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.
793 questions in 32 reviews · Periodontology
current versionsNo studies 148 · 18.7%Ungraded 429 · 54.1%Very low 137 · 17.3%Low 53 · 6.7%Moderate 14 · 1.8%High 12 · 1.5%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Systemic oral acyclovir vs Placebo or no treatment Adverse effects · Children and young adults under 25 years with primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (with or without herpes labialis) Acyclovir for treating primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (2008) · Cochrane | Amir 1997b: two children in each group (2 vs 2) had mild gastrointestinal symptoms that resolved spontaneously after 24 to 48 hours without a change in study treatment. Ducoulombier 1988: no significant adverse effects… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Occlusal intervention as an adjunct to periodontal therapy vs Sham (placebo) occlusal intervention as an adjunct to periodontal therapy Outcome NR · Adults (aged 18 years or older) with a clinical diagnosis of (chronic) periodontitis · Minimum 3 months (planned) Occlusal interventions for periodontitis in adults (2008) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Systemic oral acyclovir vs Placebo or no treatment Quality of life (assessed by a validated questionnaire) · Children and young adults under 25 years with primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (with or without herpes labialis) Acyclovir for treating primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (2008) · Cochrane | No data were available in either included study (Amir 1997b; Ducoulombier 1988). | NR | No studies |
Systemic oral acyclovir vs Placebo or no treatment Pain/discomfort (time to resolution of pain) · Children and young adults under 25 years with primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (with or without herpes labialis) Acyclovir for treating primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (2008) · Cochrane | Amir 1997b: no data available. Ducoulombier 1988: time to resolution of pain, acyclovir (1 day=1, 2 days=1, 3 days=3, 4 days=3, 5 days=1, persistent=0) vs placebo (1 day=0, 2 days=0, 3 days=1, 4 days=2, 5 days=4,… | 1 study · 18 participants | Ungraded |
Occlusal adjustment as an adjunct to surgical periodontal therapy vs Surgical periodontal therapy alone (no occlusal adjustment) Probing (pocket) depth change (difference in mean reduction, mm) · Adults (aged 18 years or older) with a clinical diagnosis of (chronic) periodontitis · 2 years Occlusal interventions for periodontitis in adults (2008) · Cochrane | MD 0.01 [-0.20, 0.22] | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Occlusal adjustment as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal therapy vs Non-surgical periodontal therapy alone (no occlusal adjustment) Clinical attachment level change (mean gain, mm) · Adults (aged 18 years or older) with a clinical diagnosis of (chronic) periodontitis · 2 years Occlusal interventions for periodontitis in adults (2008) · Cochrane | MD 0.38 [0.04, 0.72] | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs No (active) intervention (usual/standard dental care or no-treatment control) Observed flossing skill · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) · 4 months Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | Little 1997 observed and rated participants on flossing skill; Analysis of Covariance found a significant difference favouring the intervention group. | 1 study · 107 participants | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs No (active) intervention (usual/standard dental care or no-treatment control) Plaque score · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | The impact of psychological interventions on clinical markers was assessed in three studies (Little 1997; Stewart 1991; Weinstein 1996). All three found that psychological interventions resulted in improved plaque… | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs No (active) intervention (usual/standard dental care or no-treatment control) Self-efficacy beliefs (flossing) · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | Stewart 1996: the psychological intervention group demonstrated significantly higher change in self efficacy scores for flossing at post-intervention compared to the other two groups (control and educational). Flossing… | 1 study · 117 participants | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs Attention control (attention/contact without an active psychological intervention) Plaque score · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | Weinstein 1996 reported that the psychological intervention led to improvements in plaque score greater than that noted in the attention control group; however the sample size in each arm was very small (n=5) and the… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs No (active) intervention (usual/standard dental care or no-treatment control) Pocket (probing) depth · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) · 4 months Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | Little 1997: no change in pocket depth; there were no differences between the intervention and control groups in overall change in pocket depth. (Some analyses suggested greater change in the intervention group when… | 1 study · 107 participants | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs No (active) intervention (usual/standard dental care or no-treatment control) Gingival bleeding · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) · 4 months Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | Little 1997 reported decreased gingival bleeding in the active intervention group: gingival bleeding present in 9% of the intervention group at baseline and 4% at 4-month follow up, versus 10% of the control group on… | 1 study · 107 participants | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs No (active) intervention (usual/standard dental care or no-treatment control) Attachment loss · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) · 4 months Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | Little 1997: no change in attachment loss; no differences between the intervention and control groups in overall change in attachment (loss of attachment) markers. | 1 study · 107 participants | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs Attention control (attention/contact without an active psychological intervention) Self-reported flossing · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) · 5 weeks (2 weeks post-intervention) Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | Stewart 1991: there were no differences between the attention control group and the cognitive behavioural (psychological) intervention group for self reported flossing; it cannot be concluded that the cognitive… | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs No (active) intervention (usual/standard dental care or no-treatment control) Observed tooth brushing skill · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) · 4 months Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | Little 1997 observed and rated participants on brushing skill; Analysis of Covariance found a significant difference favouring the intervention group (one of four measures on which significant differences were found… | 1 study · 107 participants | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs No (active) intervention (usual/standard dental care or no-treatment control) Dental knowledge · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | Stewart 1996: for dental knowledge the control group showed no change pre- and post-intervention, whereas the psychological intervention group improved dental knowledge significantly (both intervention groups improved… | 1 study · 117 participants | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs Educational intervention (oral hygiene education/instruction) Self-reported tooth brushing · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) · 5 weeks (2 weeks post-intervention) Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | Stewart 1991: for self reported brushing only the comparison of the control group with the cognitive behavioural intervention was significant; the cognitive behavioural (psychological) intervention showed no… | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs No (active) intervention (usual/standard dental care or no-treatment control) Self-efficacy beliefs (tooth brushing) · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | Stewart 1996: the psychological intervention had no discernible effect on self efficacy beliefs concerning tooth brushing; the data on perceived self efficacy for tooth brushing were not analysed due to ceiling effects… | 1 study · 117 participants | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs No (active) intervention (usual/standard dental care or no-treatment control) Self-reported flossing · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | Self assessed flossing was assessed in two studies (Little 1997; Stewart 1991); both reported improvements for the intervention groups. Little 1997: Analysis of Covariance found significant differences favouring the… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs Attention control (attention/contact without an active psychological intervention) Self-reported tooth brushing · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) · 5 weeks (2 weeks post-intervention) Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | Stewart 1991: for self reported brushing only the comparison of the control group with the cognitive behavioural intervention was significant; the cognitive behavioural (psychological) intervention conveyed no… | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs Educational intervention (oral hygiene education/instruction) Plaque score · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) · 5 weeks (2 weeks post-intervention) Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | Stewart 1991: while the educational intervention group and the cognitive behavioural intervention group both showed significant differences compared to the control group in plaque scores, the cognitive behavioural… | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs Educational intervention (oral hygiene education/instruction) Self-reported flossing · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) · 5 weeks (2 weeks post-intervention) Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | Stewart 1991: there were no differences between the educational intervention group and the cognitive behavioural (psychological) intervention group for self reported flossing; improvements in flossing could not be… | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs No (active) intervention (usual/standard dental care or no-treatment control) Self-reported tooth brushing · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | Self assessed brushing was assessed in two studies (Little 1997; Stewart 1991); both found the intervention groups reported improved brushing. Little 1997: Analysis of Covariance found significant differences favouring… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs Educational intervention (oral hygiene education/instruction) Dental knowledge · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | Stewart 1996: there was no difference in change in dental knowledge at post-intervention between the educational and psychological groups (both improved significantly relative to control). | 1 study · 78 participants | Ungraded |
Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs Educational intervention (oral hygiene education/instruction) Self-efficacy beliefs (flossing) · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal… (2007) · Cochrane | Stewart 1996: the psychological intervention group demonstrated significantly higher change in self efficacy scores for flossing at post-intervention compared to the educational group (there was no difference in the… | 1 study · 78 participants | Ungraded |
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with barrier membrane (resorbable or non-resorbable) vs Open flap debridement (access flap surgery) Sites failing to gain 2 mm attachment (proportion) · Patients with chronic periodontitis (aged 21 years or older) with periodontal infra-bony defects; furcation-involved… · >=12 months Guided tissue regeneration for periodontal infra-bony defects (2006) · Cochrane | RR 0.54 [0.31, 0.96] | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with barrier membrane (resorbable or non-resorbable) vs Open flap debridement (access flap surgery) Aesthetics (patient's opinion) · Patients with chronic periodontitis (aged 21 years or older) with periodontal infra-bony defects; furcation-involved… Guided tissue regeneration for periodontal infra-bony defects (2006) · Cochrane | No data were found for this outcome (listed under 'Other outcomes: No data were found for the following outcomes'). | 0 studies | No studies |
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with barrier membrane (resorbable or non-resorbable) vs Open flap debridement (access flap surgery) Change in gingival recession · Patients with chronic periodontitis (aged 21 years or older) with periodontal infra-bony defects; furcation-involved… · >=12 months Guided tissue regeneration for periodontal infra-bony defects (2006) · Cochrane | MD 0.26 [0.08, 0.43] | 9 studies | Ungraded |
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with barrier membrane (resorbable or non-resorbable) vs Open flap debridement (access flap surgery) Treatment / surgical procedure time · Patients with chronic periodontitis (aged 21 years or older) with periodontal infra-bony defects; furcation-involved… Guided tissue regeneration for periodontal infra-bony defects (2006) · Cochrane | MD 23.9 | 1 study | Ungraded |
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with barrier membrane (resorbable or non-resorbable) vs Open flap debridement (access flap surgery) Change in clinical attachment level (attachment gain) · Patients with chronic periodontitis (aged 21 years or older) with periodontal infra-bony defects; furcation-involved… · >=12 months Guided tissue regeneration for periodontal infra-bony defects (2006) · Cochrane | MD 1.22 [0.80, 1.64] | 16 studies | Ungraded |
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with barrier membrane (resorbable or non-resorbable) vs Open flap debridement (access flap surgery) Hard tissue probing at surgical re-entry (bone gain) · Patients with chronic periodontitis (aged 21 years or older) with periodontal infra-bony defects; furcation-involved… · >=12 months Guided tissue regeneration for periodontal infra-bony defects (2006) · Cochrane | MD 1.39 [1.08, 1.71] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with barrier membrane (resorbable or non-resorbable) vs Open flap debridement (access flap surgery) Cost/benefit (treatment time plus estimated material costs) · Patients with chronic periodontitis (aged 21 years or older) with periodontal infra-bony defects; furcation-involved… Guided tissue regeneration for periodontal infra-bony defects (2006) · Cochrane | No data were found for this outcome (listed under 'Other outcomes: No data were found for the following outcomes'). | 0 studies | No studies |
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) combined with bone substitutes/graft vs Open flap debridement (access flap surgery) Hard tissue probing at surgical re-entry (bone gain) · Patients with chronic periodontitis (aged 21 years or older) with periodontal infra-bony defects; furcation-involved… · >=12 months Guided tissue regeneration for periodontal infra-bony defects (2006) · Cochrane | MD 3.37 [3.14, 3.61] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with barrier membrane (resorbable or non-resorbable) vs Open flap debridement (access flap surgery) Radiographic bone change · Patients with chronic periodontitis (aged 21 years or older) with periodontal infra-bony defects; furcation-involved… · >=12 months Guided tissue regeneration for periodontal infra-bony defects (2006) · Cochrane | Radiographic data was contained in two studies. Mayfield 1998 showed 0.6 mm gain in bone from the base of the defect in both test and control groups; Ratka-Kruger 2000 reported descriptively that only minute changes in… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with barrier membrane (resorbable or non-resorbable) vs Open flap debridement (access flap surgery) Tooth loss · Patients with chronic periodontitis (aged 21 years or older) with periodontal infra-bony defects; furcation-involved… Guided tissue regeneration for periodontal infra-bony defects (2006) · Cochrane | No tooth loss was reported in any study although these data are incomplete where patient follow-up was not complete (no events; no estimable effect). | 17 studies | Ungraded |
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) combined with bone substitutes/graft vs Open flap debridement (access flap surgery) Change in clinical attachment level (attachment gain) · Patients with chronic periodontitis (aged 21 years or older) with periodontal infra-bony defects; furcation-involved… · >=12 months Guided tissue regeneration for periodontal infra-bony defects (2006) · Cochrane | MD 1.25 [0.89, 1.61] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with barrier membrane (resorbable or non-resorbable) vs Open flap debridement (access flap surgery) Change in probing depth (probing depth reduction) · Patients with chronic periodontitis (aged 21 years or older) with periodontal infra-bony defects; furcation-involved… · >=12 months Guided tissue regeneration for periodontal infra-bony defects (2006) · Cochrane | MD 1.21 [0.53, 1.88] | 11 studies | Ungraded |
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with barrier membrane (resorbable or non-resorbable) vs Open flap debridement (access flap surgery) Disease recurrence (% sites with >=2 mm loss of probing attachment from 12 months after treatment) · Patients with chronic periodontitis (aged 21 years or older) with periodontal infra-bony defects; furcation-involved… Guided tissue regeneration for periodontal infra-bony defects (2006) · Cochrane | No data were found for this outcome (listed under 'Other outcomes: No data were found for the following outcomes'). | 0 studies | No studies |
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with barrier membrane (resorbable or non-resorbable) vs Open flap debridement (access flap surgery) Ease of maintenance (% of sites with <4 mm probing depth) · Patients with chronic periodontitis (aged 21 years or older) with periodontal infra-bony defects; furcation-involved… Guided tissue regeneration for periodontal infra-bony defects (2006) · Cochrane | No data were found for this outcome (listed under 'Other outcomes: No data were found for the following outcomes'). | 0 studies | No studies |
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) combined with bone substitutes/graft vs Open flap debridement (access flap surgery) Change in probing depth (probing depth reduction) · Patients with chronic periodontitis (aged 21 years or older) with periodontal infra-bony defects; furcation-involved… · >=12 months Guided tissue regeneration for periodontal infra-bony defects (2006) · Cochrane | MD 1.24 [0.89, 1.59] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) combined with bone substitutes/graft vs Open flap debridement (access flap surgery) Change in gingival recession · Patients with chronic periodontitis (aged 21 years or older) with periodontal infra-bony defects; furcation-involved… · >=12 months Guided tissue regeneration for periodontal infra-bony defects (2006) · Cochrane | MD -0.33 [-0.43, -0.23] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with barrier membrane (resorbable or non-resorbable) vs Open flap debridement (access flap surgery) Patient well-being / quality of life · Patients with chronic periodontitis (aged 21 years or older) with periodontal infra-bony defects; furcation-involved… Guided tissue regeneration for periodontal infra-bony defects (2006) · Cochrane | Cortellini 2001: 36% of GTR patients reported the procedure interfered with daily activity for an average of 2.7 days versus 32% of controls for an average of 2.4 days; no significant difference for postoperative pain… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with barrier membrane (resorbable or non-resorbable) vs Open flap debridement (access flap surgery) Post-operative complications / adverse effects (including pain, infection) · Patients with chronic periodontitis (aged 21 years or older) with periodontal infra-bony defects; furcation-involved… Guided tissue regeneration for periodontal infra-bony defects (2006) · Cochrane | Adverse effects were generally minor. Healing was generally uneventful for both test and control groups. Exposure of the GTR barrier membrane was widely reported, ranging from 20% of sites (non-resorbable… | 16 studies | Ungraded |