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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Fluoride supplements (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gums) vs No fluoride supplement (placebo or no treatment) Caries increment in deciduous teeth (dmft) · Children and adolescents (aged 16 years or less at baseline) · 24-36 months Fluoride supplements (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gums) for preventing dental caries in children (2011) · Cochrane | PF 0.46 [0.08, 0.83] | 2 studies · 696 participants | Very low |
V6 chewing gum / mucin chewing gum vs Placebo gum (and between each other) Patient preference · Adults seeking treatment for the symptom of dry mouth (xerostomia) due to any cause (e.g. medication, Sjogren's… Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies (2011) · Cochrane | Preference favoured mucin gum (61%) over V6 (21%) and placebo (5%). | 1 study · 43 participants | Ungraded |
Chlorhexidine vs Cryotherapy (ice chips) Oral mucositis (severe) · Patients with cancer receiving radiotherapy, chemotherapy or targeted therapies · Median 28 days Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2011) · Cochrane | RR 1.16 [0.46, 2.92] | 1 study · 133 participants | Ungraded |
Chinese herbs (medicine) vs Control (Dobell's solution) Oral mucositis (severe) · Patients with cancer receiving radiotherapy, chemotherapy or targeted therapies · Median 28 days Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2011) · Cochrane | RR 0.09 [0, 1.51] | 1 study · 147 participants | Ungraded |
Arthroscopy vs Open surgery Mandibular functionality (MFIQ) after 12 months · Adults (older than 18 years) with a temporomandibular disorder (synovitis, disc displacement with or without… · 12 months Arthroscopy for temporomandibular disorders (2011) · Cochrane | MD 1.58 [-0.78, 3.94] | 2 studies · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Single-surface ART restoration using high-viscosity glass ionomer vs None (single-arm survival proportion; no comparator) Restoration survival · Primary posterior teeth with single-surface cavities (children) · 1 year, single-surface primary posterior teeth, 1 year Survival of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) sealants and restorations: a meta-analysis. (2011) | Proportion 0.95 [0.91, 0.98] | 9 studies | Ungraded |
CMC/sorbitol pre-moistened swabs vs Lemon glycerin swabs Patient preference · Adults seeking treatment for the symptom of dry mouth (xerostomia) due to any cause (e.g. medication, Sjogren's… Interventions for the management of dry mouth: topical therapies (2011) · Cochrane | Patient preference favoured CMC/sorbitol (Chi2 10.89, df=1; P = 0.001). | 1 study · 20 participants | Ungraded |
G-CSF vs Placebo/no treatment Oral mucositis (severe) · Patients with cancer receiving radiotherapy, chemotherapy or targeted therapies · Median 28 days Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2011) · Cochrane | RR 0.36 [0.15, 0.86] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Phosphoric etching (acid) gel vs Mechanical debridement and polishing Cleaning/treatment time · Adults with dental implants and healthy peri-implant soft tissues at baseline · 5 months Interventions for replacing missing teeth: maintaining and recovering soft tissue health around dental… (2010) · Cochrane | Both interventions took a similar time to administer (no statistically significant difference in cleaning time) | 1 study · 16 participants | Ungraded |
Immediate-delayed implants (placed within 8 weeks after tooth extraction) vs Delayed implants (placed at least 2 months after extraction) Major complications at the implant site · Patients with compromised teeth to be extracted who require single dental implants in fresh postextraction sockets · 5 years Interventions for replacing missing teeth: dental implants in fresh extraction sockets (immediate,… (2010) · Cochrane | RR 4.20 [1.01, 17.43] | 1 study · 46 participants | Ungraded |
Any antifungal intervention for the treatment of oral candidiasis vs Placebo, no treatment, or another active antifungal intervention Days stay in hospital · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | None of the studies reported: relief of pain, relief of dysphagia, incidence of systemic infection, amount of analgesia, days stay in hospital, cost of oral care, patient quality of life. | 0 studies | No studies |
Mixed beam (neutron and photon) radiotherapy vs Conventional photon radiotherapy Locoregional control · People with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (ICD-O C01-C06) or oropharynx (ICD-O C09-C10); head and… Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | HR 1.04 [0.84, 1.29] | 1 study · 327 participants | Ungraded |
Hypnosis vs Control (treatment as usual) Daily mean opiate intake per hour · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | MD -0.45 [-4.42, 3.52] | 1 study · 22 participants | Ungraded |
Sonic toothbrushing vs Manual toothbrushing Patient satisfaction (liked toothbrush) · Adults with dental implants and peri-implant mucositis at baseline · 6 months Interventions for replacing missing teeth: maintaining and recovering soft tissue health around dental… (2010) · Cochrane | RR 1.48 [1.03, 2.13] | 1 study · 31 participants | Ungraded |
Oral glucosamine hydrochloride/chondroitin sulphate vs Placebo Pain on TMJ palpation (ordinal scale) · Adult patients aged >=18 years, clinically or radiographically diagnosed with TMD (McNeill 1997 criteria); moderate to… · 3 months Pharmacological interventions for pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (2010) · Cochrane | MD -0.30 [-3.09, 2.49] | 1 study · 45 participants | Ungraded |
Debridement vs No debridement Mucositis severity (mild to moderate) · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | Debridement vs no debridement (Cubukcu 2007): statistically significant benefit for decreased mucositis severity; no numeric estimate reported | 1 study | Ungraded |
Hypnosis vs Control (treatment as usual) Average pain scores (0-100 VAS) · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | MD -10.50 [-36.05, 15.05] | 1 study · 22 participants | Ungraded |
Hyperfractionated/accelerated radiotherapy vs Conventional (standard) fractionation radiotherapy Locoregional control · People with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (ICD-O C01-C06) or oropharynx (ICD-O C09-C10); head and… Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | HR 0.84 [0.72, 0.99] | 4 studies · 1071 participants | Ungraded |
Topical capsaicin (0.025% cream) vs Placebo Adverse events (withdrawals due to adverse effects) · Adult patients aged >=18 years, clinically or radiographically diagnosed with TMD (McNeill 1997 criteria); moderate to… · 4 weeks Pharmacological interventions for pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (2010) · Cochrane | Three participants from the topical capsaicin group withdrew from the study by Winocur et al 2000 due to the severity of the burning sensation and redness. | 1 study · 30 participants | Ungraded |
Accelerated radiotherapy with concomitant boost vs Conventional (standard) fractionation radiotherapy Locoregional control · People with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (ICD-O C01-C06) or oropharynx (ICD-O C09-C10); head and… Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | Accelerated/boost vs conventional, locoregional control: IPD from one trial (Fu 2000); a statistically significant difference in favour of the accelerated schedule with boost was shown (Analysis 1.2). No numeric… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pethidine vs Staff-controlled delivery of pethidine Daily mean opiate intake per hour · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | MD -4.00 [-10.14, 2.14] | 1 study · 20 participants | Ungraded |
Orthodontic treatment with appliances inducing stable, permanent orthodontic tooth movement (splints worn 8 to 12 weeks and surgical interventions excluded) vs Control: no treatment, placebo, or reassurance Patient quality of life · Adults aged 18 years or older with clinically diagnosed TMD (exhibiting two or more of the listed signs and/or symptoms) · At least 6 months after the intervention Orthodontics for treating temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders (2010) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Oral gabapentin (anticonvulsant) vs Placebo Adverse events (withdrawals due to adverse effects) · Adult patients aged >=18 years, clinically or radiographically diagnosed with TMD (McNeill 1997 criteria); moderate to… · 12 weeks Pharmacological interventions for pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (2010) · Cochrane | Four of the participants withdrew from the study by Kimos et al 2007 due to adverse effects, but neither the type of adverse effect nor the trial group was specified. | 1 study · 44 participants | Ungraded |
Hypnosis vs Inhalation sedation with nitrous oxide and oxygen Completion of treatment (yes/no) · Children aged 10 to 16 years undergoing orthodontic extractions (Braithwaite 2005) Hypnosis for children undergoing dental treatment (2010) · Cochrane | Completion of treatment (yes/no) was a protocol-planned primary outcome but was not reported by the included study for this comparison (Braithwaite 2005); one participant in the sedation arm was withdrawn during… | NR | No studies |
Side to side action powered toothbrush vs Counter oscillation powered toothbrush Adverse events · People of any age with no reported disability affecting their ability to practise normal self-toothbrushing;… Different powered toothbrushes for plaque control and gingival health (2010) · Cochrane | One trial (Khocht 1992) reported 'transient abrasions' in both powered toothbrush groups. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Bio-Oss (anorganic bovine bone) vs Bio-Oss + resorbable barrier Bone gain (horizontal - HDD) · Patients receiving immediate single implants in fresh extraction sockets (maxillary anterior/premolar sites) · up to 3 years Interventions for replacing missing teeth: dental implants in fresh extraction sockets (immediate,… (2010) · Cochrane | No statistically significant differences in bone gain between the two procedures for horizontal depth of the defect (HDD) (Chen 2007). | 1 study · 20 participants | Ungraded |
Mechanical debridement plus topical minocycline vs Mechanical debridement plus chlorhexidine gel Plaque · Adults with dental implants and peri-implant mucositis at baseline · 12 months Interventions for replacing missing teeth: maintaining and recovering soft tissue health around dental… (2010) · Cochrane | MD 6.00 [-9.07, 21.07] | 1 study · 32 participants | Ungraded |
Mechanical debridement with titanium curettes vs Mechanical debridement with ultrasonic device Plaque · Adults with dental implants and peri-implant mucositis at baseline · 6 months Interventions for replacing missing teeth: maintaining and recovering soft tissue health around dental… (2010) · Cochrane | MD 5.00 [-21.21, 31.21] | 1 study · 31 participants | Ungraded |
Ultrasonic powered toothbrush vs Multidimensional powered toothbrush Plaque (level reduction) · People of any age with no reported disability affecting their ability to practise normal self-toothbrushing;… · Short term (1-3 months) Different powered toothbrushes for plaque control and gingival health (2010) · Cochrane | One cross-over trial (Costa 2007) made this comparison; data were not available in a useable form. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Orthodontic treatment with appliances inducing stable, permanent orthodontic tooth movement (splints worn 8 to 12 weeks and surgical interventions excluded) vs Control: no treatment, placebo, or reassurance Adverse effects on oral health · Adults aged 18 years or older with clinically diagnosed TMD (exhibiting two or more of the listed signs and/or symptoms) · At least 6 months after the intervention Orthodontics for treating temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders (2010) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Counter oscillation powered toothbrush vs Rotation oscillation powered toothbrush Gingivitis (level reduction) · People of any age with no reported disability affecting their ability to practise normal self-toothbrushing;… · Short term (1-3 months), Adolescents Different powered toothbrushes for plaque control and gingival health (2010) · Cochrane | Trimpeneers 1997 (36 adolescents); no significant differences between counter oscillation and rotation oscillation for gingival index / bleeding index at 1 and 2 months (P values 0.06 to 0.75); data unsuitable for… | 1 study · 36 participants | Ungraded |
Multidimensional powered toothbrush vs Rotation oscillation powered toothbrush Plaque (level reduction) · People of any age with no reported disability affecting their ability to practise normal self-toothbrushing;… · Short term (1-3 months) Different powered toothbrushes for plaque control and gingival health (2010) · Cochrane | Analysis 6.1 Plaque < 3 months: 1 trial; totals not selected. The two trials making this comparison (Heasman 1999; Williams 2002) show no significant difference for plaque in the short term (1-3 months). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Sucralfate vs Placebo Mucositis eradicated · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | RR 1.13 [0.66, 1.94] | 2 studies · 84 participants | Ungraded |
Chlorhexidine mouthwash vs Salt and soda mouthwash Mucositis eradicated · People with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both) who have oral mucositis Interventions for treating oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | RR 1.10 [0.90, 1.35] | 1 study · 138 participants | Ungraded |
Listerine mouthwash vs Placebo mouthwash Plaque · Adults with dental implants and peri-implant mucositis at baseline · 3 months Interventions for replacing missing teeth: maintaining and recovering soft tissue health around dental… (2010) · Cochrane | MD -0.88 [-0.93, -0.83] | 1 study · 20 participants | Ungraded |
Oral diazepam (benzodiazepine) vs Placebo Adverse events (reported; mild, no withdrawals) · Adult patients aged >=18 years, clinically or radiographically diagnosed with TMD (McNeill 1997 criteria); moderate to… · 15 days Pharmacological interventions for pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (2010) · Cochrane | Roldan et al 1990 (diazepam) reported adverse effects. Per the review's Adverse effects of interventions section: 'All but one study (Lobo et al 2004) reported adverse effects. Most of the reported adverse effects were… | 1 study · 41 participants | Ungraded |
Oral propranolol (beta-blocker) vs Placebo Change in pain index · Adult patients aged >=18 years, clinically or radiographically diagnosed with TMD (McNeill 1997 criteria); moderate to… · 1 week per period (cross-over) Pharmacological interventions for pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (2010) · Cochrane | Tchivileva et al 2010: statistically significant difference in reduction in pain index between the propranolol treatment period and the placebo treatment period (P = 0.02). | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Non-resorbable barrier (guided bone regeneration) vs Resorbable barrier + autogenous bone Bone gain (vertical - VDH) · Patients receiving immediate single implants in fresh extraction sockets (maxillary anterior/premolar sites) · up to 2 years Interventions for replacing missing teeth: dental implants in fresh extraction sockets (immediate,… (2010) · Cochrane | All treatments resulted in statistically significant bone gain, however no statistically significant differences were found between the three procedures (Chen 2005a). Vertical height of the defect (VDH). | 1 study · 25 participants | Ungraded |
Fluconazole (absorbed from GI tract) vs Ketoconazole (absorbed from GI tract) Mycological: eradication of oral candidiasis · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | RR 0.95 [0.52, 1.72] | 1 study · 37 participants | Ungraded |
Low dose rate interstitial radiotherapy vs High dose rate interstitial radiotherapy Locoregional control · People with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (ICD-O C01-C06) or oropharynx (ICD-O C09-C10); head and… Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | HR 1.00 [0.16, 6.44] | 1 study · 59 participants | Ungraded |
Hyperfractionated/accelerated split-course radiotherapy vs Accelerated radiotherapy with concomitant boost Total mortality · People with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (ICD-O C01-C06) or oropharynx (ICD-O C09-C10); head and… Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: radiotherapy (2010) · Cochrane | Hyperfractionated/accelerated split course vs accelerated boost (Fu 1995, feasibility study, 75 participants): authors report no significant difference in total mortality; data not presented in a way that allows… | 1 study · 75 participants | Ungraded |
Oral diclofenac sodium (NSAID) vs Placebo Adverse events (reported; mild, no withdrawals) · Adult patients aged >=18 years, clinically or radiographically diagnosed with TMD (McNeill 1997 criteria); moderate to… · 2 weeks Pharmacological interventions for pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (2010) · Cochrane | Ekberg et al 1996 (diclofenac) reported adverse effects. Per the review's Adverse effects of interventions section: 'All but one study (Lobo et al 2004) reported adverse effects. Most of the reported adverse effects… | 1 study · 32 participants | Ungraded |
Side to side action powered toothbrush vs Rotation oscillation powered toothbrush Calculus · People of any age with no reported disability affecting their ability to practise normal self-toothbrushing;… · Short term (1-3 months) Different powered toothbrushes for plaque control and gingival health (2010) · Cochrane | One trial (Isaacs 1998) reported a significant reduction in lower lingual incisor calculus with rotation oscillation versus side to side in the short term (1-3 months). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Multidimensional powered toothbrush vs Side to side action powered toothbrush Gingivitis (level reduction) · People of any age with no reported disability affecting their ability to practise normal self-toothbrushing;… · Short term (1-3 months) Different powered toothbrushes for plaque control and gingival health (2010) · Cochrane | Analysis 5.2 Gingivitis < 3 months: 2 trials (Patters 2005; Zimmer 2005); considerable heterogeneity, so no statistical pooling was undertaken. | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Miconazole 50 mg tablet (partially absorbed) vs Miconazole 500 mg gel (partially absorbed) Clinical: eradication of oral candidiasis · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | RR 1.16 [0.91, 1.47] | 1 study · 282 participants | Ungraded |
Oral clonazepam (benzodiazepine) vs Placebo Participants' assessment of improvement of pain in right TMJ (VAS) · Adult patients aged >=18 years, clinically or radiographically diagnosed with TMD (McNeill 1997 criteria); moderate to… · 60 days Pharmacological interventions for pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (2010) · Cochrane | MD -0.74 [-3.14, 1.66] | 1 study · 20 participants | Ungraded |
Listerine mouthwash vs Placebo mouthwash Marginal bleeding · Adults with dental implants and peri-implant mucositis at baseline · 3 months Interventions for replacing missing teeth: maintaining and recovering soft tissue health around dental… (2010) · Cochrane | MD -0.20 [-0.25, -0.15] | 1 study · 20 participants | Ungraded |
Oral prazepam (benzodiazepine) vs Placebo No improvement in TMJ pain on external palpation · Adult patients aged >=18 years, clinically or radiographically diagnosed with TMD (McNeill 1997 criteria); moderate to… · 8 days, 5 mg prazepam Pharmacological interventions for pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders (2010) · Cochrane | RR 0.75 [0.47, 1.19] | 1 study · 83 participants | Ungraded |
Hypnosis vs Inhalation sedation with nitrous oxide and oxygen Anxiety control and overall response to treatment during tooth extraction · Children aged 10 to 16 years undergoing orthodontic extractions (Braithwaite 2005) Hypnosis for children undergoing dental treatment (2010) · Cochrane | Hypnosis did not provide sufficient anxiety control during tooth extraction, and overall response to treatment remained statistically lower than response to inhalation sedation with nitrous oxide and oxygen (i.e. the… | 1 study · 10 participants | Ungraded |
Fluconazole (absorbed from GI tract) vs Itraconazole (absorbed from GI tract) Clinical: eradication of oral candidiasis · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with overt oral candidiasis Interventions for treating oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2010) · Cochrane | RR 1.14 [1.00, 1.30] | 2 studies · 293 participants | Ungraded |