What do systematic reviews say?

2 mm titanium plates vs 2.5 mm bioresorbable plates

2 mm titanium plates showed no clear difference in moderate soft tissue deformity compared with 2.5 mm bioresorbable plates; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 month
  RR 6.4 [0.80, 51.3]
  1 study · 57 participants
  GRADE not reported

Hyperbaric oxygen vs No HBO therapy

It is very uncertain whether hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy changes prosthetic failure compared with no HBO therapy (very low certainty).

• Interventions for replacing missing teeth: hyperbaric oxygen therapy for irradiated patients who require dental implants 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 year after delivery of the prosthesis
  RR 3.00 [0.13, 67.06]
  1 study · 24 participants
  Very low

A permanent restorative material or technique (e.g. amalgam; glass ionomer (type I-IV); composite resin (macrofilled, microfilled, hybrid, nanofilled); resin-modified glass ionomer (compomer, giomer); cement/cermet; stainless steel or nickel-chrome crown; pre-fabricated resin/porcelain veneer facing; microabrasion) vs A different permanent restorative material or technique

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for the restorative care of amelogenesis imperfecta in children and adolescents 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Main results: No studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. Effects of interventions: No studies met the inclusion criteria.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Triclosan/copolymer-containing fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride toothpaste without triclosan

Triclosan/copolymer-containing fluoride toothpaste probably leads to lower gingivitis at 6 to 9 months (Loe-Silness Gingival Index, 0 to 3 scale) compared with fluoride toothpaste without triclosan (moderate certainty).

• Triclosan/copolymer containing toothpastes for oral health 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 to 9 months
  MD -0.27 [-0.33, -0.21]
  20 studies · 2743 participants
  Moderate

Immediate loading vs Early loading

It is very uncertain whether immediate loading changes prosthesis failure compared with early loading (very low certainty).

• Interventions for replacing missing teeth: different times for loading dental implants 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 year
  RR 0.69 [0.25, 1.87]
  4 studies · 408 participants
  Very low

Orthodontic distalising appliance (intraoral or extraoral) vs no intervention

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Orthodontic treatment for distalising upper first molars in children and adolescents 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Duration of treatment was not reported in the studies of the appliance-versus-untreated-control comparison ("Duration of treatment, non-compliance, number of attendances required to complete treatment and adverse…
  0 studies
  No studies found

Pre-radiotherapy extraction of healthy molar teeth vs Conservative treatment (leaving the teeth in place during radiotherapy, with oral health education and disease prevention: oral hygiene, fluoride, diet advice)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

Pre-radiotherapy extraction of diseased molar teeth vs Conservative treatment (restoration of the teeth and leaving them in place during radiotherapy, with oral health education and disease prevention: oral hygiene, fluoride, diet advice)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Dental extractions prior to radiotherapy to the jaws for reducing post‐radiotherapy dental complications 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

3-dimensional (3D) miniplates vs Standard (Champy) plates

• Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  All participants in both groups in Jain 2010 had "satisfactory post-operative occlusion"; it is unclear whether a validated tool was used.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Visual screening (oral visual inspection) by trained health workers vs No screening

• Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  9 years (three cycles)
  The costs associated with the screening programme were reported after three cycles (nine years) (Subramanian 2009) (Additional Table 8). The benefit produced by a screen was 269.31 life-years saved per 100,000 for all…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Combined paracetamol plus ibuprofen in a single tablet (e.g. paracetamol 1000 mg/ibuprofen 400 mg or 500/200 mg) vs Single drugs given separately (paracetamol 1000 mg or ibuprofen 400 mg)

• Ibuprofen and/or paracetamol (acetaminophen) for pain relief after surgical removal of lower wisdom teeth 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Study period (immediate postoperative)
  The majority of adverse events were minor in nature and usually included nausea, vomiting, headaches and dizziness. Side effect profiles have not been included in a meta-analysis as multiple adverse events were…
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Self etching primer (one-step etchant-and-primer technique) vs Conventional etchants (two-step etch and prime method using 37% phosphoric acid)

Self etching primers (one-step etchant and primer system) showed no clear difference in bond failure rate compared with conventional etchants (two-step etch and prime method using 37%… (low certainty).

• Enamel etching for bonding fixed orthodontic braces 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  5 to 37 months
  RR 1.14 [0.75, 1.73]
  5 studies · 221 participants
  Low

Immediate loading vs Early loading

Immediate loading showed no clear difference in marginal bone level changes compared with early loading; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for replacing missing teeth: different times for loading dental implants 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 year
  MD -0.06 [-0.16, 0.03]
  3 studies
  GRADE not reported

Primary school-based behavioural intervention (both oral hygiene and dietary components) vs No treatment (or delayed treatment)

• Primary school‐based behavioural interventions for preventing caries 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Worthington 2001 reported changes in oral health knowledge and skills: improvement was apparent in both intervention and control groups at the 4-month follow-up (phase one) but greater in the intervention group (34%…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Open (surgical) reduction and fixation vs Closed (non-surgical) treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  "There were no studies comparing different types of closed interventions with one another or comparing open and closed interventions." "We found no studies that compared surgical with non-surgical treatments."
  0 studies
  No studies found

Orthodontic distalising appliance (intraoral or extraoral) vs no intervention

• Orthodontic treatment for distalising upper first molars in children and adolescents 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  SoF table 1. Assumed risk "Not estimated"; Corresponding risk "Not estimated"; Relative effect "Meta-analysis not appropriate". Comment: "No pooled estimate due to different types of appliances (First Class and…
  2 studies · 74 participants
  Low

Occlusal loading vs Non-occlusal loading

Occlusal loading showed no clear difference in marginal bone level changes compared with non-occlusal loading; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for replacing missing teeth: different times for loading dental implants 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 year
  MD 0.03 [-0.10, 0.15]
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Stepwise excavation (two-stage caries removal, re-entry after an interval) vs Complete caries removal

Stepwise excavation (two-stage caries removal, re-entry after an… showed no clear difference in signs or symptoms of pulpal disease compared with one stage complete caries removal (moderate certainty).

• Operative caries management in adults and children 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 year
  RR 0.78 [0.39, 1.58]
  2 studies · 278 participants
  Moderate

Hyperbaric oxygen vs No HBO therapy

• Interventions for replacing missing teeth: hyperbaric oxygen therapy for irradiated patients who require dental implants 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Radiographic bone level changes (but not used since extrapolated from oblique lateral radiographs).
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Transbuccal miniplate combined with intraoral approach vs Intraoral approach alone

• Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 months · Angle of mandible only
  Persistent malocclusion was minimal, reported in one participant in each group at the 3-month follow-up. Mean interincisor mouth opening at 3 months 37.68 mm (range 17 to 50) combined approach vs 38.19 mm (range 22 to…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported