What do systematic reviews say?

Chloral hydrate vs placebo or no intervention

It is very uncertain whether chloral hydrate changes good or better behaviour compared with placebo (including no intervention) (very low certainty).

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 1.33 [0.80, 2.22]
  1 study · 60 participants
  Very low

Intravenous midazolam vs A different sedative agent

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Any behavioural score - Intravenous midazolam versus (other sedatives): 70 (2); VERY LOW
  2 studies · 70 participants
  Very low

Hydroxyzine vs Different dosage/timing of hydroxyzine

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Any behavioural score - Hydroxyzine: 30 (1 study); VERY LOW. Insufficient evidence to determine whether any specific dose of hydroxyzine is effective.
  1 study · 30 participants
  Very low

Meperidine (intramuscular) vs placebo or no intervention

Meperidine (intramuscular) may leads to higher good or better behaviour compared with placebo (including no intervention) (low certainty).

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 5.33 [1.45, 19.64]
  1 study · 60 participants
  Low

Ketamine/midazolam vs placebo or no intervention

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Moreira 2013: 0.5 mg/kg midazolam + 3 mg/kg ketamine produced significantly better behaviour than placebo and oral midazolam (P=0.03); not included in meta-analysis / not GRADE-rated. Narrative.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Dexmedetomidine vs A different sedative agent

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Any behavioural score - Dexmedetomidine versus (other sedatives): 120 (2); VERY LOW
  2 studies · 120 participants
  Very low

Nitrous oxide/oxygen vs placebo or no intervention

It is very uncertain whether nitrous oxide/oxygen changes behaviour (Houpt/behavioural score) compared with placebo (including no intervention) (very low certainty).

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  SMD 0.69 [0.13, 1.26]
  1 study · 52 participants
  Very low

Chloral hydrate/promethazine vs A different sedative agent

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Any behavioural score - Chloral hydrate/promethazine versus (other sedatives): 24 (1); VERY LOW
  1 study · 24 participants
  Very low

Chloral hydrate/hydroxyzine vs A different sedative agent

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Any behavioural score - Chloral hydrate/hydroxyzine versus (other sedatives): 235 (6); VERY LOW
  6 studies · 235 participants
  Very low

Ketamine vs A different sedative agent

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Any behavioural score - Ketamine versus (other sedatives): 494 (8); VERY LOW
  8 studies · 494 participants
  Very low

Midazolam (any mode of delivery) vs Different dosage of the same sedative

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Any behavioural score - Midazolam (any mode of delivery): 394 (10 studies); VERY LOW. Insufficient evidence to determine whether any specific dose of intranasal midazolam is effective; weak evidence oral midazolam…
  10 studies · 394 participants
  Very low

Bispectral index vs treatment guided by clinical assessment alone?

• BIS monitoring versus clinical assessment for sedation in mechanically ventilated adults in the intensive care unit… 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 50 participants
  Low

Bispectral index vs treatment guided by clinical assessment alone?

BIS monitoring showed no clear difference in duration of mechanical ventilation (measured in days) compared with clinical assessment (low certainty).

• BIS monitoring versus clinical assessment for sedation in mechanically ventilated adults in the intensive care unit… 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 155 participants
  Low

Bispectral index vs treatment guided by clinical assessment alone?

• BIS monitoring versus clinical assessment for sedation in mechanically ventilated adults in the intensive care unit… 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 105 participants
  Very low

Bispectral index vs treatment guided by clinical assessment alone?

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• BIS monitoring versus clinical assessment for sedation in mechanically ventilated adults in the intensive care unit… 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Sevoflurane vs A different sedative agent

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Any behavioural score - Sevoflurane versus (other sedatives): 1140 (3); VERY LOW
  3 studies · 1140 participants
  Very low

Ketamine/midazolam vs A different sedative agent

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Any behavioural score - Ketamine/midazolam versus (other sedatives): 27 (1); VERY LOW
  1 study · 27 participants
  Very low

Oral midazolam vs A different sedative agent

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Any behavioural score - Oral midazolam versus (other sedatives): 654 (7); VERY LOW
  7 studies · 654 participants
  Very low

Oral diazepam vs placebo or no intervention

It is very uncertain whether oral diazepam changes behaviour (Houpt/behavioural score) compared with placebo (including no intervention) (very low certainty).

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  SMD 0.62 [-0.28, 1.53]
  1 study · 20 participants
  Very low

Intravenous midazolam vs placebo or no intervention

It is very uncertain whether intravenous midazolam changes behaviour (Houpt/behavioural score) compared with placebo (including no intervention) (very low certainty).

• Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes
  SMD 1.21 [0.24, 2.18]
  1 study · 20 participants
  Very low