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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.

Limit to evidence status or GRADE (optional)

10,375 questions in 429 reviews · Oral Health

current versions
No 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.

QuestionEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Vitamin D supplementation vs Placebo or control
Preterm delivery · Pregnant women
Vitamin D and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of… (2014)
RR 0.77 [0.35, 1.66]2 studies · 529 participantsUngraded
Powered toothbrush (any mode of action) vs Manual toothbrush
Gingivitis score (1 to 3 months) · Individuals of any age with no reported disability that might affect toothbrushing (including people wearing… · Short term (1 to 3 months)
Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health (2014) · Cochrane
SMD -0.43 [-0.60, -0.25]44 studies · 3345 participantsModerate
Dual mini-screw implant vs Single mini-screw implant
Duration of space closure · Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment requiring surgical (mini-screw implant) anchorage
Reinforcement of anchorage during orthodontic brace treatment with implants or other surgical methods (2014) · Cochrane
MD -2.19 [-6.35, 1.97]1 study · 25 participantsUngraded
NobelActive internal connection implants vs NobelReplace implants
Marginal bone level change · Adults with missing teeth who received osseointegrated root-formed dental implants, functionally loaded and followed… · 1 year
Interventions for replacing missing teeth: different types of dental implants (2014) · Cochrane
MD 0.30 [-0.17, 0.77]1 study · 97 participantsUngraded
Higher maternal circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration vs Lower maternal circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration
Birth weight · Pregnant women and their offspring
Vitamin D and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of… (2014)
WMD 130.9 [75.1, 186.7]4 studies · 5541 participantsUngraded
Vitamin D supplementation vs Placebo or control
Fractures: vertebral or deformity · Older or community-dwelling adults
Vitamin D and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of… (2014)
RR 0.90 [0.42, 1.92]5 studies · 9138 participantsUngraded
Low-level laser therapy (photon-plus GaAlAs diode laser; 70 mW output, continuous 820 nm) vs Placebo (sham) laser therapy
Mechanosensory perception (load in grams to elicit sensation; Semmes Weinstein monofilaments) · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual…
Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane
MD 1.07 [0.17, 1.97]2 studies · 26 participantsUngraded
Infiltration injection LA and intraligamental injection LA (3-arm) vs No treatment
Parental satisfaction · Children and young people aged 17 years or younger having dental treatment (including extractions) under general…
Intraoperative local anaesthesia for reduction of postoperative pain following general anaesthesia for… (2014) · Cochrane
No study reported parental satisfaction0 studiesNo studies
Psychological / counselling interventions (counselling, acupuncture, cognitive behavioural therapy, relaxation therapy, behaviour modification, electromyographic biofeedback, hypnosis, re-education) vs Another intervention, or no intervention
Outcome NR · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual…
Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane
Results: 'No studies evaluated ... psychological interventions.' No eligible RCT of psychological / counselling interventions (CBT, relaxation, behaviour modification, biofeedback, hypnosis, re-education, acupuncture).0 studiesNo studies
Infiltration injection local anaesthetic vs No treatment or placebo
Participant satisfaction · Children and young people aged 17 years or younger having dental treatment (including extractions) under general…
Intraoperative local anaesthesia for reduction of postoperative pain following general anaesthesia for… (2014) · Cochrane
None of the studies reported on patient or child satisfaction0 studiesNo studies
Hand mallet (osteotomes) vs Electric mallet
Implant failure · Patients undergoing one-stage crestal maxillary sinus lift without bone grafts (baseline residual bone height about… · before loading
Interventions for replacing missing teeth: augmentation procedures of the maxillary sinus (2014) · Cochrane
OR 1.00 [0.06, 16.56]1 study · 80 participantsUngraded
Topical local anaesthetic (spray or dental swab) vs Placebo or no treatment
Intraoperative or postoperative bleeding · Children and young people aged 17 years or younger having dental treatment (including extractions) under general…
Intraoperative local anaesthesia for reduction of postoperative pain following general anaesthesia for… (2014) · Cochrane
Elhakim 1993 reported prolonged postoperative bleeding in the no-treatment group; Andrzejowski 2002 reported no difference in bleeding (nurse-assessed 'mild' in both groups)2 studies · 160 participantsVery low
Vitamin D supplementation vs Control
Bone mineral density in forearm · Community dwelling adults
Vitamin D and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of… (2014)
WMD -0.70 [-1.70, 0.40]2 studiesUngraded
Rebamipide (systemic; 300 mg daily) vs Placebo
Global aphthae count and pain score · People with Behcet's disease with a history of recurrent oral aphthous-type (RAS-type) ulcers diagnosed clinically;…
Interventions for managing oral ulcers in Behçet's disease (2014) · Cochrane
Matsuda 2003 (rebamipide 300 mg daily vs placebo, 35 patients; high risk of reporting bias; concomitant treatments): authors stated that rebamipide improved the global evaluation aphthae count and global evaluation…1 study · 35 participantsUngraded
Higher circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration vs Lower circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration
Ovarian cancer · Adults (general population)
Vitamin D and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of… (2014)
OR 0.83 [0.63, 1.09]10 studies · 2489 participantsUngraded
Etanercept (systemic; 25 mg subcutaneously twice weekly for 4 weeks) vs Placebo (subcutaneous)
Mean number of oral ulcers · People with Behcet's disease with a history of recurrent oral aphthous-type (RAS-type) ulcers diagnosed clinically;… · Males only
Interventions for managing oral ulcers in Behçet's disease (2014) · Cochrane
Melikoglu 2005 (etanercept 25 mg s.c. twice weekly for 4 weeks vs placebo, 40 male patients; high risk of reporting bias): authors reported a statistically significant difference in mean number of oral ulcers with…1 study · 40 participantsUngraded
Higher circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration vs Lower circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration
Stroke · Adults (general population)
Vitamin D and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of… (2014)
RR 0.61 [0.50, 0.75]7 studies · 39095 participantsUngraded
Topical interventions (sucralfate, interferon-alpha, cyclosporin A) vs Placebo
Episode frequency associated with oral ulcers · People with Behcet's disease with a history of recurrent oral aphthous-type (RAS-type) ulcers diagnosed clinically;…
Interventions for managing oral ulcers in Behçet's disease (2014) · Cochrane
SoF (topical interventions vs placebo), grouped comment spanning all four listed outcomes (verbatim): "5 placebo-controlled trials evaluated topical interventions (sucralfate suspension (2 trials), interferon-alpha (2…NRUngraded
Frankel's function regulator-4 (FR-4) with lip-seal training vs No treatment
Signs and symptoms of respiratory disease (mouth breathing, nasal airway resistance) · Children and adolescents (over 80% aged 16 years or younger at treatment start) with anterior open bite (lack of…
Orthodontic and orthopaedic treatment for anterior open bite in children (2014) · Cochrane
Outcome proposed in the review but not found in any included study. The review states: 'The other outcomes proposed in this review were not found: stability of anterior open bite correction; reduction of snoring; signs…0 studiesNo studies
One-stage crestal-approach sinus lift with autogenous bone and 8 mm implants vs Lateral-window sinus lift with 50% autogenous bone/50% Bio-Oss and implants at least 10 mm long
Prosthesis failure · Patients with 3 to 6 mm of residual bone height at the sinus floor · 5 years after loading
Interventions for replacing missing teeth: augmentation procedures of the maxillary sinus (2014) · Cochrane
OR 0.47 [0.04, 5.69]1 study · 40 participantsUngraded
Infiltration injection local anaesthetic vs No treatment or placebo
Intraoperative or postoperative bleeding · Children and young people aged 17 years or younger having dental treatment (including extractions) under general…
Intraoperative local anaesthesia for reduction of postoperative pain following general anaesthesia for… (2014) · Cochrane
Because of substantial clinical and methodological heterogeneity in the studies, we were unable to determine an estimate of effect2 studies · 174 participantsVery low
Vitamin D supplementation vs Placebo or control
Fasting glucose · Adults with diabetes · Diabetes patients with abnormal glucose tolerance
Vitamin D and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of… (2014)
WMD -0.3 [-0.9, 0.3]NRUngraded
Topical interventions (sucralfate, interferon-alpha, cyclosporin A) vs Placebo
Safety of the intervention including adverse effects · People with Behcet's disease with a history of recurrent oral aphthous-type (RAS-type) ulcers diagnosed clinically;…
Interventions for managing oral ulcers in Behçet's disease (2014) · Cochrane
SoF (topical interventions vs placebo), grouped comment spanning all four listed outcomes (verbatim): "5 placebo-controlled trials evaluated topical interventions (sucralfate suspension (2 trials), interferon-alpha (2…NRUngraded
Powered toothbrush, unknown/other action vs Manual toothbrush
Gingivitis score (1 to 3 months) · Individuals of any age with no reported disability that might affect toothbrushing (including people wearing… · Short term (1 to 3 months)
Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health (2014) · Cochrane
Unknown/other action vs manual, gingivitis at 1 to 3 months: 3 trials; totals not selected (data presented in forest plots but not pooled).3 studiesUngraded
Higher circulating 1,25(OH)2D concentration vs Lower circulating 1,25(OH)2D concentration
Breast cancer · Participants in observational studies
Vitamin D and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of… (2014)
OR 0.99 [0.68, 1.44]3 studies · 3627 participantsUngraded
Repair of a defective amalgam restoration in a permanent molar or premolar tooth (with amalgam) vs Replacement of a defective amalgam restoration in a permanent molar or premolar tooth (with amalgam)
Perioperative or postoperative pain or discomfort · Adults (16 years or over) with one or more defective amalgam restoration(s) in a molar or premolar tooth/teeth · Medium term (less than 5 years) or long term (5 years and above)
Replacement versus repair of defective restorations in adults: amalgam (2014) · Cochrane
No randomised controlled trials were found0 studiesNo studies
Sinus lift with bone graft (granular Bio-Oss) vs Sinus lift without bone graft (Inion resorbable rigid barrier maintaining space / no bone)
Prosthesis failure · Patients with an atrophic maxillary sinus requiring augmentation (1 to 5 mm residual bone height) · 1 year after loading
Interventions for replacing missing teeth: augmentation procedures of the maxillary sinus (2014) · Cochrane
OR 0.63 [0.10, 4.22]1 study · 44 participantsUngraded
Turned (smoother) implant surfaces vs Roughened implant surfaces
Peri-implantitis · Adults with missing teeth who received osseointegrated root-formed dental implants, functionally loaded and followed… · 3 years, turned vs roughened surfaces
Interventions for replacing missing teeth: different types of dental implants (2014) · Cochrane
RR 0.80 [0.67, 0.96]4 studies · 144 participantsLow
One active intervention (surgical, medical, or psychological) vs A different active intervention (direct head-to-head comparison)
Outcome NR · Patients of any age in any setting requiring intervention for iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar or lingual…
Interventions for iatrogenic inferior alveolar and lingual nerve injury (2014) · Cochrane
Discussion: 'There is also a lack of trials directly comparing these methods ...'. No eligible RCT directly comparing different active interventions.0 studiesNo studies
Higher circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration vs Lower circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration
Breast cancer · Adults (general population)
Vitamin D and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of… (2014)
OR 0.55 [0.42, 0.71]21 studies · 26317 participantsUngraded
Interferon-alpha 1000 IU lozenges (topical) vs Interferon-alpha 2000 IU lozenges (topical)
Total ulcer burden · People with Behcet's disease with a history of recurrent oral aphthous-type (RAS-type) ulcers diagnosed clinically;… · Interferon-alpha dose comparison
Interventions for managing oral ulcers in Behçet's disease (2014) · Cochrane
Kilic 2009 (interferon-alpha 1000 IU vs 2000 IU lozenges, 84 patients): the data presented did not allow analysis; authors reported no statistically significant difference in total ulcer burden between the two doses.1 study · 84 participantsUngraded
NobelReplace Select Tapered implants vs NobelReplace Groovy implants
Marginal bone level change · Adults with missing teeth who received osseointegrated root-formed dental implants, functionally loaded and followed… · 1 year
Interventions for replacing missing teeth: different types of dental implants (2014) · Cochrane
MD 0.29 [-0.06, 0.64]1 study · 62 participantsUngraded
Higher circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration vs Lower circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration
Colon cancer · Adults (general population)
Vitamin D and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of… (2014)
OR 0.78 [0.56, 1.07]10 studies · 4578 participantsUngraded
Surgical anchorage (mini-screw or mid-palatal implant) vs Conventional anchorage (headgear, transpalatal/palatal arch, etc.)
Residual overjet at the end of treatment · Patients of any age undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances and requiring anchorage (adolescents to…
Reinforcement of anchorage during orthodontic brace treatment with implants or other surgical methods (2014) · Cochrane
No studies reported on residual overjet at the end of treatment0 studiesNo studies
Vitamin D supplementation vs Placebo or control
Total cholesterol · Adults (general population)
Vitamin D and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of… (2014)
WMD 1.52 [-1.42, 4.46]11 studiesUngraded
Vitamin D compounds (supplementation) vs Placebo or control
Parathyroid hormone · Adults with chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis
Vitamin D and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of… (2014)
WMD -196.05 [-298.43, -93.66]6 studiesUngraded
Rotary instruments to open the lateral sinus window vs Piezosurgery to open the lateral sinus window
Augmentation procedure failure · Patients undergoing lateral-window maxillary sinus lift · 1 year after loading
Interventions for replacing missing teeth: augmentation procedures of the maxillary sinus (2014) · Cochrane
Rickert 2013 (N = 36): no augmentation procedure failures.1 study · 36 participantsUngraded
Repelling-magnet splints vs Bite-blocks
Side effects / adverse effects (unilateral crossbite; transverse problems) · Children and adolescents (over 80% aged 16 years or younger at treatment start) with anterior open bite (lack of… · About 4 months (treatment interrupted early)
Orthodontic and orthopaedic treatment for anterior open bite in children (2014) · Cochrane
"After 4 months the open bite was observed to close in the magnet group, but in four out of these ten patients, transverse problems were observed (unilateral crossbite) which led to the interruption of the treatment…1 study · 10 participantsUngraded
Higher circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration vs Lower circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration
Hip fracture · Adults (general population) · Hospital-based controls
Vitamin D and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of… (2014)
log ratio of geometric mean -0.26 [-0.33, -0.23]8 studies · 2201 participantsUngraded
Vitamin D compounds (supplementation) vs Placebo or control
Risk of requiring dialysis · Adults with chronic kidney disease not requiring dialysis
Vitamin D and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of… (2014)
RR 0.76 [0.36, 1.62]4 studies · 245 participantsUngraded
Thalidomide (systemic; 100 mg or 300 mg daily) vs Placebo
Safety of the intervention including adverse effects · People with Behcet's disease with a history of recurrent oral aphthous-type (RAS-type) ulcers diagnosed clinically;… · Males only
Interventions for managing oral ulcers in Behçet's disease (2014) · Cochrane
Hamuryudan 1998: significant adverse effects including severe sedation, polyneuropathy, loss of libido, and weight gain; a greater number of adverse events was seen for the higher (300 mg) dose; 4 patients withdrew due…1 study · 101 participantsUngraded
Repair of a defective resin composite restoration in a permanent molar or premolar tooth (with resin composite) vs Replacement of a defective resin composite restoration in a permanent molar or premolar tooth (with resin composite)
Further restoration required (repair, restoration, placement of crown/inlay, root filling) · Adults (16 years or over) with one or more defective resin composite restoration(s) in a molar or premolar tooth/teeth · Medium term (less than 5 years) or long term (5 years and above)
Replacement versus repair of defective restorations in adults: resin composite (2014) · Cochrane
No randomised controlled trials were found0 studiesNo studies
Repair of a defective amalgam restoration in a permanent molar or premolar tooth (with amalgam) vs Replacement of a defective amalgam restoration in a permanent molar or premolar tooth (with amalgam)
Success or failure of restoration (as defined by the USPHS criteria) · Adults (16 years or over) with one or more defective amalgam restoration(s) in a molar or premolar tooth/teeth · Medium term (less than 5 years) or long term (5 years and above)
Replacement versus repair of defective restorations in adults: amalgam (2014) · Cochrane
No randomised controlled trials were found0 studiesNo studies
One-stage augmentation (implants placed simultaneously) vs Two-stage augmentation (delayed implant placement)
Implant failure · Patients requiring maxillary sinus augmentation · 1 year after loading (before loading)
Interventions for replacing missing teeth: augmentation procedures of the maxillary sinus (2014) · Cochrane
OR 3.48 [0.34, 35.61]1 study · 58 participantsUngraded
NobelActive external connection implants vs NobelReplace implants
Marginal bone level change · Adults with missing teeth who received osseointegrated root-formed dental implants, functionally loaded and followed… · 1 year
Interventions for replacing missing teeth: different types of dental implants (2014) · Cochrane
MD 0.00 [-0.41, 0.41]1 study · 88 participantsUngraded
Powered toothbrush (any mode of action) vs Manual toothbrush
Adverse events (soft tissue trauma) · Individuals of any age with no reported disability that might affect toothbrushing (including people wearing…
Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health (2014) · Cochrane
SoF 'Adverse events' row (narrative): There was no apparent relationship between the use of powered toothbrushes and soft tissue trauma. In part this finding was due to the very small number of adverse events reported…40 studiesUngraded
Surgical anchorage (mini-screw or mid-palatal implant) vs Conventional anchorage (headgear, transpalatal/palatal arch, etc.)
Patient perception: discomfort · Patients of any age undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances and requiring anchorage (adolescents to…
Reinforcement of anchorage during orthodontic brace treatment with implants or other surgical methods (2014) · Cochrane
Reported narratively in 2 studies (Chesterfield 2007, 47 patients; Feldmann 2007, 113 patients) on a VAS 0-100; discomfort most severe the evening after surgery (Nobel-Biocare onplant median 33, IQR 0-96) and after…2 studies · 160 participantsUngraded
Infiltration injection LA and intraligamental injection LA (3-arm) vs No treatment
Lip or cheek biting, numbness or allergy · Children and young people aged 17 years or younger having dental treatment (including extractions) under general…
Intraoperative local anaesthesia for reduction of postoperative pain following general anaesthesia for… (2014) · Cochrane
The study did not report on lip or cheek biting0 studiesNo studies
Frankel's function regulator-4 (FR-4) with lip-seal training vs No treatment
Position of the incisors (upper incisor inclination) · Children and adolescents (over 80% aged 16 years or younger at treatment start) with anterior open bite (lack of… · End of treatment (about 2 years)
Orthodontic and orthopaedic treatment for anterior open bite in children (2014) · Cochrane
The angulation of the upper incisors with the palatal plane (1/ANSPNS) decreased on average 0.3 (SD 4.6) degrees in the control group, whereas in the treated group the mean retrusion was 4 (SD 4.6) degrees, P < 0.01.…1 studyUngraded
Higher circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration vs Lower circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration
Colorectal cancer · Adults (general population)
Vitamin D and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of… (2014)
RR 0.70 [0.58, 0.84]10 studies · 6712 participantsUngraded