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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. Every word you type has to appear somewhere in the question, and the closest matches are ranked first.
10,375 questions in 429 reviews · Oral Health
current versionsNo studies 1,344 · 13%Ungraded 6,832 · 65.9%Very low 1,228 · 11.8%Low 613 · 5.9%Moderate 290 · 2.8%High 68 · 0.7%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Fluoride mouthrinse (any fluoride agent, concentration, volume, frequency or technique; swished and expectorated, not swallowed) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment in deciduous (primary) teeth/surfaces (d(e/m)fs; dmf index) · Children or adolescents aged 16 years or younger at the start of the study · At least 1 year/school year Fluoride mouthrinses for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents (2016) · Cochrane | We could not present estimates of the effect of fluoride mouthrinse on caries increment in deciduous teeth/tooth surfaces (dmf index) as no study contributed data. None of the included trials reported on caries… | 0 studies | No studies |
Physical barriers (tongue protector) vs Placebo Adverse effects (narrative) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | SoF7. Adverse effects: single study narratively reported that no adverse events occurred from the use of tongue protectors; 50 participants (1 RCT); low. | 1 study · 50 participants | Low |
Laser (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, or Nd:YAG) vs Conventional mechanical caries removal (standard drill; handpiece with a bur) Recurrent (secondary) caries · Children, adolescents and adults with caries in deciduous and permanent teeth (age 3.5 to 84 years) · 6 months to 2 years follow-up Lasers for caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth (2016) · Cochrane | Two trials reported data on prevalence of secondary caries (Hadley 2000 at 6 months; Yazici 2010 at 2 years). No occurrence of caries was reported in either study (no events; no estimable effect). | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Laser (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, or Nd:YAG) vs Conventional mechanical caries removal (standard drill; handpiece with a bur) Durability of restoration · Children, adolescents and adults with caries in deciduous and permanent teeth (age 3.5 to 84 years) · 1 year follow-up Lasers for caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.40 [0.29, 6.78] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy plus standard care (surgery, antibiotics, oral rinse) vs Standard care alone (surgery, antibiotics, oral rinse) Pain · People with BRONJ (mean age ~66 years; most treated with bisphosphonates for cancer (multiple myeloma, breast cancer)… · Weekly (to 16 weeks) Interventions for treating bisphosphonate‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 42 participants | Ungraded |
Benzodiazepines (systemic clordemetildiazepam 1 mg/day) vs Placebo Relief of burning/discomfort (symptom relief; pain intensity) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months), clordemetildiazepam Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | Bogetto 1999 (clordemetildiazepam) included in the benzodiazepine comparison but data not presented (79% placebo-arm attrition). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs Placebo or no treatment Daytime symptom: morning headache (Brouillette questionnaire) · Children with obstructive sleep apnoea (aged 15 years or younger) · 6 months Oral appliances and functional orthopaedic appliances for obstructive sleep apnoea in children (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.39 [0.12, 1.23] | 1 study · 23 participants | Very low |
Vitamin A or retinoids (systemic or topical; incl. 13-cis-retinoic acid, acitretin) vs Placebo or no treatment Improvement of histological features (not improved) · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia · 3 months Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.43 [0.24, 0.76] | 1 study · 41 participants | Moderate |
Systemic beta carotene or carotenoids (incl. lycopene) vs Placebo or no treatment Safety of the intervention (adverse effects) · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia · 5 to 12 months Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | SoF 2, Safety of the intervention at 5 to 12 months: 'Systemic beta carotene did not cause any adverse effects in 1 study supplementing 10 mg/d (Nagao), and caused adverse effects of varying severity in 9% of… | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Vibratory stimulation (vibratory adjuncts) vs No vibration or placebo vibration Dose/intensity and frequency of pain relief needed (analgesic/rescue medication use) · Adolescents and adults undergoing orthodontic treatment · 24 hours Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.63 [0.44, 0.92] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Cholinergics (bethanechol) vs Placebo Change in quality of life (QoL) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | SoF4: No included studies reported change in QoL. | 0 studies | No studies |
Placebo (sham irradiation, laser inactive) vs Control (no laser device used) Maximum pain (verbal rating scale, VRS) · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · first postoperative week Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.04 [0.00, 0.61] | 1 study · 48 participants | Ungraded |
Antidepressants (trazodone 200 mg/day) vs Placebo Adverse effects: abdominal pains · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.32 [0.42, 4.15] | 1 study · 37 participants | Very low |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) root-end filling vs Gutta-percha smoothing (orthograde GP root filling) Postoperative pain (VAS 0-100) - 1 day · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 1 day Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | MD -4.00 [-16.69, 8.69] | 1 study · 42 participants | Low |
Vibratory stimulation (vibratory adjuncts) vs No vibration or placebo vibration Patient‐reported pain intensity or pain relief (VAS, NRS or categorical scale) · Adolescents and adults undergoing orthodontic treatment · 6 hours Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | MD -0.52 [-9.41, 8.36] | 2 studies · 115 participants | Ungraded |
Surgical microscope (magnification) vs Endoscope Healing - 2 years (microscope vs endoscope) · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 2 years Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.01 [0.89, 1.15] | 1 study · 70 participants | Low |
Low energy level laser therapy (LLLT) vs Placebo (sham irradiation, laser inactive) Maximum pain (verbal rating scale, VRS) · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · first postoperative week Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | Maximum pain (VRS): 0 per 1000 (placebo) vs 0 per 1000 (LLLT); effect not estimable; 52 participants. No high-pain events in either group. | 1 study · 52 participants | Very low |
Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs Placebo or no treatment Reduction of snoring (polysomnography) · Children with obstructive sleep apnoea (aged 15 years or younger) Oral appliances and functional orthopaedic appliances for obstructive sleep apnoea in children (2016) · Cochrane | The included study did not assess this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Experimental chewing adjuncts (bite wafers or chewing gum) vs No chewing gum, placebo, or control (no adjunct) Patient‐reported pain intensity or pain relief (VAS, NRS or categorical scale) · Adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment · 24 hours Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | MD -15.38 [-28.90, -1.86] | 2 studies · 96 participants | Very low |
Motivational interview plus oral health education vs Oral health education Knowledge: Average score (Oral Health Knowledge Questionnaire, high score = good) · People with serious mental illness (all included participants had schizophrenia); majority aged 18 to 65 years per… Oral health education (advice and training) for people with serious mental illness (2016) · Cochrane | MD 5.4 [3.71, 7.09] | 1 study · 56 participants | Ungraded |
Oral health education (advice and training) vs Standard care (oral health advice not specifically emphasised beyond usual care) Economic: Increased costs of health care · People with serious mental illness (all included participants had schizophrenia); majority aged 18 to 65 years per… Oral health education (advice and training) for people with serious mental illness (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Dietary supplements (Catuama herbal compound) vs Placebo Relief of burning/discomfort (symptom relief; pain intensity) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months), Catuama Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | 'Catuama' herbal compound (Spanemberg 2012) contributes to the dietary supplements short-term symptom-relief comparison (insufficient/contradictory); no separate estimate reported. | 1 study · 72 participants | Ungraded |
Educational intervention with information and practical components (theoretical oral health education plus practical skills training) for nursing staff and/or residents vs (Optimised) usual care Gingivitis · Nursing home residents (mean age 78.3 to 86.0 years; more than 66% women; 62.1% to 87.3% with dental prostheses) · 3 to 6 months Oral health educational interventions for nursing home staff and residents (2016) · Cochrane | SoF: Gingivitis (Gingival Bleeding Index and method of Suomi; follow-up 3 to 6 months). No meta-analysis (data not comparable). 245 participants (3 RCTs); low quality. Comment: 3 studies at unclear risk of bias showed… | 3 studies · 245 participants | Low |
Bowman-Birk inhibitor vs Placebo or no treatment Clinical resolution (oral lesion not completely resolved) · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia · 6 months Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.00 [0.91, 1.09] | 1 study · 21 participants | Low |
Perioperative infraorbital nerve block vs Infiltration of the incision (peri-incisional infiltration) Time to first analgesic requirement · Children up to 13 years of age, undergoing cleft lip repair surgery Infraorbital nerve block for postoperative pain following cleft lip repair in children (2016) · Cochrane | MD 4.92 [3.84, 6.00] | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride mouthrinse (any fluoride agent, concentration, volume, frequency or technique; swished and expectorated, not swallowed) vs Placebo or no treatment Proportion of children developing one or more new caries · Children or adolescents aged 16 years or younger at the start of the study · At least 1 year/school year Fluoride mouthrinses for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.77 [0.46, 1.29] | 3 studies · 1805 participants | Ungraded |
Root-end resection (with or without root-end filling; surgical retreatment) vs Root canal retreatment (non-surgical/orthograde) Participants reporting swelling · People with one or more endodontically treated teeth and a periapical condition requiring retreatment · first postoperative week Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | Significantly higher number of participants reporting swelling in the root-end resection group than in the root canal retreatment group during the first postoperative week (Analysis 1.5); per-day totals not pooled. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Physical barriers (tongue protector + reinforced self-control instruction) vs Placebo Relief of burning/discomfort (symptom relief; pain intensity) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | MD -1.10 [-2.14, -0.06] | 1 study · 50 participants | Very low |
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy plus standard care (surgery, antibiotics, oral rinse) vs Standard care alone (surgery, antibiotics, oral rinse) Adverse effects · People with BRONJ (mean age ~66 years; most treated with bisphosphonates for cancer (multiple myeloma, breast cancer)… Interventions for treating bisphosphonate‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Any experimental intervention (surgical or non-surgical) vs None (placebo or no treatment) Improvement of pre-existing accompanying symptoms other than pain · People of any age and either sex, in any setting, with BRONJ; bisphosphonate exposure past or current; includes people… Interventions for treating bisphosphonate‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Fluoride mouthrinse (any fluoride agent, concentration, volume, frequency or technique; swished and expectorated, not swallowed) vs Placebo or no treatment Mucosal irritation / oral soft tissue allergic reaction (signs of sensitivity) · Children or adolescents aged 16 years or younger at the start of the study · At least 1 year/school year Fluoride mouthrinses for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents (2016) · Cochrane | One trial (Rugg-Gunn 1973) reported incompletely on oral soft tissue irritation/signs of sensitivity (allergic reaction): "no cases of mucosal hypersensitivity after periodical examinations of every subject". 434… | 1 study · 434 participants | Very low |
Antidepressants (trazodone 200 mg/day) vs Placebo Adverse effects: headache · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.58 [0.30, 8.40] | 1 study · 37 participants | Very low |
Psychological therapies (cognitive therapy) vs Placebo Adverse effects · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | SoF8: No included study reported the occurrence of adverse events. | 0 studies | No studies |
Any experimental intervention (surgical or non-surgical) vs None (placebo or no treatment) Health economic measures · People of any age and either sex, in any setting, with BRONJ; bisphosphonate exposure past or current; includes people… Interventions for treating bisphosphonate‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Perioperative infraorbital nerve block vs Placebo (sham block) Need for analgesic prescription for pain (supplemental analgesic requirements) · Children up to 13 years of age, undergoing cleft lip repair surgery · At 4 hours Infraorbital nerve block for postoperative pain following cleft lip repair in children (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.05 [0.01, 0.18] | 3 studies · 120 participants | Low |
Dietary supplements (Catuama herbal compound) vs Placebo Adverse effects: weight gain · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months), Catuama Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | RR 2.69 [0.11, 63.96] | 1 study · 72 participants | Very low |
Intermediate restorative material (IRM) root-end filling vs Gutta-percha Healing - 1 year or longer · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 1 year or longer Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.92 [0.80, 1.05] | 1 study · 147 participants | Very low |
Amitriptyline (antidepressant, 25 mg/day) vs Placebo Relief of burning/discomfort (symptom relief; pain intensity) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | Bogetto 1999 (amitriptyline) included but data not presented (79% placebo-arm attrition). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) vs Placebo (or no irradiation) Patient‐reported pain intensity or pain relief (VAS, NRS or categorical scale) · Adolescents and adults undergoing orthodontic treatment · 7 days Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | MD -6.39 [-8.65, -4.13] | 1 study · 58 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride mouthrinse (any fluoride agent, concentration, volume, frequency or technique; swished and expectorated, not swallowed) vs Placebo or no treatment Signs of acute toxicity during application of treatment (such as nausea/gagging/vomiting) · Children or adolescents aged 16 years or younger at the start of the study · At least 1 year/school year Fluoride mouthrinses for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents (2016) · Cochrane | Signs of acute toxicity during application of treatment (such as nausea/gagging/vomiting): "Not reported in any studies"; "No data on signs of acute toxicity". None of the studies reported adverse acute symptoms… | 0 studies | No studies |
Glass ionomer cement root-end filling vs Amalgam Healing - 1 year · People requiring retreatment of periapical lesions (failed root canal therapy) · 1 year Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.98 [0.86, 1.12] | 1 study · 105 participants | Very low |
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs No special instructions (control) Patient‐reported pain intensity or pain relief (VAS, NRS or categorical scale) · Adults undergoing orthodontic treatment · 24 hours Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | MD -20.67 [-32.12, -9.22] | 1 study · 24 participants | Very low |
Any experimental intervention (surgical or non-surgical) vs None (placebo or no treatment) Quality of life · People of any age and either sex, in any setting, with BRONJ; bisphosphonate exposure past or current; includes people… Interventions for treating bisphosphonate‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Motivational interview plus oral health education vs Oral health education Service use: Emergency medical/dental treatment · People with serious mental illness (all included participants had schizophrenia); majority aged 18 to 65 years per… Oral health education (advice and training) for people with serious mental illness (2016) · Cochrane | No study reported useable data | 0 studies | No studies |
Chemically cured glass ionomer cement vs Light-cured compomer (polyacid-modified composite resin) Decalcification (enamel white spot lesions) · Patients with full arch fixed orthodontic appliances with bands attached to molars (patients with cleft lip/palate or… · Approximately 12 months (to end of treatment) Adhesives for fixed orthodontic bands (2016) · Cochrane | Gillgrass 2001 (98 participants): comparison of change in mean enamel white spot lesion scores during treatment showed no statistically significant difference between chemically cured glass ionomer and light-cured… | 1 study · 98 participants | Ungraded |
Dietary supplements (lycopene) vs Placebo Relief of burning/discomfort (symptom relief; pain intensity) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months), lycopene Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | Lycopene (Cano-Carrillo 2014) contributes to the dietary supplements short-term symptom-relief comparison (12 RCTs, insufficient/contradictory); no separate lycopene symptom-relief estimate reported. | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Topical treatments (topical urea 10%) vs Placebo Relief of burning/discomfort (symptom relief; pain intensity) · People with primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), that is, oral mucosal pain with no dental or medical cause for such… · short-term (up to 3 months), topical urea 10% Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | Topical urea 10% (Alvarenga da Silva 2014) contributes to the topical treatments short-term symptom-relief comparison (insufficient/contradictory); no separate estimate reported. | 1 study · 38 participants | Ungraded |
Dementia vs Older people without dementia Filled teeth · Older people with dementia Oral health and orofacial pain in older people with dementia: a systematic review with focus on dental hard… (2016) | MEAN Without dementia 0.7 to 25.7; with dementia 0.8 to 23.9 (mean number of filled teeth) | 9 studies | Ungraded |
NSAIDs (ketorolac oral rinse; systemic celecoxib) vs Placebo or no treatment Oral cancer development · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | SoF 3 (NSAIDs vs placebo), Cancer development: SoF cell 'Not measured'. Effects text: cancer development was among outcomes in Papadimitrakopoulou 2008 (celecoxib) but did not occur in either arm, probably because of… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Bowman-Birk inhibitor vs Placebo or no treatment Oral cancer development · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | SoF 6 (Bowman-Birk inhibitor vs placebo), Cancer development: 'Not measured'. Effects text: 'Cancer development was not among the outcomes of the study testing the Bowman-Birk inhibitor (Armstrong 2013).' | 0 studies | No studies |