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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. Words match anywhere in the field.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Surgical anchorage (mini-screw or mid-palatal implant) vs Conventional anchorage (headgear, transpalatal/palatal arch, etc.) Economic factors · 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 economic evaluation | 0 studies | No studies |
Powered toothbrush (any mode of action) vs Manual toothbrush Cost (relative cost of powered vs manual) · Individuals of any age with no reported disability that might affect toothbrushing (including people wearing… Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health (2014) · Cochrane | None of the included trials reported on the relative costs of manual compared with powered toothbrushes. | 0 studies | No studies |
Topical interventions (sucralfate, interferon-alpha, cyclosporin A) vs Placebo Episode duration 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… | NR | Ungraded |
MegaGen EZ Plus blasted standard implants vs MegaGen EZ Plus calcium-incorporated (Xpeed) implants Implant failure · 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 | No failures; risk ratio not estimable (Esposito 2012) | 1 study · 60 participants | Ungraded |
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) Patient satisfaction (measured by patient satisfaction or aesthetic scales) · 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 found | 0 studies | No studies |
Maxillary sinus lift (augmentation) with long implants vs Short implants (5 to 8.5 mm) without sinus augmentation Prosthesis failure · Patients with missing teeth and an atrophic posterior maxilla, with residual bone height between 4 and 9 mm below the… · median 1 year after loading Interventions for replacing missing teeth: augmentation procedures of the maxillary sinus (2014) · Cochrane | Peto OR 0.37 [0.05, 2.68] | 3 studies · 109 participants | Moderate |
Sinus lift with bone graft (granular Bio-Oss) vs Sinus lift without bone graft (Inion resorbable rigid barrier maintaining space / no bone) Bone gain · Patients with an atrophic maxillary sinus requiring augmentation (1 to 5 mm residual bone height) · 6 months after augmentation Interventions for replacing missing teeth: augmentation procedures of the maxillary sinus (2014) · Cochrane | MD 3.60 [2.99, 4.21] | 1 study · 41 participants | Ungraded |
Powered toothbrush, ultrasonic action vs Manual toothbrush Gingivitis score (>3 months) · Individuals of any age with no reported disability that might affect toothbrushing (including people wearing… · Long term (>3 months) Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health (2014) · Cochrane | Ultrasonic vs manual, gingivitis at >3 months: one trial (Terezhalmy 1995a); no statistically significant difference; totals not selected (no pooled estimate presented in this version). | 1 study · 46 participants | Ungraded |
Intraligamental injection local anaesthetic vs No treatment 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 | The studies did not report on patient or child satisfaction | 0 studies | No studies |
Higher circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration vs Lower circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration Rectal cancer · Adults (general population) Vitamin D and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of… (2014) | OR 0.50 [0.29, 0.88] | 9 studies · 2050 participants | Ungraded |
Branemark Mark II standard titanium screws vs Branemark conical transmucosal titanium screws Implant failure · Adults with missing teeth who received osseointegrated root-formed dental implants, functionally loaded and followed… · 1 to 2 years Interventions for replacing missing teeth: different types of dental implants (2014) · Cochrane | No failures in either group; risk ratio not estimable (Gatti 2002) | 1 study · 10 participants | Ungraded |
Bone graft with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) vs Bone graft without PRP Partial graft loss · Patients with insufficient bone below the maxillary sinus requiring dental implants · 2 years after loading Interventions for replacing missing teeth: augmentation procedures of the maxillary sinus (2014) · Cochrane | OR 1.5 [0.17, 17.96] | 1 study · 57 participants | Ungraded |
Zygomatic implants without bone grafts (as a complete alternative to any bone augmentation procedure) vs Conventional dental implants in augmented maxillae Patient satisfaction (and, when possible, preference) · Participants with an atrophic maxilla who cannot be rehabilitated with conventional dental implants due to lack of… · At least 1 year in function Interventions for replacing missing teeth: dental implants in zygomatic bone for the rehabilitation of the… (2013) · Cochrane | Results (Effects of interventions): we could not identify any eligible randomised controlled trials (RCTs). | 0 studies | No studies |
Self etching primers (one-step etchant and primer system) vs Conventional etchants (two-step etch and prime method using 37% phosphoric acid) Cost of treatment · Children and adults with fixed orthodontic brackets bonded to incisors, canines and premolars Enamel etching for bonding fixed orthodontic braces (2013) · Cochrane | Cost of treatment: No studies assessed this outcome. | NR | No studies |
Primary school-based behavioural intervention (both oral hygiene and dietary components) vs No intervention or delayed intervention (non-intervention control; one trial's control received dental treatment plus an annual supervised toothbrushing session) Plaque indices (permanent and deciduous teeth) · Children aged 4 to 12 years attending primary school · 3 to 15 months Primary school‐based behavioural interventions for preventing caries (2013) · Cochrane | SoF (Plaque indices, follow-up 3 to 15 months): 'All 3 RCTs showed a reduction in plaque in the intervention group compared to control group'; 827 participants (3 RCTs); GRADE low; comment 'Data not suitable for… | 3 studies · 827 participants | Low |
Fluorescence camera (FC; VistaProof) vs Reference standard (histological examination, operative intervention, or other/visual examination) Relative DOR by setting (FC, advanced, occlusal permanent) · Permanent teeth, occlusal surfaces, with suspected caries lesions · More advanced (dentine/cavitated) caries lesions threshold, Laboratory using frozen teeth vs clinical (reference) Fluorescence-based methods for detecting caries lesions: systematic review, meta-analysis and sources of… (2013) | RDOR 2.96 [0.36, 24.45] | NR | Ungraded |
3-dimensional (3D) miniplates vs Standard (Champy) plates Post-operative infection · Adults (16 to 68 years) with mandibular fractures excluding condylar involvement Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | RR 1.26 [0.19, 8.13] | 2 studies · 90 participants | Ungraded |
Orthodontic distalising appliance (intraoral or extraoral) vs Untreated control (no treatment) Non-compliance rate of the intervention · Children and adolescents (aged 16 years or less at the start of treatment) undergoing orthodontic treatment to… Orthodontic treatment for distalising upper first molars in children and adolescents (2013) · Cochrane | Non-compliance rate was not reported in the studies of this comparison. | 0 studies | No studies |
Self etching primers (one-step etchant and primer system) vs Conventional etchants (two-step etch and prime method using 37% phosphoric acid) Damage to the teeth · Children and adults with fixed orthodontic brackets bonded to incisors, canines and premolars Enamel etching for bonding fixed orthodontic braces (2013) · Cochrane | Damage to the teeth: No studies assessed this outcome. | NR | No studies |
Ibuprofen (single postoperative oral dose; 200 mg to 512 mg) vs Paracetamol (acetaminophen) (single postoperative oral dose; 600 mg to 1000 mg) Proportion of patients with >50% maximum pain relief (TOTPAR) over 6 hours · Patients with pain after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth (third molars) requiring bone removal or with baseline… · 6 hours postdosing, Ibuprofen 400 mg vs paracetamol 1000 mg Ibuprofen and/or paracetamol (acetaminophen) for pain relief after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth (2013) · Cochrane | RR 1.47 [1.28, 1.69] | 5 studies · 646 participants | High |
Partial caries removal (single stage; residual dentinal caries sealed into the tooth definitively) vs Complete caries removal Pulp exposure during caries removal · Patients with carious teeth, affecting any tooth surface(s), in unrestored primary and permanent teeth · During caries removal Operative caries management in adults and children (2013) · Cochrane | RR 0.23 [0.08, 0.69] | 2 studies · 141 participants | Moderate |
Any intervention to manage relapse: fixed options (labial braces, lingual braces, fixed lingual wire) or removable options (Hawley's retainer with spring elastomeric module, Bloore removable aligner, other Hawley's retainer modifications, Invisalign, Clearstep) vs Another such intervention or no active treatment; all interventions compared against each other in any combination Treatment time · Participants who previously underwent orthodontic treatment, with subsequent crowding (relapse) of the lower front… Interventions for managing relapse of the lower front teeth after orthodontic treatment (2013) · Cochrane | No RCTs met the inclusion criteria for this review. After deduplication, the electronic searching identified 527 publications; after reviewing the titles and abstracts, none focused on interventions to correct the… | 0 studies | No studies |
Any intervention to manage relapse: fixed options (labial braces, lingual braces, fixed lingual wire) or removable options (Hawley's retainer with spring elastomeric module, Bloore removable aligner, other Hawley's retainer modifications, Invisalign, Clearstep) vs Another such intervention or no active treatment; all interventions compared against each other in any combination Cost-benefit consideration · Participants who previously underwent orthodontic treatment, with subsequent crowding (relapse) of the lower front… Interventions for managing relapse of the lower front teeth after orthodontic treatment (2013) · Cochrane | No RCTs met the inclusion criteria for this review. After deduplication, the electronic searching identified 527 publications; after reviewing the titles and abstracts, none focused on interventions to correct the… | 0 studies | No studies |
Any intervention to manage relapse: fixed options (labial braces, lingual braces, fixed lingual wire) or removable options (Hawley's retainer with spring elastomeric module, Bloore removable aligner, other Hawley's retainer modifications, Invisalign, Clearstep) vs Another such intervention or no active treatment; all interventions compared against each other in any combination Patient discomfort · Participants who previously underwent orthodontic treatment, with subsequent crowding (relapse) of the lower front… Interventions for managing relapse of the lower front teeth after orthodontic treatment (2013) · Cochrane | No RCTs met the inclusion criteria for this review. After deduplication, the electronic searching identified 527 publications; after reviewing the titles and abstracts, none focused on interventions to correct the… | 0 studies | No studies |
Intraoral distalising appliance vs Another (different) intraoral distalising appliance Number of attendances required to complete treatment · Children and adolescents (aged 16 years or less at the start of treatment) undergoing orthodontic treatment to… Orthodontic treatment for distalising upper first molars in children and adolescents (2013) · Cochrane | Number of attendances required to complete treatment was not reported by these studies. | 0 studies | No studies |
PDHA program with robust prevention vs PDHA program or PDHA program with intensive staffing Tooth decay-free children · Alaska children aged 5 to 18 years · 20 years Reducing Alaska Native paediatric oral health disparities: a systematic review of oral health interventions… (2013) | Percentage tooth decay-free >50% vs 8% | 1 study | Ungraded |
Pen-type laser fluorescence (LFpen) vs Reference standard More advanced caries lesion detection · Primary teeth with approximal surfaces · More advanced caries lesion threshold, LFpen, approximal, primary teeth Fluorescence-based methods for detecting caries lesions: systematic review, meta-analysis and sources of… (2013) | Specificity 0.958 [0.947, 0.968] | 5 studies | Ungraded |
Partial caries removal (single stage; residual dentinal caries sealed into the tooth definitively) vs Complete caries removal Failure of restorations · Patients with carious teeth, affecting any tooth surface(s), in unrestored primary and permanent teeth · 1 year Operative caries management in adults and children (2013) · Cochrane | RR 0.33 [0.01, 7.62] | 1 study · 32 participants | Very low |
Transbuccal miniplate combined with intraoral approach vs Intraoral approach alone Requirement for additional (surgical) interventions (plate removal within 90 days) · Adults with fractures of the mandibular angle · 90 days, Angle of mandible only Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures (2013) · Cochrane | RR 0.57 [0.33, 0.98] | 1 study · 140 participants | Ungraded |
Transbond Plus self etching primer (3M Unitek) vs Clearfil Protect Bond self etching primer (Kuraray Medical) Bond failure rate · Children and adults with fixed orthodontic brackets bonded to incisors, canines and premolars Enamel etching for bonding fixed orthodontic braces (2013) · Cochrane | Self etching primers versus self etching primers: Two split-mouth studies compared two different SEPs (Noble 2006; Paschos 2009). The failure rates were reported at tooth level rather than at participant level. We… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Fee-for-service remuneration vs No specific intervention (control) Healthcare costs: cost-effectiveness of fee-for-service vs control (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, reported as % change in outcome per GBP; currency year NR) · Dentists seeing children with erupted second permanent molars (Scotland, in areas representing the four most deprived… · 18 months The effect of different methods of remuneration on the behaviour of primary care dentists (2013) · Cochrane | ICER 0.10 | 1 study · 68 participants | Very low |
Triclosan/copolymer-containing fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride toothpaste without triclosan Calculus at 7 months (Volpe-Manhold Calculus Index, mean height of calculus in mm) · Children and adults (aged 16 years or less = children, over 16 = adults) without periodontitis at baseline; in… · 7 months Triclosan/copolymer containing toothpastes for oral health (2013) · Cochrane | MD -0.04 [-0.21, 0.13] | 1 study · 78 participants | Ungraded |
Electrostimulation (device) vs Placebo (sham/placebo device) Dry mouth (xerostomia) · Adults with dry mouth due to Sjogren's Syndrome Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions (2013) · Cochrane | Neither trial reported usable dry mouth data; Talal 1992: 'patients using the active device experienced relief from six of the most common symptoms of xerostomia secondary to Sjogren's Syndrome, with two of these… | NR | Ungraded |
Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Harms and adverse effects · Dentate adults aged 16 years and older Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults (2013) · Cochrane | Not estimable. Only 1 study reported adverse outcomes in terms of problems with the use of the assigned interdental cleaning aids. (See comment) In this comparison the single study (Jared 2005) asked participants to… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Stepwise excavation (two-stage caries removal, re-entry after an interval) vs One stage complete caries removal Progression of caries · Patients with carious teeth, affecting any tooth surface(s), in unrestored primary and permanent teeth Operative caries management in adults and children (2013) · Cochrane | None of the eight included studies reported on the primary outcome of progression of caries. | 0 studies | No studies |
Capitation remuneration vs Fee-for-service remuneration Measures of non-clinical behaviour: proportion of dentists introducing innovations into their dental practices · Children (0- to 15-year-olds) undergoing routine continuing dental care at 354 dental practices, in matched pairs of… · 3 years The effect of different methods of remuneration on the behaviour of primary care dentists (2013) · Cochrane | RR 0.81 | 1 study | Ungraded |
Fluorescence camera (FC) vs Reference standard Initial caries lesion detection · Primary teeth with occlusal surfaces · Initial caries lesion threshold, FC, occlusal, primary teeth Fluorescence-based methods for detecting caries lesions: systematic review, meta-analysis and sources of… (2013) | Sensitivity 0.482 [0.433, 0.531] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Pen-type laser fluorescence (LFpen; DIAGNOdent pen) vs Reference standard (histological examination, operative intervention, or other/visual examination) Diagnostic accuracy (pooled sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio, summary-ROC AUC) · Permanent teeth, occlusal surfaces, with suspected caries lesions · More advanced (dentine/cavitated) caries lesions threshold Fluorescence-based methods for detecting caries lesions: systematic review, meta-analysis and sources of… (2013) | Pooled sensitivity, specificity, DOR, PLR, NLR and summary-ROC AUC reported qualitatively (Figure 6); pooled DOR for LFpen lower than for LF and FC. Heterogeneity I2=73%. Numeric pooled values not available in the… | NR | Ungraded |
No dentinal caries removal (caries sealed under a preformed metal crown or restoration without removing dentinal caries) vs Complete caries removal Failure of restorations · Patients with carious teeth, affecting any tooth surface(s), in unrestored primary and permanent teeth · 1 year (2-year and 5-year data also available for Innes 2007) Operative caries management in adults and children (2013) · Cochrane | RR 0.08 [0.02, 0.26] | 1 study · 132 participants | Moderate |
Fluoride varnish vs Placebo or no treatment Proportion of children developing one or more new caries (primary/deciduous dentition, d(e/m)ft) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less · At least 1 year, Primary/deciduous dentition Fluoride varnishes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents (2013) · Cochrane | RR 0.81 [0.62, 1.06] | 5 studies · 1228 participants | Ungraded |
Any intervention to manage relapse: fixed options (labial braces, lingual braces, fixed lingual wire) or removable options (Hawley's retainer with spring elastomeric module, Bloore removable aligner, other Hawley's retainer modifications, Invisalign, Clearstep) vs Another such intervention or no active treatment; all interventions compared against each other in any combination Stability of the correction · Participants who previously underwent orthodontic treatment, with subsequent crowding (relapse) of the lower front… Interventions for managing relapse of the lower front teeth after orthodontic treatment (2013) · Cochrane | No RCTs met the inclusion criteria for this review. After deduplication, the electronic searching identified 527 publications; after reviewing the titles and abstracts, none focused on interventions to correct the… | 0 studies | No studies |
Community and caregiver oral health education plus media campaign vs Pre-intervention BBTD rate Baby bottle tooth decay prevalence · Alaska Native and American Indian Head Start children · 3 years, High-intensity training Reducing Alaska Native paediatric oral health disparities: a systematic review of oral health interventions… (2013) | Percent reduction in BBTD prevalence 33 | 1 study | Ungraded |
Pen-type laser fluorescence (LFpen) vs Reference standard More advanced caries lesion detection · Permanent teeth with occlusal surfaces · More advanced caries lesion threshold, LFpen, occlusal, permanent teeth Fluorescence-based methods for detecting caries lesions: systematic review, meta-analysis and sources of… (2013) | Sensitivity 0.724 [0.672, 0.772] | 10 studies | Ungraded |
Zygomatic implants with bone grafts (as a partial alternative to bone augmentation; some augmentation still required in the frontal maxilla) vs Conventional dental implants in augmented maxillae Outcome NR · Patients with a severely atrophic maxilla for whom some bone augmentation is still required in the frontal portion of… · At least 1 year in function Interventions for replacing missing teeth: dental implants in zygomatic bone for the rehabilitation of the… (2013) · Cochrane | Results (Effects of interventions): we could not identify any eligible randomised controlled trials (RCTs). | 0 studies | No studies |
Primary school-based behavioural intervention (both oral hygiene and dietary components) vs No intervention or delayed intervention (non-intervention control; one trial's control received dental treatment plus an annual supervised toothbrushing session) Caries increment on tooth surfaces (dmfs/DMFS) (prevented fraction) · Children aged 4 to 12 years attending primary school · 15 months Primary school‐based behavioural interventions for preventing caries (2013) · Cochrane | PF 0.65 [0.12, 1.18] | 1 study · 60 participants | Low |
Laser fluorescence (LF; DIAGNOdent) vs Reference standard (histological examination, operative intervention, or other/visual examination) Relative DOR by reference standard (LF, advanced, occlusal permanent) · Permanent teeth, occlusal surfaces, with suspected caries lesions · More advanced (dentine/cavitated) caries lesions threshold, Other reference standard vs histological (reference) Fluorescence-based methods for detecting caries lesions: systematic review, meta-analysis and sources of… (2013) | RDOR 0.62 [0.15, 2.46] | NR | Ungraded |
Zygomatic implants without bone grafts (as a complete alternative to any bone augmentation procedure) vs Conventional dental implants in augmented maxillae Complications · Participants with an atrophic maxilla who cannot be rehabilitated with conventional dental implants due to lack of… · At least 1 year in function Interventions for replacing missing teeth: dental implants in zygomatic bone for the rehabilitation of the… (2013) · Cochrane | Results (Effects of interventions): we could not identify any eligible randomised controlled trials (RCTs). | 0 studies | No studies |
Triclosan/copolymer-containing fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride toothpaste without triclosan Participant-centred outcomes (quality of life; satisfaction with product) · Children and adults (aged 16 years or less = children, over 16 = adults) without periodontitis at baseline; in… Triclosan/copolymer containing toothpastes for oral health (2013) · Cochrane | No studies reported any participant-centred outcomes. | 0 studies | No studies |
Triclosan/copolymer-containing fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride toothpaste without triclosan Plaque at 6 to 7 months (Quigley-Hein Plaque Index, 0 to 5 scale) · Children and adults (aged 16 years or less = children, over 16 = adults) without periodontitis at baseline; in… · 6 to 7 months Triclosan/copolymer containing toothpastes for oral health (2013) · Cochrane | MD -0.47 [-0.60, -0.34] | 20 studies · 2675 participants | Moderate |
Visual screening (oral visual inspection) by trained health workers vs No screening Oral cancer mortality (disease-specific) · Apparently healthy adults aged 35 years or older (general population), living in 13 clusters in rural areas of… · 15-year follow-up Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer (2013) · Cochrane | RR 0.88 [0.69, 1.12] | 1 study · 191873 participants | Low |