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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. Words match anywhere in the field.
830 questions in 43 reviews · Orthodontics
current versionsNo studies 186 · 22.4%Ungraded 410 · 49.4%Very low 122 · 14.7%Low 79 · 9.5%Moderate 30 · 3.6%High 3 · 0.4%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Pacifier withdrawal vs No treatment Outcome NR · Children with a non-nutritive sucking habit (digit or pacifier) Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children (2015) · Cochrane | There were no studies that looked at barrier techniques or pacifier withdrawal. | 0 studies | No studies |
Orthodontic appliances (palatal arch/palatal crib) vs No treatment Sucking cessation (short term) · Children with a non-nutritive sucking habit (digit or pacifier) · Short term (less than 12 months) Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children (2015) · Cochrane | RR 6.53 [1.67, 25.53] | 2 studies · 70 participants | Low |
Orthodontic appliances (palatal crib) vs No treatment Occlusion (net change in overjet, short term) · Children with a non-nutritive sucking habit (digit or pacifier) · Short term (3 months) Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children (2015) · Cochrane | Table 1 (reduction in malocclusion), Villa 1997 (n=24), palatal crib vs no treatment: net change in overjet (mm) - no treatment 0.02; palatal crib -0.2; no statistically significant net change in overjet between… | 1 study · 24 participants | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention + orthodontic treatment (palatal crib or palatal arch) vs No treatment Adverse events · Children with a non-nutritive sucking habit (digit or pacifier) Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children (2015) · Cochrane | Table 3 (adverse outcomes after one month; Haryett 1967), combined psychological plus orthodontic treatment group: reported upset 4/22 (18%); speech difficulty 6/22 (27%); eating difficulty 6/22 (27%); developing… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment incorporating surgically assisted orthodontics (adjunctive surgical procedure: corticotomy, micro-osteoperforation or interseptal bone reduction) to increase the rate of tooth movement vs Conventional treatment: fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment without surgical assistance Patient satisfaction (measured using validated questionnaires or scales) · Individuals of any age receiving orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances (braces) (people requiring orthodontic… Surgical adjunctive procedures for accelerating orthodontic treatment (2015) · Cochrane | Results: 'Our prespecified secondary outcomes of patient satisfaction, improvement in occlusion, and prolonged stability of treatment were not measured in the trials.' | 0 studies | No studies |
Psychological intervention + palatal arch vs Psychological intervention + palatal crib Sucking cessation (short term) · Children with a non-nutritive sucking habit (digit or pacifier) · Short term (less than 12 months) Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children (2015) · Cochrane | RR 0.30 [0.13, 0.74] | 1 study · 22 participants | Ungraded |
Aversive tasting substance applied to digit vs Psychological intervention (habit reversal) Sucking cessation (short term) · Children with a non-nutritive sucking habit (digit or pacifier) · Short term (less than 12 months) Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children (2015) · Cochrane | RR 0.18 [0.03, 1.24] | 1 study · 29 participants | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention (habit reversal / positive reinforcement) vs Alternative psychological intervention (DRO / negative reinforcement) Sucking cessation (short term) · Children with a non-nutritive sucking habit (digit or pacifier) · Short term (less than 12 months) Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children (2015) · Cochrane | Christensen 1987 (20 participants) compared habit reversal (HR) with differential reinforcement of other behaviour (DRO): no statistically significant difference. Larsson 1972 (38 participants) compared positive with… | 2 studies · 58 participants | Ungraded |
Transplantation of other teeth after extraction of the ankylosed teeth vs Conventional orthodontic treatment or follow-up with no specific treatment for ankylosis Outcome NR · Any patient with ankylosis and displacement of permanent front teeth diagnosed by clinical and radiographic… Interventions for treating traumatised ankylosed permanent front teeth (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment incorporating surgically assisted orthodontics (adjunctive surgical procedure: corticotomy, micro-osteoperforation or interseptal bone reduction) to increase the rate of tooth movement vs Conventional treatment: fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment without surgical assistance Prolonged stability of treatment (adjudged using an accepted scale) · Individuals of any age receiving orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances (braces) (people requiring orthodontic… Surgical adjunctive procedures for accelerating orthodontic treatment (2015) · Cochrane | Results: 'Our prespecified secondary outcomes of patient satisfaction, improvement in occlusion, and prolonged stability of treatment were not measured in the trials.' | 0 studies | No studies |
Psychological interventions vs No treatment Adverse events · Children with a non-nutritive sucking habit (digit or pacifier) Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children (2015) · Cochrane | SoF (psychological interventions vs no treatment): Adverse events - insufficient information reported. Table 3 (adverse outcomes after one month; Haryett 1967), psychological treatment group: reported upset 1/11 (9%);… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment incorporating surgically assisted orthodontics (adjunctive surgical procedure: corticotomy, micro-osteoperforation or interseptal bone reduction) to increase the rate of tooth movement vs Conventional treatment: fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment without surgical assistance Rate of tooth movement (orthodontic tooth movement in mm at 3 months) · Individuals of any age receiving orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances (braces) (people requiring orthodontic… · 3 months Surgical adjunctive procedures for accelerating orthodontic treatment (2015) · Cochrane | MD 2.03 [1.52, 2.54] | 2 studies · 31 participants | Low |
Psychological interventions (positive/negative reinforcement, habit reversal, DRO) vs No treatment Sucking cessation (short term) · Children with a non-nutritive sucking habit (digit or pacifier) · Short term (less than 12 months) Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children (2015) · Cochrane | RR 6.16 [1.18, 32.10] | 2 studies · 87 participants | Low |
Orthodontic appliances (palatal crib) vs No treatment Occlusion (change in mandibular arch length, short term) · Children with a non-nutritive sucking habit (digit or pacifier) · Short term (3 months) Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children (2015) · Cochrane | Table 1 (reduction in malocclusion), Villa 1997 (n=24), palatal crib vs no treatment: change in mandibular arch length (mm) - no treatment 0.03 (SD 0.19); palatal crib -1.2 (SD 0.8); reported as statistically… | 1 study · 24 participants | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention + orthodontic treatment (palatal crib or palatal arch) vs No treatment Sucking cessation (short term) · Children with a non-nutritive sucking habit (digit or pacifier) · Short term (less than 12 months) Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children (2015) · Cochrane | RR 6.36 [0.97, 41.96] | 1 study · 32 participants | Ungraded |
Fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment incorporating surgically assisted orthodontics (adjunctive surgical procedure: corticotomy, micro-osteoperforation or interseptal bone reduction) to increase the rate of tooth movement vs Conventional treatment: fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment without surgical assistance Harms arising during orthodontic treatment (gingival and periodontal problems, anchorage loss and iatrogenic damage to teeth e.g. caries/decalcification, root resorption); only periodontal/gingival health assessed · Individuals of any age receiving orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances (braces) (people requiring orthodontic… · Up to 4 months Surgical adjunctive procedures for accelerating orthodontic treatment (2015) · Cochrane | SoF: Assumed risk 'See comment'; Corresponding risk 'See comment'; 13 (1 study, split‐mouth); Quality ⊕⊖⊖⊖ very low. Comment: 'Gingival and periodonal problems only were assesed in 1 study (Aboul‐Ela 2011). No precise… | 1 study · 13 participants | Very low |
Fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment incorporating surgically assisted orthodontics (adjunctive surgical procedure: corticotomy, micro-osteoperforation or interseptal bone reduction) to increase the rate of tooth movement vs Conventional treatment: fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment without surgical assistance Patient-reported outcome: pain experience (discomfort) · Individuals of any age receiving orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances (braces) (people requiring orthodontic… · 24 hours to 28 days Surgical adjunctive procedures for accelerating orthodontic treatment (2015) · Cochrane | Results: 'Pain experience was compared between surgical and non‐surgical cases in a single study (Alikhani 2013). Within 24 hours of appliance activation and canine retraction, both groups reported higher levels of… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Barrier techniques (gloves/plasters) vs No treatment Outcome NR · Children with a non-nutritive sucking habit (digit or pacifier) Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children (2015) · Cochrane | There were no studies that looked at barrier techniques or pacifier withdrawal. | 0 studies | No studies |
Fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment incorporating surgically assisted orthodontics (adjunctive surgical procedure: corticotomy, micro-osteoperforation or interseptal bone reduction) to increase the rate of tooth movement vs Conventional treatment: fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment without surgical assistance Rate of tooth movement (orthodontic tooth movement in mm at 1 month) · Individuals of any age receiving orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances (braces) (people requiring orthodontic… · 1 month Surgical adjunctive procedures for accelerating orthodontic treatment (2015) · Cochrane | MD 0.61 [0.49, 0.72] | 3 studies · 42 participants | Low |
Psychological interventions (positive and negative reinforcement) vs No treatment Sucking cessation (long term) · Children with a non-nutritive sucking habit (digit or pacifier) · Long term (12 months or more) Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children (2015) · Cochrane | RR 6.25 [1.65, 23.65] | 1 study · 57 participants | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention (positive reinforcement) vs Alternative psychological intervention (negative reinforcement) Sucking cessation (long term) · Children with a non-nutritive sucking habit (digit or pacifier) · Long term (12 months or more) Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children (2015) · Cochrane | Larsson 1972, comparing positive reinforcement with negative reinforcement, also provided long-term data. Again, no statistically significant between-group differences were shown (Analysis 6.2). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Psychological interventions vs No treatment Occlusion · Children with a non-nutritive sucking habit (digit or pacifier) Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children (2015) · Cochrane | Occlusion: Not reported. | 0 studies | No studies |
Fixed prostheses cemented to prepared teeth after extraction or decoronation of the ankylosed teeth vs Conventional orthodontic treatment or follow-up with no specific treatment for ankylosis Outcome NR · Any patient with ankylosis and displacement of permanent front teeth diagnosed by clinical and radiographic… Interventions for treating traumatised ankylosed permanent front teeth (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Orthodontic appliances (palatal crib) vs No treatment Correction of posterior crossbite · Children with a non-nutritive sucking habit (digit or pacifier) Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children (2015) · Cochrane | Correction of posterior crossbite was not measured in this study despite being a well recognised feature in the malocclusion of a child with a thumb-sucking habit. | 0 studies | No studies |
Implant-supported crowns after extraction or decoronation of the ankylosed teeth vs Conventional orthodontic treatment or follow-up with no specific treatment for ankylosis Outcome NR · Any patient with ankylosis and displacement of permanent front teeth diagnosed by clinical and radiographic… Interventions for treating traumatised ankylosed permanent front teeth (2015) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Orthodontic appliances (palatal crib) vs No treatment Occlusion (change in overbite, short term) · Children with a non-nutritive sucking habit (digit or pacifier) · Short term (3 months) Interventions for the cessation of non‐nutritive sucking habits in children (2015) · Cochrane | MD 4.10 [2.93, 5.27] | 1 study · 24 participants | Very low |
Fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment incorporating surgically assisted orthodontics (adjunctive surgical procedure: corticotomy, micro-osteoperforation or interseptal bone reduction) to increase the rate of tooth movement vs Conventional treatment: fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment without surgical assistance Improvement in occlusion (Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) or other validated scale) · Individuals of any age receiving orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances (braces) (people requiring orthodontic… Surgical adjunctive procedures for accelerating orthodontic treatment (2015) · Cochrane | Results: 'Our prespecified secondary outcomes of patient satisfaction, improvement in occlusion, and prolonged stability of treatment were not measured in the trials.' | 0 studies | No studies |
Frankel's function regulator-4 (FR-4) with lip-seal training vs No treatment Mandibular ramus growth · Children and adolescents (over 80% aged 16 years or younger at treatment start) with anterior open bite (lack of… · End of treatment (about 2 years) Orthodontic and orthopaedic treatment for anterior open bite in children (2014) · Cochrane | The author reported no difference between groups in mandibular ramus growth (linear measure Ar-Go). No pooled estimate. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Frankel's function regulator-4 (FR-4) with lip-seal training vs No treatment Stability of anterior open bite correction (1 year after treatment) · Children and adolescents (over 80% aged 16 years or younger at treatment start) with anterior open bite (lack of… Orthodontic and orthopaedic treatment for anterior open bite in children (2014) · Cochrane | Outcome proposed in the review but not found in any included study. The review states: 'The other outcomes proposed in this review were not found: stability of anterior open bite correction; reduction of snoring; signs… | 0 studies | No studies |
Dual mini-screw implant vs Single mini-screw implant Economic factors · Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment requiring surgical (mini-screw implant) anchorage Reinforcement of anchorage during orthodontic brace treatment with implants or other surgical methods (2014) · Cochrane | Economic factors were not reported in any of the studies comparing two types of surgical anchorage | 0 studies | No studies |
Early loading of mini-screw implant vs Delayed loading of mini-screw implant Success of the anchorage device · Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment requiring surgical (mini-screw implant) anchorage Reinforcement of anchorage during orthodontic brace treatment with implants or other surgical methods (2014) · Cochrane | RR 1.00 [0.83, 1.20] | 2 studies · 36 participants | Ungraded |
Frankel's function regulator-4 (FR-4) with lip-seal training vs No treatment Reduction or treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) or upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) · Children and adolescents (over 80% aged 16 years or younger at treatment start) with anterior open bite (lack of… Orthodontic and orthopaedic treatment for anterior open bite in children (2014) · Cochrane | Outcome proposed in the review but not found in any included study. The review states: 'The other outcomes proposed in this review were not found: stability of anterior open bite correction; reduction of snoring; signs… | 0 studies | No studies |
Removable appliance with palatal crib associated with high-pull chincup vs No treatment Mandibular ramus growth · Children and adolescents (over 80% aged 16 years or younger at treatment start) with anterior open bite (lack of… · End of treatment (12 months) Orthodontic and orthopaedic treatment for anterior open bite in children (2014) · Cochrane | Cephalometric data (SNA, Co-A, SNB, Ar-Go, Ar.GoMe, Co-Gn, ANB) were reported to be not significantly different between groups; effects were dento-alveolar rather than skeletal. No pooled estimate (Almeida 2005). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Dual mini-screw implant vs Single mini-screw implant Number of visits · Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment requiring surgical (mini-screw implant) anchorage Reinforcement of anchorage during orthodontic brace treatment with implants or other surgical methods (2014) · Cochrane | No studies reported on the number of visits for the comparison of two types of surgical anchorage | 0 studies | No studies |
Dual mini-screw implant vs Single mini-screw implant Residual overjet at the end of treatment · Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment requiring surgical (mini-screw implant) anchorage Reinforcement of anchorage during orthodontic brace treatment with implants or other surgical methods (2014) · Cochrane | No studies reported on residual overjet at the end of treatment for the comparison of two types of surgical anchorage | 0 studies | No studies |
Surgical anchorage (mini-screw or mid-palatal implant) vs Conventional anchorage (headgear, transpalatal/palatal arch, etc.) Patient acceptability · Patients of any age undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances and requiring anchorage (adolescents to… Reinforcement of anchorage during orthodontic brace treatment with implants or other surgical methods (2014) · Cochrane | Reported narratively in 1 study (Feldmann 2007): limitations in daily life and jaw function were low to moderate throughout the trial with no differences between anchorage groups; impact on mood and appearance peaked… | 1 study · 113 participants | Ungraded |
Surgical anchorage (mini-screw or mid-palatal implant) vs Conventional anchorage (headgear, transpalatal/palatal arch, etc.) Adverse events · Patients of any age undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances and requiring anchorage (adolescents to… Reinforcement of anchorage during orthodontic brace treatment with implants or other surgical methods (2014) · Cochrane | This outcome was unreported in all included studies | 0 studies | No studies |
Removable appliance with palatal crib associated with high-pull chincup vs No treatment Alteration of hyperdivergent growth pattern · Children and adolescents (over 80% aged 16 years or younger at treatment start) with anterior open bite (lack of… · End of treatment (12 months) Orthodontic and orthopaedic treatment for anterior open bite in children (2014) · Cochrane | The angles (SN.GoGN, SN.PP, NS.Gn) and linear measures (AFA, AFP, AFAI) did not demonstrate significant alterations between groups; interventions did not produce significant changes in the skeletal maxillary or… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Surgical anchorage (mini-screw or mid-palatal implant) vs Conventional anchorage (headgear, transpalatal/palatal arch, etc.) Mesiodistal movement of the upper first permanent molar · Patients of any age undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances and requiring anchorage (adolescents to… · End of anchorage reinforcement / space closure Reinforcement of anchorage during orthodontic brace treatment with implants or other surgical methods (2014) · Cochrane | MD -1.68 [-2.27, -1.09] | 7 studies · 308 participants | Moderate |
Surgical anchorage (mini-screw or mid-palatal implant) vs Conventional anchorage (headgear, transpalatal/palatal arch, etc.) Success or failure of the anchorage device · Patients of any age undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances and requiring anchorage (adolescents to… Reinforcement of anchorage during orthodontic brace treatment with implants or other surgical methods (2014) · Cochrane | Reported in 5 studies but not pooled due to variability in the definition of success and incomplete reporting. Success rates: mini-implants 71.43% (10/14) (Basha 2010); Orthosystem mid-palatal implant 91.30% (21/23) vs… | 5 studies | Ungraded |
Removable appliance with palatal crib associated with high-pull chincup vs No treatment Expansion of the upper and lower jaw · Children and adolescents (over 80% aged 16 years or younger at treatment start) with anterior open bite (lack of… · End of treatment (12 months) Orthodontic and orthopaedic treatment for anterior open bite in children (2014) · Cochrane | Listed among the outcome measures evaluated by Almeida 2005. No separate width/expansion estimate is reported in the text; the review concluded the interventions produced no significant change in the skeletal maxillary… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Frankel's function regulator-4 (FR-4) with lip-seal training vs No treatment Patient satisfaction · Children and adolescents (over 80% aged 16 years or younger at treatment start) with anterior open bite (lack of… Orthodontic and orthopaedic treatment for anterior open bite in children (2014) · Cochrane | Outcome proposed in the review but not found in any included study. The review states: 'The other outcomes proposed in this review were not found: stability of anterior open bite correction; reduction of snoring; signs… | 0 studies | No studies |
Dual mini-screw implant vs Single mini-screw implant Success of the anchorage device · Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment requiring surgical (mini-screw implant) anchorage Reinforcement of anchorage during orthodontic brace treatment with implants or other surgical methods (2014) · Cochrane | RR 1.01 [0.84, 1.22] | 1 study · 25 participants | Ungraded |
Frankel's function regulator-4 (FR-4) with lip-seal training vs No treatment Failure to correct the anterior open bite (open bite not closed) · Children and adolescents (over 80% aged 16 years or younger at treatment start) with anterior open bite (lack of… · End of treatment (about 2 years) Orthodontic and orthopaedic treatment for anterior open bite in children (2014) · Cochrane | RR 0.02 [0.00, 0.38] | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Frankel's function regulator-4 (FR-4) with lip-seal training vs No treatment Signs and symptoms of atypical swallowing and speech production disturbances · Children and adolescents (over 80% aged 16 years or younger at treatment start) with anterior open bite (lack of… Orthodontic and orthopaedic treatment for anterior open bite in children (2014) · Cochrane | Outcome proposed in the review but not found in any included study. The review states: 'The other outcomes proposed in this review were not found: stability of anterior open bite correction; reduction of snoring; signs… | 0 studies | No studies |
Dual mini-screw implant vs Single mini-screw implant Duration of space closure · Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment requiring surgical (mini-screw implant) anchorage Reinforcement of anchorage during orthodontic brace treatment with implants or other surgical methods (2014) · Cochrane | MD -2.19 [-6.35, 1.97] | 1 study · 25 participants | Ungraded |
Frankel's function regulator-4 (FR-4) with lip-seal training vs No treatment Signs and symptoms of respiratory disease (mouth breathing, nasal airway resistance) · Children and adolescents (over 80% aged 16 years or younger at treatment start) with anterior open bite (lack of… Orthodontic and orthopaedic treatment for anterior open bite in children (2014) · Cochrane | Outcome proposed in the review but not found in any included study. The review states: 'The other outcomes proposed in this review were not found: stability of anterior open bite correction; reduction of snoring; signs… | 0 studies | No studies |
Surgical anchorage (mini-screw or mid-palatal implant) vs Conventional anchorage (headgear, transpalatal/palatal arch, etc.) Residual overjet at the end of treatment · Patients of any age undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances and requiring anchorage (adolescents to… Reinforcement of anchorage during orthodontic brace treatment with implants or other surgical methods (2014) · Cochrane | No studies reported on residual overjet at the end of treatment | 0 studies | No studies |
Repelling-magnet splints vs Bite-blocks Side effects / adverse effects (unilateral crossbite; transverse problems) · Children and adolescents (over 80% aged 16 years or younger at treatment start) with anterior open bite (lack of… · About 4 months (treatment interrupted early) Orthodontic and orthopaedic treatment for anterior open bite in children (2014) · Cochrane | "After 4 months the open bite was observed to close in the magnet group, but in four out of these ten patients, transverse problems were observed (unilateral crossbite) which led to the interruption of the treatment… | 1 study · 10 participants | Ungraded |
Surgical anchorage (mini-screw or mid-palatal implant) vs Conventional anchorage (headgear, transpalatal/palatal arch, etc.) Patient perception: discomfort · Patients of any age undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances and requiring anchorage (adolescents to… Reinforcement of anchorage during orthodontic brace treatment with implants or other surgical methods (2014) · Cochrane | Reported narratively in 2 studies (Chesterfield 2007, 47 patients; Feldmann 2007, 113 patients) on a VAS 0-100; discomfort most severe the evening after surgery (Nobel-Biocare onplant median 33, IQR 0-96) and after… | 2 studies · 160 participants | Ungraded |