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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.
793 questions in 32 reviews · Periodontology
current versionsNo studies 148 · 18.7%Ungraded 429 · 54.1%Very low 137 · 17.3%Low 53 · 6.7%Moderate 14 · 1.8%High 12 · 1.5%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) applied after subgingival instrumentation (SI) vs Subgingival instrumentation (SI) alone (hand or power-driven, or both), or SI plus placebo/sham aPDT Change in gingival recession (REC) · Adults (> 18 years) with recurrent periodontitis, receiving supportive (maintenance) periodontal care · 6 months (change from baseline) Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for treating periodontal and peri‐implant diseases (2024) · Cochrane | MD -0.20 [-0.48, 0.08] | 1 study · 24 participants | Very low |
Postoperative systemic antibiotics (phenoxymethylpenicillin/penicillin VK, 7-day course), partial or total chemo-mechanical debridement and analgesics vs Matched placebo, partial or total chemo-mechanical debridement and analgesics Percussion pain at 72 hours · Adults with a symptomatic necrotic tooth or localised acute apical abscess (no signs of spreading infection or… · 72 hours Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults (2024) · Cochrane | MD 0.05 [-0.55, 0.65] | 1 study · 41 participants | Ungraded |
High salivary S. mutans level vs Lower salivary S. mutans level Sites with attachment loss greater than 3 mm · Humans with salivary S. mutans measured · Overall Association between periodontitis and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 0.74 [0.35, 1.60] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) applied after subgingival instrumentation (SI) vs Subgingival instrumentation (SI) alone (hand or power-driven, or both), or SI plus placebo/sham aPDT Pocket closure · Adults (> 18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of periodontitis, receiving active (non-surgical anti-infective) treatment · 6 months (change from baseline) Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for treating periodontal and peri‐implant diseases (2024) · Cochrane | No studies measured this outcome at 6 months (SoF row labeled 'Change in pocket depth from baseline to 6 months after initial treatment'). | NR | No studies |
Number of missing teeth (per additional tooth) vs One fewer missing tooth Oral cancer (OC) · Adults in case-control studies of oral cancer · Not specified, Missing teeth (per tooth) Periodontitis and the risk of oral cancer: a meta-analysis of case-control studies. (2024) | OR 0.96 [0.92, 1.01] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Salivary Actinobacillus level (high) vs Not specified Salivary S. mutans level · Humans with salivary bacteria measured · Overall Association between periodontitis and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 2.39 [1.00, 5.71] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Periodontitis vs No periodontitis (periodontal health or gingivitis) Mixed-type caries (crown and root) · Adults · Mixed-type caries Association between periodontitis and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 3.40 [3.10, 3.73] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Periodontitis vs No periodontitis High salivary P. gingivalis (over 10^4 CFU/ml) · Adults · Overall Association between periodontitis and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 3.38 [1.46, 7.83] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Oral cancer patients (cases) vs Healthy controls DMFT index in OC cases vs controls · Adults in case-control studies (oral cancer patients vs healthy controls) · Not specified, DMFT (decayed, missing, filled teeth) Periodontitis and the risk of oral cancer: a meta-analysis of case-control studies. (2024) | SMD 0.65 [0.12, 1.18] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) applied after submucosal instrumentation (SI) vs Submucosal instrumentation (SI) alone, or SI plus placebo/sham aPDT Change in probing depth (PD/PPD) · Adults (> 18 years) with peri-implant mucositis, receiving active treatment · 3 months (change from baseline) Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for treating periodontal and peri‐implant diseases (2024) · Cochrane | MD -0.10 [-0.57, 0.37] | 1 study · 38 participants | Ungraded |
Cleft lip and palate vs No cleft lip and palate Lactobacillus spp. mean levels/counts · Children and adolescents aged 0 to 18 years with nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate Characterization of the oral microbiota and the relationship of the oral microbiota with the dental and… (2024) | MD 1.40 [1.33, 1.47] | 2 studies · 152 participants | Ungraded |
Oral cancer patients (cases) vs Healthy controls Mean number of missing teeth in OC cases vs controls · Adults in case-control studies (oral cancer patients vs healthy controls) · Not specified, Missing teeth (mean count) Periodontitis and the risk of oral cancer: a meta-analysis of case-control studies. (2024) | SMD 0.59 [-0.04, 1.22] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Decayed, missing, filled surfaces (DMFS) · Percentage of sites with CAL >=3 mm (tertiles); single study (Robert 2019); adjusted Association between periodontitis and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 1.03 [1.00, 1.05] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Postoperative systemic antibiotics (phenoxymethylpenicillin/penicillin VK, 7-day course), partial or total chemo-mechanical debridement and analgesics vs Matched placebo, partial or total chemo-mechanical debridement and analgesics Swelling at 72 hours · Adults with a symptomatic necrotic tooth or localised acute apical abscess (no signs of spreading infection or… · 72 hours Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults (2024) · Cochrane | SMD 0.02 [-0.49, 0.52] | 2 studies · 61 participants | Very low |
Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) applied after submucosal instrumentation (SI) vs Submucosal instrumentation (SI) alone, or SI plus placebo/sham aPDT Outcome NR · Adults (> 18 years) with peri-implantitis, receiving supportive treatment Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for treating periodontal and peri‐implant diseases (2024) · Cochrane | Planned comparison; no studies met the inclusion criteria. The review found only one study of peri-implant disease (peri-implant mucositis, active treatment) and no studies including people with peri-implantitis… | NR | No studies |
Single preoperative dose of systemic antibiotics (clindamycin 600 mg), total chemo-mechanical debridement and root filling vs Matched placebo, total chemo-mechanical debridement and root filling Analgesic use · Adults with symptomatic apical periodontitis (no signs of spreading infection or systemic involvement) · 7 days Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults (2024) · Cochrane | RR 0.87 [0.48, 1.55] | 1 study · 72 participants | Ungraded |
More than 15 missing teeth vs 15 or fewer missing teeth Oral cancer risk · People with and without more than 15 missing teeth · Missing teeth >15 Periodontitis and the risk of oral cancer: a meta-analysis of case-control studies. (2024) | OR 1.91 [1.01, 3.62] | 5 studies | Ungraded |
Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) applied after submucosal instrumentation (SI) vs Submucosal instrumentation (SI) alone, or SI plus placebo/sham aPDT Patient satisfaction · Adults (> 18 years) with peri-implant mucositis, receiving active treatment Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for treating periodontal and peri‐implant diseases (2024) · Cochrane | Only one study reported evidence for adjunctive aPDT in people with peri-implant disease (Al Rifaiy 2022). Data were only available for two outcomes (PPD and BOP), both reported only at three months. No studies… | NR | No studies |
Intervention NR Decayed surfaces (DS) · Percentage of sites with CAL >=3 mm (tertiles); single study (Robert 2019); adjusted Association between periodontitis and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 1.12 [1.00, 1.25] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Postoperative systemic antibiotics (phenoxymethylpenicillin/penicillin VK, 7-day course), partial or total chemo-mechanical debridement and analgesics vs Matched placebo, partial or total chemo-mechanical debridement and analgesics Percussion pain at 7 days · Adults with a symptomatic necrotic tooth or localised acute apical abscess (no signs of spreading infection or… · 7 days Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults (2024) · Cochrane | MD 0.06 [-0.29, 0.41] | 1 study · 41 participants | Ungraded |
Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) applied after subgingival instrumentation (SI) vs Subgingival instrumentation (SI) alone (hand or power-driven, or both), or SI plus placebo/sham aPDT Change in gingival recession (REC) · Adults (> 18 years) with recurrent periodontitis, receiving supportive (maintenance) periodontal care · 3 months (change from baseline) Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for treating periodontal and peri‐implant diseases (2024) · Cochrane | MD -0.01 [-0.27, 0.25] | 2 studies · 37 participants | Ungraded |
Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) applied after subgingival instrumentation (SI) vs Subgingival instrumentation (SI) alone (hand or power-driven, or both), or SI plus placebo/sham aPDT Quality of life · Adults (> 18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of periodontitis, receiving active (non-surgical anti-infective) treatment Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for treating periodontal and peri‐implant diseases (2024) · Cochrane | No studies reported data for this outcome. | NR | No studies |
Missing teeth / tooth loss vs Fewer or no missing teeth Oral cancer (OC) · Adults in case-control studies of oral cancer · Not specified, Overall (all missing-teeth measures pooled) Periodontitis and the risk of oral cancer: a meta-analysis of case-control studies. (2024) | OR 1.20 [0.97, 1.48] | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Cariogenic microbiota counts (Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus spp.) · Narrative synthesis: significantly higher in CLP vs controls (Ahluwalia, Lucas, Hassani, Cheng, Sundell) Characterization of the oral microbiota and the relationship of the oral microbiota with the dental and… (2024) | no estimate extracted | 5 studies | Ungraded |
Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) applied after submucosal instrumentation (SI) vs Submucosal instrumentation (SI) alone, or SI plus placebo/sham aPDT Any adverse effect related to aPDT · Adults (> 18 years) with peri-implant mucositis, receiving active treatment Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for treating periodontal and peri‐implant diseases (2024) · Cochrane | Only one study reported evidence for adjunctive aPDT in people with peri-implant disease (Al Rifaiy 2022). Data were only available for two outcomes (PPD and BOP), both reported only at three months. No studies… | NR | No studies |
Salivary F. nucleatum level vs Not specified Salivary S. mutans level · Humans with salivary bacteria measured · Overall Association between periodontitis and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 6.03 [1.55, 23.45] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Oral cancer (OC) · Sensitivity analysis: excluding Moraes et al. [34] Periodontitis and the risk of oral cancer: a meta-analysis of case-control studies. (2024) | OR 2.63 [1.92, 3.62] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Postoperative systemic antibiotics (phenoxymethylpenicillin/penicillin VK, 7-day course), partial or total chemo-mechanical debridement and analgesics vs Matched placebo, partial or total chemo-mechanical debridement and analgesics Adverse effects · Adults with a symptomatic necrotic tooth or localised acute apical abscess (no signs of spreading infection or… · 3 days Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults (2024) · Cochrane | 1 participant reported diarrhoea (placebo group); 1 participant reported fatigue and reduced energy postoperatively (antibiotic group). 61 participants (2 studies). | 2 studies · 61 participants | Very low |
Periodontitis vs No periodontitis (periodontal health or gingivitis) Dental caries (prevalence) · Adults · Crude OR Association between periodontitis and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 1.69 [1.41, 2.01] | 8 studies | Ungraded |
Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) applied after subgingival instrumentation (SI) vs Subgingival instrumentation (SI) alone (hand or power-driven, or both), or SI plus placebo/sham aPDT Change in bleeding on probing (BOP) · Adults (> 18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of periodontitis, receiving active (non-surgical anti-infective) treatment · 3 months (change from baseline) Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for treating periodontal and peri‐implant diseases (2024) · Cochrane | MD 2.19 [1.00, 3.38] | 11 studies · 282 participants | Ungraded |
Single preoperative dose of systemic antibiotics (clindamycin 600 mg), total chemo-mechanical debridement and root filling vs Matched placebo, total chemo-mechanical debridement and root filling Pain at 72 hours · Adults with symptomatic apical periodontitis (no signs of spreading infection or systemic involvement) · 72 hours Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults (2024) · Cochrane | The median pain at 72 hours in the control group was 0 (range 0 to 10); the median pain at 72 hours in the intervention group was the same (median 0, range 0 to 7). P = 0.116 (Mann-Whitney U). | 1 study · 72 participants | Low |
Systemic antibiotics without surgical intervention (with or without analgesics) vs Matched placebo without surgical intervention (with or without analgesics) Outcome NR · Adults with symptomatic apical periodontitis or acute apical abscess Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults (2024) · Cochrane | We found no studies comparing systemic antibiotics versus a matched placebo provided without a surgical intervention. | 0 studies | No studies |
Periodontitis vs No periodontitis (periodontal health or gingivitis) Dental caries (prevalence) · Adults · Female Association between periodontitis and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 1.36 [0.74, 2.49] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) applied after subgingival instrumentation (SI) vs Subgingival instrumentation (SI) alone (hand or power-driven, or both), or SI plus placebo/sham aPDT Pocket closure · Adults (> 18 years) with recurrent periodontitis, receiving supportive (maintenance) periodontal care · 3 months (change from baseline) Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for treating periodontal and peri‐implant diseases (2024) · Cochrane | Three studies evaluated the proportion of closed pockets three months after treatment (Campos 2013; Grzech-Lesniak 2019; Ruhling 2010); studies used different criteria to measure this outcome. All studies reported an… | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Postoperative systemic antibiotics (phenoxymethylpenicillin/penicillin VK, 7-day course), partial or total chemo-mechanical debridement and analgesics vs Matched placebo, partial or total chemo-mechanical debridement and analgesics Pain at 7 days · Adults with a symptomatic necrotic tooth or localised acute apical abscess (no signs of spreading infection or… · 7 days Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults (2024) · Cochrane | MD -0.05 [-0.41, 0.30] | 1 study · 41 participants | Very low |
Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) applied after subgingival instrumentation (SI) vs Subgingival instrumentation (SI) alone (hand or power-driven, or both), or SI plus placebo/sham aPDT Quality of life · Adults (> 18 years) with recurrent periodontitis, receiving supportive (maintenance) periodontal care Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for treating periodontal and peri‐implant diseases (2024) · Cochrane | No studies reported data for this outcome. | NR | No studies |
Single preoperative dose of systemic antibiotics (clindamycin 600 mg), total chemo-mechanical debridement and root filling vs Matched placebo, total chemo-mechanical debridement and root filling Swelling at 72 hours · Adults with symptomatic apical periodontitis (no signs of spreading infection or systemic involvement) · 72 hours Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults (2024) · Cochrane | No data available for this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Intervention NR Decayed surfaces (DS) · Periodontal disease severity (CDC-AAP); single study (Robert 2019); adjusted Association between periodontitis and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 1.18 [1.05, 1.32] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) applied after subgingival instrumentation (SI) vs Subgingival instrumentation (SI) alone (hand or power-driven, or both), or SI plus placebo/sham aPDT Change in probing pocket depth (PPD) · Adults (> 18 years) with recurrent periodontitis, receiving supportive (maintenance) periodontal care · 3 months (change from baseline) Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for treating periodontal and peri‐implant diseases (2024) · Cochrane | MD 0.44 [-0.20, 1.08] | 6 studies · 244 participants | Ungraded |
Postoperative systemic antibiotics (phenoxymethylpenicillin/penicillin VK, 7-day course), partial or total chemo-mechanical debridement and analgesics vs Matched placebo, partial or total chemo-mechanical debridement and analgesics Percussion pain at 48 hours · Adults with a symptomatic necrotic tooth or localised acute apical abscess (no signs of spreading infection or… · 48 hours Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults (2024) · Cochrane | MD 0.09 [-0.44, 0.62] | 1 study · 41 participants | Ungraded |
Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) applied after subgingival instrumentation (SI) vs Subgingival instrumentation (SI) alone (hand or power-driven, or both), or SI plus placebo/sham aPDT Change in gingival recession (REC) · Adults (> 18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of periodontitis, receiving active (non-surgical anti-infective) treatment · 6 months (change from baseline) Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for treating periodontal and peri‐implant diseases (2024) · Cochrane | MD 0.00 [-0.16, 0.16] | 4 studies · 95 participants | Very low |
Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) applied after submucosal instrumentation (SI) vs Submucosal instrumentation (SI) alone, or SI plus placebo/sham aPDT Pocket closure · Adults (> 18 years) with peri-implant mucositis, receiving active treatment Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for treating periodontal and peri‐implant diseases (2024) · Cochrane | Only one study reported evidence for adjunctive aPDT in people with peri-implant disease (Al Rifaiy 2022). Data were only available for two outcomes (PPD and BOP), both reported only at three months. No studies… | NR | No studies |
Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) applied after subgingival instrumentation (SI) vs Subgingival instrumentation (SI) alone (hand or power-driven, or both), or SI plus placebo/sham aPDT Change in probing pocket depth (PPD) · Adults (> 18 years) with recurrent periodontitis, receiving supportive (maintenance) periodontal care · 6 months (change from baseline) Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for treating periodontal and peri‐implant diseases (2024) · Cochrane | MD -0.04 [-0.19, 0.10] | 3 studies · 125 participants | Very low |
Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) applied after subgingival instrumentation (SI) vs Subgingival instrumentation (SI) alone (hand or power-driven, or both), or SI plus placebo/sham aPDT Patient satisfaction · Adults (> 18 years) with recurrent periodontitis, receiving supportive (maintenance) periodontal care Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for treating periodontal and peri‐implant diseases (2024) · Cochrane | No studies reported data for this outcome. | NR | No studies |
Periodontitis vs No periodontitis High salivary S. mutans (over 10^4 CFU/ml) · Adults · Overall Association between periodontitis and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 0.82 [0.44, 1.51] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) applied after subgingival instrumentation (SI) vs Subgingival instrumentation (SI) alone (hand or power-driven, or both), or SI plus placebo/sham aPDT Change in clinical attachment level (CAL) · Adults (> 18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of periodontitis, receiving active (non-surgical anti-infective) treatment · 6 months (change from baseline) Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for treating periodontal and peri‐implant diseases (2024) · Cochrane | MD 0.44 [0.24, 0.64] | 13 studies · 414 participants | Very low |
Periodontal therapy (scaling and root planing), post-treatment vs Pre-treatment High-level S. mutans (over 10^4 CFU/ml) · Periodontitis patients · Post-treatment, Overall Association between periodontitis and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 1.54 [0.47, 5.02] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) applied after subgingival instrumentation (SI) vs Subgingival instrumentation (SI) alone (hand or power-driven, or both), or SI plus placebo/sham aPDT Change in gingival recession (REC) · Adults (> 18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of periodontitis, receiving active (non-surgical anti-infective) treatment · 3 months (change from baseline) Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for treating periodontal and peri‐implant diseases (2024) · Cochrane | MD -0.01 [-0.06, 0.05] | 13 studies · 284 participants | Ungraded |
Periodontitis vs No periodontitis (periodontal health or gingivitis) Dental caries (prevalence) · Adults · Overall Association between periodontitis and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 1.57 [1.20, 2.07] | 10 studies | Ungraded |
Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) applied after subgingival instrumentation (SI) vs Subgingival instrumentation (SI) alone (hand or power-driven, or both), or SI plus placebo/sham aPDT Change in clinical attachment level (CAL) · Adults (> 18 years) with recurrent periodontitis, receiving supportive (maintenance) periodontal care · 3 months (change from baseline) Adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for treating periodontal and peri‐implant diseases (2024) · Cochrane | MD 0.07 [-0.21, 0.36] | 5 studies · 204 participants | Ungraded |