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. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
High maternal allostatic load (chronic stress) and low socioeconomic status vs Lower maternal allostatic load Child dental caries experience · Mother-child pairs Social-Biological Interactions in Oral Disease: A 'Cells to Society' View. (2016) | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 1184 participants | Ungraded |
Laser (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, or Nd:YAG) vs Conventional mechanical caries removal (standard drill; handpiece with a bur) Participant preference · Children, adolescents and adults with caries in deciduous and permanent teeth (age 3.5 to 84 years) Lasers for caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth (2016) · Cochrane | Three studies (Evans 2000; Liu 2006; Zhang 2013) reported participants' preference for future treatment. Zhang 2013: 37/53 children (72%) preferred laser, 10 (22%) drill. Liu 2006: 36/40 (90%) preferred laser, 4 (5%)… | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy plus standard care (surgery, antibiotics, oral rinse) vs Standard care alone (surgery, antibiotics, oral rinse) Healing of osteonecrosis - improvement ('healed' or 'improved' vs 'unchanged' or 'worse') · People with BRONJ (mean age ~66 years; most treated with bisphosphonates for cancer (multiple myeloma, breast cancer)… · 12 months Interventions for treating bisphosphonate‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.65 [0.75, 3.64] | 1 study · 24 participants | Ungraded |
Selective or stepwise carious tissue removal vs Non-selective or complete carious tissue removal Proportion of dentists selecting selective or stepwise removal · Dentists surveyed about deep carious lesions in permanent teeth · Katz 2013 Understanding dentists' management of deep carious lesions in permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2016) | Proportion (%) 45 [26, 55] | 1 study · 108 participants | Ungraded |
Antidepressants (trazodone 200 mg/day) vs Placebo Adverse effects: urinary incontinence · 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 3.16 [0.14, 72.84] | 1 study · 37 participants | Very low |
Dietary supplements (alpha lipoic acid +/- adjunctive ingredients) vs Placebo Adverse effects: gastrointestinal complaints · 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 4.00 [1.21, 13.27] | 3 studies · 138 participants | Very low |
Preoperative analgesics (analgesics given before dental treatment) vs Placebo or no analgesics Completion of treatment (yes/no) · Children and adolescents aged up to 17 years having dental treatment (orthodontic treatment, fillings, pulp treatment,… Preoperative analgesics for additional pain relief in children and adolescents having dental treatment (2016) · Cochrane | None of the included studies measured completion of treatment. PUB3: 'The [three/four] studies did not measure intraoperative pain, preoperative and postoperative anxiety measures, patient satisfaction, parental… | 0 studies | No studies |
Fluoride mouthrinse (any fluoride agent, concentration, volume, frequency or technique; swished and expectorated, not swallowed) vs Placebo or no treatment Unacceptability of treatment as measured by leaving study early (dropouts) · 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 1.33 [0.62, 2.83] | 4 studies · 1700 participants | Very low |
Cholinergics (bethanechol) vs Placebo Change in taste · 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 taste. | 0 studies | No studies |
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 · Months 1 to 4, Longer-term follow-up Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | Lobre 2015 (high risk of bias): mean overall pain intensity 8.49 mm lower on the VAS during the second month (P = 0.04) and 6.26 mm lower during the fourth month (P = 0.03); no evidence of benefit at month one or month… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Low energy level laser therapy (LLLT) 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, 0.71] | 1 study · 44 participants | Very low |
Preoperative paracetamol (acetaminophen) vs Placebo Postoperative pain (dichotomous measure: parent report of presence of pain-related behaviours) · Children and adolescents having dental treatment under local anaesthetic (restorative and extraction treatments) · Mean 6.5 hours Preoperative analgesics for additional pain relief in children and adolescents having dental treatment (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.81 [0.53, 1.22] | 2 studies · 100 participants | Low |
Experimental chewing adjuncts (bite wafers or chewing gum) vs No chewing gum, placebo, or control (no adjunct) Quality of life or patient satisfaction · Adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment · 24 hours Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.45 [0.22, 0.94] | 2 studies · 107 participants | Ungraded |
Adhesively bonded amalgam restorations in conventional preparations utilising deliberate retention (all bonding agents) vs Traditional non‐bonded amalgam restorations Adverse effects · Adults and adolescents with permanent posterior molar and premolar teeth suitable for Class I and II, but excluding… Adhesively bonded versus non‐bonded amalgam restorations for dental caries (2016) · Cochrane | Adverse effects: any event for which the causal relationship between the event and the amalgam restoration is at least a reasonable possibility - not measured | See comment | See comment | Not estimable | - | See… | 0 studies | No studies |
Oral health education (advice and training) vs Standard care (oral health advice not specifically emphasised beyond usual care) Quality of life: Chronic pain · 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 |
Anticonvulsants (gabapentin + alpha lipoic acid) vs Placebo Adverse effects: mild 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), gabapentin with adjunctive ALA Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | RR 8.71 [0.37, 205.80] | 1 study · 80 participants | Very low |
Perioperative infraorbital nerve block vs Placebo (sham block) Adverse events · 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 | 2 out of 3 studies reported this outcome. One study reported no differences between groups, and the other study reported more vomiting in the placebo group (Takmaz 2009: vomiting 40% placebo versus 10% intervention; P… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Selective (incomplete) or stepwise carious tissue removal (SE/SW) vs Non-selective (complete) carious tissue removal Barriers and facilitators of SE/SW utilization · Dentists managing deep carious lesions in permanent vital teeth Understanding dentists' management of deep carious lesions in permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2016) | Thematic analysis mapped to the Theoretical Domains Framework and COM-B/Behavior Change Wheel; factors span knowledge (dentists' age, understanding of caries), skills, social influence (peers, practice networks),… | 9 studies | Ungraded |
Vibratory stimulation (vibratory adjuncts) vs No vibration or placebo vibration Adverse effects of pain treatment · Adolescents and adults undergoing orthodontic treatment Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | Adverse effects: Not measured. | NR | No studies |
Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs Placebo or no treatment Quality of life (validated scale) · 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 |
Antidepressants (trazodone 200 mg/day) vs Placebo Adverse effects: drowsiness · 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 4.75 [1.18, 19.07] | 1 study · 37 participants | Very low |
Motivational interview plus oral health education vs Oral health education Oral health: Not brushing teeth twice a day · 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 |
Topical treatments (lactoperoxidase oral rinse / Biotene) 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… · long-term (>3 to 6 months), lactoperoxidase (Biotene) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | MD -1.50 [-3.91, 0.91] | 1 study · 18 participants | Very low |
Benzodiazepines (systemic clonazepam) vs Placebo Change in QoL - depression (surrogate marker) · 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), systemic clonazepam Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | MD -0.20 [-0.95, 0.55] | 1 study · 20 participants | Very low |
Antidepressants (trazodone 200 mg/day) vs Placebo Adverse effects: palpitations · 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 1.06 [0.17, 6.72] | 1 study · 37 participants | Very 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 · 3 days Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | MD 0.82 [-5.12, 8.76] | 3 studies · 154 participants | Ungraded |
Dietary supplements (alpha lipoic acid +/- adjunctive ingredients) vs Placebo Adverse effects: drowsiness · 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 1.00 [0.07, 14.85] | 1 study · 38 participants | Very low |
Electromagnetic radiation (low-level laser therapy) 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 | MD -5.24 [-7.38, -3.09] | 1 study · 58 participants | Very low |
10% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Glass ionomer restoration and tooth-brushing Remineralisation of early enamel caries · Children with early enamel caries in erupting permanent first molars Caries remineralisation and arresting effect in children by professionally applied fluoride treatment - a… (2016) | A pilot study found 10% silver diamine fluoride therapy, glass ionomer restoration, and tooth-brushing had a similar effect in remineralising early enamel caries. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Educational intervention with information only (theoretical dental health education, no practical training) vs Usual care Oral health-related behaviour (denture cleaning habits) · Residents of institutions for elderly people (nursing staff and residents took part in the education programme) Oral health educational interventions for nursing home staff and residents (2016) · Cochrane | Schou 1989 (114 residents, unclear risk of bias): the number of residents reporting correct denture cleaning habits increased, but not significantly compared to baseline (baseline N = 28; follow-up N = 38). | 1 study · 114 participants | Ungraded |
Root-end resection (with or without root-end filling; surgical retreatment) vs Root canal retreatment (non-surgical/orthograde) Healing - 4 years · People with one or more endodontically treated teeth and a periapical condition requiring retreatment · 4 years Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.03 [0.89, 1.20] | 1 study · 82 participants | Ungraded |
Herbal extracts (tea components; Chinese herbal mixture; freeze-dried black raspberry gel) 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 | SoF 4, Histological changes (not improved) at 3 months: '2 studies (green tea extract capsules and freeze-dried raspberry gel) did not find evidence of benefit.' No GRADE. Effects text: Mallery raspberry RR 0.97… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Selective or stepwise carious tissue removal vs Non-selective or complete carious tissue removal Proportion of dentists selecting selective or stepwise removal · Dentists surveyed about deep carious lesions in permanent teeth · Schwendicke 2016 (France) Understanding dentists' management of deep carious lesions in permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2016) | Proportion (%) 49 [45, 52] | 1 study · 661 participants | 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 · 6 to 54 hours, Studies using bespoke pain scales Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | Two further studies (160 participants) used bespoke assessments. Harazaki 1997 (84 participants): slightly lower proportion reporting severe pain in the intervention group, no inferential statistics. Turhani 2006 (76… | 2 studies · 160 participants | Ungraded |
Dietary supplements (lycopene) vs Placebo Change in QoL - depression (surrogate marker) · 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 | MD -1.87 [-4.23, 0.49] | 1 study · 50 participants | Very low |
Any experimental intervention (surgical or non-surgical) vs None (placebo or no treatment) 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 |
Perioperative infraorbital nerve block vs Infiltration of the incision (peri-incisional infiltration) Heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure · 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 | Gaonkar 2004: no differences between groups in postoperative heart rate and blood pressure. Prabhu 1999: significantly lower heart rates in the intervention group throughout the postoperative period, and no differences… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs Placebo or no treatment Economic evaluation: costs · 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 |
Surgical removal of the lesion (surgical excision, laser surgery, cryotherapy) vs Placebo or no treatment Outcome NR · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | 'We did not identify any RCTs that compared surgical treatments with placebo or no treatment.' Three surgical RCTs were found (Chee 2013, Lopez-Jornet 2013, Schwarz 2005) but all excluded because they did not include a… | NR | No studies |
Root-end resection (with or without root-end filling; surgical retreatment) vs Root canal retreatment (non-surgical/orthograde) Prevalence of pain - 1 day (participants reporting pain) · People with one or more endodontically treated teeth and a periapical condition requiring retreatment · 1 day (first postoperative week) Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 3.34 [2.05, 5.43] | 1 study · 87 participants | Low |
Topical bleomycin 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 0.49 [0.22, 1.10] | 1 study · 21 participants | Very low |
Perioperative infraorbital nerve block vs Infiltration of the incision (peri-incisional infiltration) Time to feeding after surgery · 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 | This outcome was not reported. | 0 studies | No studies |
Benzodiazepines (topical clonazepam) vs Placebo Adverse effects: spasmophilia · 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 clonazepam Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | RR 3.00 [0.13, 70.16] | 1 study · 48 participants | Very low |
Any experimental intervention (surgical or non-surgical) vs None (placebo or no treatment) Mortality rate and cause of death · 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 |
Benzodiazepines (topical clonazepam) 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… · long-term (>3 to 6 months), topical clonazepam Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | MD -1.39 [-1.96, -0.83] | 1 study · 66 participants | Very low |
Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs Placebo or no treatment Improvement of the overbite and overjet (plaster models) · 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 |
Antidepressants (trazodone) vs Placebo Change in taste · 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 | SoF1: No included studies reported change in taste. | 0 studies | No studies |
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy plus standard care (surgery, antibiotics, oral rinse) vs Standard care alone (surgery, antibiotics, oral rinse) Quality of life · People with BRONJ (mean age ~66 years; most treated with bisphosphonates for cancer (multiple myeloma, breast cancer)… · Baseline and 6 months Interventions for treating bisphosphonate‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 49 participants | Ungraded |
Anticonvulsants (gabapentin 300 mg/day) vs Placebo Adverse effects: drowsiness (gabapentin alone) · 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 31.95 [1.84, 553.64] | 1 study · 80 participants | Very low |
Chemically cured glass ionomer cement vs Chemically cured glass phosphonate Band failure (band adhesive loosening) · 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 | Clark 2003: failure rates presented per adhesive group by number of bands failing (overall proportion of band failure 0.048 for each material); no per-patient failure data. Low band failure rates; insufficient evidence… | 1 study | Ungraded |