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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 permanent teeth: decayed, (missing) and filled teeth D(M)FT (prevented fraction) · 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 | PF 0.23 [0.18, 0.29] | 13 studies · 5105 participants | Moderate |
0.9% silicon tetrafluoride (SiF4) vs Not specified Remineralisation of white spot lesions · Children with white spot lesions / early enamel caries Caries remineralisation and arresting effect in children by professionally applied fluoride treatment - a… (2016) | One study found that silicon tetrafluoride could not remineralise white spot lesions. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Topical treatments (topical urea 10%) vs Placebo Change in feeling of dryness · 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 | SoF9. Change in feeling of dryness short-term (xerostomia questionnaire, 1-5, lower better): single study narratively reported no difference before or after treatment; 38 participants (1 RCT, topical urea); very low. | 1 study · 38 participants | Very low |
Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs Placebo or no treatment Change of mandibular length (cephalometric data) · 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: dry mouth · 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 3.17 [0.36, 27.72] | 1 study · 37 participants | Very low |
Perioperative infraorbital nerve block vs Placebo (sham block) Duration of hospitalisation · 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 | None of the included studies reported this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Perioperative infraorbital nerve block vs Intravenous analgesia Duration of postoperative analgesia · 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 |
Dietary supplements (hypericum perforatum / St John's Wort) 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), hypericum perforatum Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | Hypericum perforatum extract (Sardella 2008, the only low-risk-of-bias study) contributes to the dietary supplements short-term symptom-relief comparison (insufficient/contradictory); no separate estimate reported. | 1 study · 43 participants | Ungraded |
6% sodium fluoride with 6% calcium fluoride varnish vs No treatment Reversal / remineralisation of early enamel caries · Children with early enamel caries (permanent dentition) Caries remineralisation and arresting effect in children by professionally applied fluoride treatment - a… (2016) | One study (Xhemnica 2008) reported a significant reversal of early enamel caries using 6% NaF with 6% calcium fluoride compared with no treatment; this study was excluded from the meta-analysis. | 1 study | Ungraded |
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 · 24 hours Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | MD 1.32 [-11.79, 14.43] | 3 studies · 154 participants | Very low |
Laser (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, or Nd:YAG) vs Conventional mechanical caries removal (standard drill; handpiece with a bur) Marginal integrity of restorations · 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 1.59 [0.34, 7.38] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Laser (Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, or Nd:YAG) vs Conventional mechanical caries removal (standard drill; handpiece with a bur) Episodes of pain (moderate or high pain; six-face rating scale) · Children, adolescents and adults with caries in deciduous and permanent teeth (age 3.5 to 84 years) · during treatment Lasers for caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.40 [0.28, 0.57] | 2 studies · 143 participants | Low |
Preoperative paracetamol (acetaminophen) vs Placebo Adverse events · Children and adolescents having dental treatment under local anaesthetic (restorative and extraction treatments) Preoperative analgesics for additional pain relief in children and adolescents having dental treatment (2016) · Cochrane | No adverse events were recorded in Primosch 1995. The other two studies did not mention adverse events. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Herbal extracts (tea components; Chinese herbal mixture; freeze-dried black raspberry gel) vs Placebo or no treatment Safety of the intervention (adverse effects) · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia · up to 3 months Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | SoF 4, Safety of the intervention up to 3 months: '3 studies measured adverse effects: green tea extract capsules caused high frequency (93%) of adverse effects of varying severity in 1 study; the mixed tea study did… | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Paroxetine (antidepressant, 20 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 (paroxetine) included but data not presented (79% placebo-arm attrition). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Dietary supplements (hypericum perforatum / St John's Wort) 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), hypericum perforatum Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | Sardella 2008 (43 participants) evaluated QoL from patient self-reports and narratively indicated that both intervention and placebo participants were better able to cope at trial completion. | 1 study · 43 participants | Ungraded |
Preoperative analgesics (analgesics given before dental treatment) vs Placebo or no analgesics Parental satisfaction · 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 reported parental satisfaction. PUB3: 'there was no reporting of participant or parent satisfaction in any included study.' | 0 studies | No studies |
Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs Placebo or no treatment Educational outcomes: cognitive function (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 |
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 · 3 days Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | MD -10.76 [-13.80, -7.73] | 2 studies · 118 participants | Ungraded |
Physical barriers (tongue protector) vs Placebo Change in feeling of dryness · 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: No included studies reported change in feeling of dryness. | 0 studies | No studies |
Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs Placebo or no treatment Daytime symptom: oral breathing (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 0.16 [0.04, 0.59] | 1 study · 23 participants | Very low |
Fluoride mouthrinse (any fluoride agent, concentration, volume, frequency or technique; swished and expectorated, not swallowed) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment in permanent teeth: decayed, (missing) and filled tooth surfaces D(M)FS (prevented fraction) · 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 | PF 0.27 [0.23, 0.30] | 35 studies · 15305 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR Arrest of dentine caries · SDF vs glass ionomer restoration (SDF superior) Caries remineralisation and arresting effect in children by professionally applied fluoride treatment - a… (2016) | no estimate extracted | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) root-end filling vs Gutta-percha smoothing (orthograde GP root filling) 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 1.60 [1.14, 2.24] | 1 study · 46 participants | Low |
Dietary supplements (lycopene) 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), lycopene Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | MD 0.93 [-3.14, 5.00] | 1 study · 50 participants | Very low |
Benzodiazepines (topical clonazepam) vs Placebo Adverse effects: euphoric behaviour · 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 |
Topical treatments (topical urea 10%) 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), topical urea 10% Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | SoF9. Change in taste short-term (Quantitative Sensory Testing gustative threshold): single study narratively reported no difference in short-term gustation thresholds; 38 participants (1 RCT, topical urea); very low. | 1 study · 38 participants | Very low |
Electromagnetic radiation (low-level laser therapy) vs Placebo Change in feeling of dryness · 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 | SoF6: No included study reported change in feeling of dryness. | 0 studies | No studies |
Preoperative analgesics (analgesics given before dental treatment) vs Placebo or no analgesics Patient satisfaction · 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 reported patient satisfaction. PUB3: 'there was no reporting of participant or parent satisfaction in any included study.' | 0 studies | No studies |
Low socioeconomic status and family financial stress vs Higher socioeconomic status and lower stress Salivary cortisol, cariogenic bacterial load and dental caries · Kindergarten-age children Social-Biological Interactions in Oral Disease: A 'Cells to Society' View. (2016) | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 94 participants | Ungraded |
Zinc silicophosphate cement vs Any other orthodontic band adhesive Outcome NR · Patients with full arch fixed orthodontic appliances with bands attached to molars (patients with cleft lip/palate or… Adhesives for fixed orthodontic bands (2016) · Cochrane | No trial was identified that examined the effectiveness of zinc silicophosphate cement. | 0 studies | No studies |
Oral appliance or functional orthopaedic appliance vs Placebo or no treatment Improvement on sagittal relationship between the maxilla and mandible (cephalometric data) · 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 |
Removal of predisposing habits (e.g. tobacco/alcohol cessation) 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 | '...nor did we identify any RCTs of risk factor cessation.' Removal of predisposing habits (e.g. smoking cessation) was a planned intervention; no eligible RCT found. | NR | No studies |
Physical barriers (tongue protector) 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 -9.20 [-26.90, 8.50] | 1 study · 50 participants | Very low |
Selective (incomplete) or stepwise carious tissue removal (SE/SW) vs Non-selective (complete) carious tissue removal Temporal change in the proportion of dentists utilizing SE/SW · Dentists managing deep carious lesions in permanent vital teeth Understanding dentists' management of deep carious lesions in permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2016) | Meta-regression coefficient (% per year) 1.6 | 9 studies · 4199 participants | Ungraded |
Root-end resection (with or without root-end filling; surgical retreatment) vs Root canal retreatment (non-surgical/orthograde) Healing - 1 year · People with one or more endodontically treated teeth and a periapical condition requiring retreatment · 1 year Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.15 [0.97, 1.35] | 2 studies · 126 participants | Very low |
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 · 24 hours Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | MD -20.27 [-24.50, -16.04] | 2 studies · 118 participants | Low |
High-viscosity glass-ionomer cement (HVGIC) fissure sealant placed by press-finger technique vs Resin-based fissure sealant Development of carious lesions on sealed occlusal pits and fissures · Children with fully erupted permanent first molar teeth (mean age about 6 to 8 years) · 60 months Caries-Preventive Effect of High-Viscosity Glass Ionomer and Resin-Based Fissure Sealants on Permanent… (2016) | RR 0.29 [0.09, 0.95] | 2 studies · 205 evaluated sealed teeth participants | Ungraded |
Adhesively bonded amalgam restorations in conventional preparations utilising deliberate retention (all bonding agents) vs Traditional non‐bonded amalgam restorations Secondary caries, as diagnosed clinically · 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 | Secondary caries, as diagnosed clinically - not measured | See comment | See comment | Not estimable | - | See comment | No study addressed this outcome | 0 studies | No studies |
Dietary supplements (alpha lipoic acid +/- adjunctive ingredients) 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 10.87 [1.36, 87.03] | 2 studies · 118 participants | Very low |
Experimental chewing adjuncts (bite wafers or chewing gum) vs No chewing gum, placebo, or control (no adjunct) Dose/intensity and frequency of pain relief needed (analgesic/rescue medication use) · Adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment · 24 hours to 1 week Non‐pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment (2016) · Cochrane | Benson 2012 (57 participants): no statistically significant difference in analgesic consumption at 24 hours (P = 0.903) or one week (P = 0.104). | 1 study · 57 participants | Ungraded |
Vitamin A or retinoids (systemic or topical; incl. 13-cis-retinoic acid, acitretin) vs Placebo or no treatment Safety of the intervention (adverse effects) · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia · 4 to 12 months Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | SoF 1, Safety of the intervention at 4 to 12 months: '3 studies (1 each evaluating topical acitretin, topical 13-cis-retinoic acid, 200,000 IU per week of vitamin A) found no adverse effects. Systemic 13-cis-retinoic… | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Bowman-Birk inhibitor vs Placebo or no treatment Safety of the intervention (adverse effects) · People with a diagnosis of oral leukoplakia · up to 6 months Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer (2016) · Cochrane | SoF 6, Safety of the intervention up to 6 months: 'Trial authors reported that there were no significant adverse effects. 33 participants in the intervention group reported 75 adverse effects. 25 participants in the… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Electromagnetic radiation (low-level laser 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 | SoF6: No included study reported the occurrence of adverse events. | 0 studies | No studies |
Brain wave music (BWM) 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 -26.65 [-39.06, -14.24] | 1 study · 24 participants | Very low |
Physical barriers (tongue protector) 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) Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome (2016) · Cochrane | MD -0.64 [-3.98, 2.70] | 1 study · 50 participants | Very low |
Ultrasonic device for root-end preparation vs Conventional bur 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 1.14 [1.00, 1.30] | 1 study · 290 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Enamel surface properties (thinner, softer enamel) in exfoliated teeth · By race/ethnicity Social-Biological Interactions in Oral Disease: A 'Cells to Society' View. (2016) | Narrative (no effect size) Higher salivary cortisol reactivity associated with thinner, softer enamel surfaces | 1 study | Ungraded |
Any experimental intervention (surgical or non-surgical) vs None (placebo or no treatment) Healing of the osteonecrosis · 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 |
Anticonvulsants (gabapentin) vs Placebo Change in feeling of dryness · 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 | SoF2: No included studies reported change in feeling of dryness. | 0 studies | No studies |