What do systematic reviews say?

2 mm titanium plates vs 2.5 mm bioresorbable plates

2 mm titanium plates showed no clear difference in malocclusion compared with 2.5 mm bioresorbable plates; GRADE not reported.

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

  1 month
  RR 1.1 [0.32, 3.82]
  1 study · 40 participants
  GRADE not reported

Transbuccal miniplate combined with intraoral approach vs Intraoral approach alone

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

  Angle of mandible only
  The investigators reported that no patients were "recorded as having an unsatisfactory scar", but it was unclear how, when and by whom the assessments were made.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Two miniplates (transbuccal approach) vs One miniplate plus two screws (intraoral approach at external oblique ridge)

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

  Angle of mandible only
  Facial scarring, as a result of access through the transbuccal route, occurred in two participants in the two-miniplate group (Siddiqui 2007).
  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

  15-year follow-up
  Across the four cycles (15 years), the reported sensitivity of the visual examination in detecting oral cancer was 67.4% (188/279). No information on the specificity or the positive predictive value of the programme…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

2 mm titanium plates vs 2.5 mm bioresorbable plates

• Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Plate removal was statistically more likely in the titanium group (Fisher's exact P<0.05); infection led to plate removal in one titanium participant at 2 months and a further 4/21 (19%) titanium participants (six…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Intraoral distalising appliance vs Headgear (extraoral appliance)

• Orthodontic treatment for distalising upper first molars in children and adolescents 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Duration of treatment (to end of molar distalisation) reported by 3 studies (120 participants); not GRADE-rated and not in a SoF table. Bondemark 2005: intraoral appliance with superelastic coils 5.2 months (SD 1) vs…
  3 studies · 120 participants
  GRADE not reported

Locking plate vs 2 mm non-locking titanium plates

• Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Only Collins 2004 provided data: 6/122 participants had minor complications (three in each group); five required surgical removal of the locking plates and one post-operative malocclusion was managed with elastic…
  1 study · 122 participants
  GRADE not reported

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

Triclosan/copolymer-containing fluoride toothpaste showed no clear difference in adverse effects (tooth staining, Meckel Stain Score, 6 months) compared with fluoride toothpaste without triclosan; GRADE not reported.

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

  6 months
  MD -0.15 [-0.60, 0.30]
  1 study · 325 participants
  GRADE not reported

Two lag screws vs One lag screw (with arch bars and IMF)

• Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Three participants in the two-lag-screws group experienced complications: malocclusion (one) and mental-nerve paraesthesia (two, resolved after 3 months). There were no post-operative complications in the one-lag-screw…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Zygomatic implants without bone grafts (as a complete alternative to any bone augmentation procedure) vs Conventional dental implants in augmented maxillae

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for replacing missing teeth: dental implants in zygomatic bone for the rehabilitation of the severely… 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  At least 1 year in function
  Results (Effects of interventions): we could not identify any eligible randomised controlled trials (RCTs).
  0 studies
  No studies found

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

• Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Jain 2010 (3D group): segmental mobility (two), proximity to mental nerve or roots (two), radiologically unsatisfactory reduction (one) and unsatisfactory fixation (four) vs one (standard); only fixation differed…
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Different etching materials (phosphoric acid, polyacrylic acid, maleic acid, etc.), acid concentrations or etching times vs An alternative etching material, concentration or etching time

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Enamel etching for bonding fixed orthodontic braces 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  We identified no eligible trial that examined the effects of conventional etchants with respect to different etching concentrations or etching times for the bonding of fixed orthodontic appliances. No eligible RCTs…
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Intraoperative Rapid IMF vs Eyelet wire ties

Intraoperative Rapid IMF showed no clear difference in intraoperative complications compared with eyelet wire ties; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for the management of mandibular fractures 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 2.6 [1.0, 7.0]
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interdental brushing for the prevention and control of periodontal diseases and dental caries in adults 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Not estimable. No included study assessed quality of life as an outcome. (See comment)
  0 studies
  No studies found

Capitation remuneration vs Fee-for-service remuneration

Capitation remuneration showed no clear difference in patient outcomes: mean number of filled teeth per 0- to 15-year-old compared with fee-for-service remuneration (low certainty).

• The effect of different methods of remuneration on the behaviour of primary care dentists 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 years · Commuter suburb community
  MD -0.03
  1 study · 2250 participants
  Low
• The effect of different methods of remuneration on the behaviour of primary care dentists 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 years · Scottish community
  MD -0.28
  1 study · 2250 participants
  Low
• The effect of different methods of remuneration on the behaviour of primary care dentists 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 years · Northern urban community
  MD -0.18
  1 study · 2250 participants
  Low

Electrostimulation (device) vs Placebo (sham/placebo device)

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Wong 2003 stated 'no adverse effects were caused by Codetron'; Steller 1988 and Talal 1992 did not mention whether adverse effects occurred
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

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

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Primary school‐based behavioural interventions for preventing caries 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No study reported any adverse events.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Pre-radiotherapy dental extraction vs Post-radiotherapy dental extraction

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

Intraoral distalising appliance vs Another (different) intraoral distalising appliance

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Orthodontic treatment for distalising upper first molars in children and adolescents 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Adverse effects were not reported by these studies.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Prophylactic systemic antibiotics (amoxicillin) vs placebo or no antibiotic

Prophylactic systemic antibiotics (amoxicillin) showed no clear difference in prosthesis failure compared with no antibiotics or placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for replacing missing teeth: antibiotics at dental implant placement to prevent complications 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 to 5 months
  RR 0.44 [0.19, 1.00]
  5 studies · 1107 participants
  GRADE not reported