from GI tract vs Antifungal drugs not absorbed from GI tract Systemic fungal infection · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 0.59 [0.33, 1.06] | 8 studies · 2103 participants | Ungraded |
Occlusal splint vs Palatal splint Comfort (visual analogue scale) · People with sleep bruxism (tooth grinding or clenching); children (greater than 1 year old) and adults; diagnosis… Occlusal splints for treating sleep bruxism (tooth grinding) (2007) · Cochrane | Occlusal splint versus palatal splint, comfort (median VAS 0 to 100 mm) (Dube 2004): occlusal splint 79.3 (SD 4.7) mm versus palatal splint 77.8 (8.1) mm; both rated as equally comfortable. No participant reported dry… | 1 study | Ungraded |