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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Occlusal adjustment (OA) vs No treatment Pain (severity) · Adults (aged 18 years or older) with clinically diagnosed temporomandibular disorders (TMD) Occlusal adjustment for treating and preventing temporomandibular joint disorders (2003) · Cochrane | OR 0.10 [0.00, 2.15] | 1 study · 17 participants | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on permanent tooth surfaces (D(M)FS), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) · Nearest to 3 years, Fluoride mouthrinse trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.26 [0.23, 0.30] | 34 studies | Ungraded |
Ceramic inlays (all types) vs Gold inlay Aesthetic satisfaction (colour match) · Adults who require restorative treatment in posterior teeth Ceramic inlays for restoring posterior teeth (2003) · Cochrane | Information on aesthetic satisfaction could not be obtained from this study as it did not use the tooth-coloured restorations as the control group. | 0 studies | No studies |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on permanent tooth surfaces (D(M)FS), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) · Nearest to 3 years, Fluoride gel trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.28 [0.19, 0.37] | 22 studies | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on permanent whole teeth (D(M)FT), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) · Nearest to 3 years, Fluoride gel trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.32 [0.19, 0.46] | 10 studies | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on permanent tooth surfaces (D(M)FS), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) · Nearest to 3 years, No-treatment-controlled trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.40 [0.31, 0.49] | 17 studies | Ungraded |
Fluoride toothpaste vs Placebo (non-fluoride) toothpaste Proportion of children developing one or more new caries · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less · At least 1 year Fluoride toothpastes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents (2003) · Cochrane | RR 0.91 [0.80, 1.04] | 7 studies · 2878 participants | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on permanent tooth surfaces (D(M)FS), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) · Nearest to 3 years, Fluoride toothpaste trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.24 [0.21, 0.28] | 70 studies | Ungraded |
Occlusal adjustment (OA) vs Placebo Quality of life · Adults (aged 18 years or older) with clinically diagnosed temporomandibular disorders (TMD) Occlusal adjustment for treating and preventing temporomandibular joint disorders (2003) · Cochrane | There were no data on psychosocial outcomes, costs or quality of life in any of the trials. | 0 studies | No studies |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Adverse effects (tooth staining/discoloration, oral soft-tissue signs, adverse symptoms such as nausea/vomiting, enamel etching) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | Data on adverse effects (stain score, proportion of children with tooth staining, signs of sensitivity in oral soft tissue, adverse symptoms such as nausea/vomiting, etching of enamel) were reported in only a few… | NR | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on permanent whole teeth (D(M)FT), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) · Nearest to 3 years, No-treatment-controlled trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.45 [0.32, 0.58] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on permanent tooth surfaces (D(M)FS), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) · Nearest to 3 years, Fluoride varnish trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.46 [0.30, 0.63] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Occlusal adjustment (OA) vs Placebo Relief of globus · Adults (aged 18 years or older) with clinically diagnosed temporomandibular disorders (TMD) Occlusal adjustment for treating and preventing temporomandibular joint disorders (2003) · Cochrane | OR 6.0 [0.72, 49.84] | 1 study · 17 participants | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on primary (deciduous) tooth surfaces (d(e/m)fs), prevented fraction · Children with primary (deciduous) teeth (younger children) · Nearest to 3 years, No-treatment-controlled trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.41 [0.26, 0.55] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Ceramic inlays (all types) vs Gold inlay Postoperative sensitivity/pain · Adults who require restorative treatment in posterior teeth · 1 week Ceramic inlays for restoring posterior teeth (2003) · Cochrane | Postoperative sensitivity was evaluated 1 week after placement. No teeth with ceramic inlays were found to have postoperative sensitivity, while one tooth with gold inlay presented sensitivity, which lasted more than 2… | 1 study · 20 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride toothpaste vs Placebo (non-fluoride) toothpaste Acquiring extrinsic tooth staining (adverse effect; stannous fluoride toothpaste) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less · At least 1 year Fluoride toothpastes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents (2003) · Cochrane | RD 0.24 [0.19, 0.30] | 5 studies · 3948 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride toothpaste vs Placebo (non-fluoride) toothpaste Caries increment in deciduous teeth: df-rate, new decayed or filled teeth per 100 primary teeth (prevented fraction) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less · At least 1 year, Deciduous dentition Fluoride toothpastes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.37 | 1 study · 2008 participants | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on permanent whole teeth (D(M)FT), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) · Nearest to 3 years, Fluoride mouthrinse trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.24 [0.18, 0.30] | 13 studies | Ungraded |
Ceramic inlays (all types) vs Gold inlay Failure rate (longevity) at 5 years · Adults who require restorative treatment in posterior teeth · 5 years Ceramic inlays for restoring posterior teeth (2003) · Cochrane | OR 1.12 [0.08, 15.0] | 1 study · 20 participants | Ungraded |
Occlusal adjustment (OA) vs Placebo Headache (frequency) · Adults (aged 18 years or older) with clinically diagnosed temporomandibular disorders (TMD) Occlusal adjustment for treating and preventing temporomandibular joint disorders (2003) · Cochrane | OR 0.90 [0.13, 6.08] | 1 study · 18 participants | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Dental fluorosis · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | Fluorosis data have not been reported in any of the trials. | 0 studies | No studies |
Occlusal adjustment (OA) vs No treatment Headache (severity) · Adults (aged 18 years or older) with clinically diagnosed temporomandibular disorders (TMD) Occlusal adjustment for treating and preventing temporomandibular joint disorders (2003) · Cochrane | OR 0.10 [0.00, 2.15] | 1 study · 17 participants | Ungraded |
Occlusal adjustment (OA) vs Reassurance Overall symptoms improvement · Adults (aged 18 years or older) with clinically diagnosed temporomandibular disorders (TMD) Occlusal adjustment for treating and preventing temporomandibular joint disorders (2003) · Cochrane | OR 3.12 [0.12, 80.39] | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Occlusal adjustment (OA) vs Reassurance Limitation of movement (range of mandibular movement) · Adults (aged 18 years or older) with clinically diagnosed temporomandibular disorders (TMD) Occlusal adjustment for treating and preventing temporomandibular joint disorders (2003) · Cochrane | Additional clinical outcomes reported included range of mandibular movement (Vallon 1991); no pooled effect estimate was reported. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on permanent whole teeth (D(M)FT), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) · Nearest to 3 years, Placebo-controlled trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.24 [0.20, 0.28] | 72 studies | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on primary (deciduous) tooth surfaces (d(e/m)fs), prevented fraction · Children with primary (deciduous) teeth (younger children) · Nearest to 3 years, Placebo-controlled trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.27 [0.08, 0.48] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on permanent whole teeth (D(M)FT), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) · Nearest to 3 years, Fluoride toothpaste trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.23 [0.19, 0.28] | 53 studies | Ungraded |
Occlusal adjustment (OA) vs Placebo Adverse events · Adults (aged 18 years or older) with clinically diagnosed temporomandibular disorders (TMD) Occlusal adjustment for treating and preventing temporomandibular joint disorders (2003) · Cochrane | There were no reports of adverse reactions. | 0 studies | No studies |
Occlusal adjustment (OA) vs No treatment Pain (frequency) · Adults (aged 18 years or older) with clinically diagnosed temporomandibular disorders (TMD) Occlusal adjustment for treating and preventing temporomandibular joint disorders (2003) · Cochrane | OR 0.10 [0.00, 2.15] | 1 study · 17 participants | Ungraded |
Occlusal adjustment (OA) vs Placebo Cost · Adults (aged 18 years or older) with clinically diagnosed temporomandibular disorders (TMD) Occlusal adjustment for treating and preventing temporomandibular joint disorders (2003) · Cochrane | There were no data on psychosocial outcomes, costs or quality of life in any of the trials. | 0 studies | No studies |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on primary (deciduous) tooth surfaces (d(e/m)fs), prevented fraction · Children with primary (deciduous) teeth (younger children) · Nearest to 3 years Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.33 [0.22, 0.44] | 5 studies | Ungraded |
Occlusal adjustment (OA) vs No treatment Headache (frequency) · Adults (aged 18 years or older) with clinically diagnosed temporomandibular disorders (TMD) Occlusal adjustment for treating and preventing temporomandibular joint disorders (2003) · Cochrane | OR 0.10 [0.00, 2.15] | 1 study · 17 participants | Ungraded |
Occlusal adjustment (OA) vs Placebo Pain (frequency) · Adults (aged 18 years or older) with clinically diagnosed temporomandibular disorders (TMD) Occlusal adjustment for treating and preventing temporomandibular joint disorders (2003) · Cochrane | OR 0.5 [0.07, 3.85] | 1 study · 18 participants | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Unacceptability of treatment (dropouts/exclusions during the trial) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger · During trial, No-treatment-controlled trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | RR 1.20 [0.85, 1.70] | 10 studies | Ungraded |
Fluoride toothpaste vs Placebo (non-fluoride) toothpaste Oral soft tissue lesions (adverse effect) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less · At least 1 year Fluoride toothpastes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents (2003) · Cochrane | Oral soft tissue lesions reported in 3 trials, none of which with complete or useable data; all three stated "no lesions attributable to product use were noted". | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Fluoride toothpaste vs Placebo (non-fluoride) toothpaste Caries increment in permanent teeth: decayed, (missing) and filled teeth D(M)FT (prevented fraction) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less · At least 1 year Fluoride toothpastes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.23 [0.18, 0.28] | 53 studies · 32371 participants | Ungraded |
Occlusal adjustment (OA) vs No treatment or placebo (control) Incidence of TMD symptoms · Healthy subjects without TMD at baseline (children, adolescents and young adults) Occlusal adjustment for treating and preventing temporomandibular joint disorders (2003) · Cochrane | OR 0.43 [0.14, 1.37] | 3 studies · 300 participants | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Proportion of children developing one or more new caries · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | RR 0.88 [0.82, 0.95] | 13 studies | Ungraded |
Ceramic inlays (all types) vs Composite resin (direct restoration) Outcome NR · Adults who require restorative treatment in posterior teeth Ceramic inlays for restoring posterior teeth (2003) · Cochrane | No eligible randomised controlled trial comparing ceramic inlays with composite resin (direct) restorations was identified; this planned comparison could not be evaluated. | 0 studies | No studies |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on primary (deciduous) tooth surfaces (d(e/m)fs), prevented fraction · Children with primary (deciduous) teeth (younger children) · Nearest to 3 years, Fluoride varnish trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.33 [0.19, 0.48] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Preprosthetic surgery for a conventional denture (PPS) vs Implant retained overdenture (dental implants) (IRO) Dissatisfied with eating with denture · Edentulous patients requiring improved denture retention · 1 year Interventions for replacing missing teeth: preprosthetic surgery versus dental implants (2002) · Cochrane | RR 5.36 [0.67, 43.07] | 1 study · 58 participants | Ungraded |
Preprosthetic surgery for a conventional denture (PPS) vs Implant retained overdenture (dental implants) (IRO) Dissatisfied with appearance of denture · Edentulous patients requiring improved denture retention · 1 year Interventions for replacing missing teeth: preprosthetic surgery versus dental implants (2002) · Cochrane | RR 1.43 [0.35, 5.83] | 1 study · 58 participants | Ungraded |
Preprosthetic surgery for a conventional denture (PPS) vs Implant retained overdenture (dental implants) (IRO) Overall denture satisfaction (0-10 scale) · Edentulous patients requiring improved denture retention · 5 years Interventions for replacing missing teeth: preprosthetic surgery versus dental implants (2002) · Cochrane | MD -0.90 [-1.74, -0.06] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Preprosthetic surgery for a conventional denture (PPS) vs Implant retained overdenture (dental implants) (IRO) Overall denture satisfaction (binary) · Edentulous patients requiring improved denture retention · 1 year Interventions for replacing missing teeth: preprosthetic surgery versus dental implants (2002) · Cochrane | RR 16.03 [0.96, 268.36] | 1 study · 58 participants | Ungraded |
Preprosthetic surgery for a conventional denture (PPS) vs Implant retained overdenture (dental implants) (IRO) Cost-effectiveness · Edentulous patients requiring improved denture retention Interventions for replacing missing teeth: preprosthetic surgery versus dental implants (2002) · Cochrane | Cost-effectiveness (outcome 1.9): The cost-effectiveness data could not be extracted from the report as it was combined with a separate trial. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Preprosthetic surgery for a conventional denture (PPS) vs Implant retained overdenture (dental implants) (IRO) Dissatisfied with speech with denture · Edentulous patients requiring improved denture retention · 1 year Interventions for replacing missing teeth: preprosthetic surgery versus dental implants (2002) · Cochrane | RR 7.5 [0.98, 57.16] | 1 study · 58 participants | Ungraded |
Summary of findings: leflunomide vs placebo, 6 months For outcome · adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis Leflunomide for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (2002) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Summary of findings: leflunomide + methotrexate vs methotrexate, 6 months Change in pain (0‐100 mm VAS) · adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis Leflunomide for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (2002) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 263 participants | High |
Summary of findings: leflunomide + methotrexate vs methotrexate, 6 months Withdrawals due to adverse events (6 months) · adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis Leflunomide for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (2002) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 263 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings: leflunomide vs placebo, 6 months ACR 50 response at 6 months · adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis Leflunomide for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (2002) · Cochrane | RR 2.32 [1.32, 4.05] | 1 study · 221 participants | High |