What do systematic reviews say?

Beta-glucan (1.3/1.6 beta-glucan 10 mg twice daily for 20 days) vs placebo

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  20 days
  There was no reporting of adverse effects.
  1 study · 31 participants
  GRADE not reported

Metronidazole gel 25% (local antibiotic) vs Ultrasonic debridement

Metronidazole gel 25% (local antibiotic) showed no clear difference in change in probing pocket depth compared with ultrasonic debridement; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for replacing missing teeth: treatment of peri‐implantitis 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  12 weeks
  After 12 weeks there was no statistically significant difference in PPD changes.
  1 study · 27 participants
  GRADE not reported

Individually designed, patient-centred preventive programme: dietary counselling (snacking timing, regular meals, fermentable carbohydrates) plus toothbrushing counselling, delivered by trained dental hygienists (a multi-intervention) vs Basic prevention offered as standard in public dental clinics

• One‐to‐one dietary interventions undertaken in a dental setting to change dietary behaviour 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  2 to 4 years
  Table 2: 77% (193) versus 75% (185) at follow-up (baseline 71% versus 69%). No significant change.
  1 study · 497 participants
  GRADE not reported

Levamisole 50 mg three times per day for days 1 and 2 vs Levamisole 50 mg three times per day for day 1 and placebo for day 2 (lower dose)

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  16 weeks
  Two patients in each group reported unwanted effects.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

LongoVital (herbal plus vitamin component) vs placebo

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 months
  Forty patients were randomised to receive LongoVital (herbal plus vitamin) or placebo (Kolseth 2005). Data presented as medians with 95% confidence intervals, unsuitable for further analysis. The authors report no…
  1 study · 40 participants
  GRADE not reported

Glass ionomer (GIC) permanent cement vs Zinc phosphate cement

• Interventions for replacing missing teeth: partially absent dentition 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No difference in post-operative hypersensitivity, tooth vitality, prosthesis retention, and secondary caries; paired data not provided in the correct form; trial at high risk of bias (narrative)
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Bee propolis (one 500 mg capsule per day) vs placebo

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 months (minimum)
  The authors report a statistically significant difference in the reduction of outbreaks based on the difference between expected and observed number of ulcers (Fisher's exact test, one sided, P=0.04).
  1 study · 19 participants
  GRADE not reported

Betamethasone (systemic corticosteroid) vs Placebo or no treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Table 1 (Systemic agents used in the management of aphthous stomatitis): 'Studies of these corticosteroids were not found or included in the review but are included here for completeness. They are not given orally for…
  0 studies
  No studies found

Extraction of the primary maxillary canine plus cervical pull headgear vs no intervention

• Extraction of primary (baby) teeth for unerupted palatally displaced permanent canine teeth in children 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  At least 6 months follow-up after the intervention
  Narrative (not pooled, not GRADE-rated). Leonardi 2004: successful eruption 80% with extraction plus cervical pull headgear, significantly higher than the untreated control group (Chi2 14.9; P<0.01). Baccetti 2008: the…
  2 studies · 81 participants
  GRADE not reported

Fluticasone propionate spray vs Betamethasone sodium phosphate mouthwash

• Interventions for erosive lichen planus affecting mucosal sites 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  In the Hegarty 2002 cross-over trial (n=22), no statistical testing of the pain score (VAS 0 to 100) was reported; it is not clear whether the difference is statistically significant (fluticasone mean score 19.8 versus…
  1 study · 22 participants
  GRADE not reported

Chlorhexidine 0.2% vs Normal saline

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

Individualised homeopathic medicine (two doses over 24 hours) vs placebo

Individualised homeopathic medicine (two doses over 24 hours) led to higher complete ulcer healing by end of study (day 6) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 days
  RR 2.00 [1.39, 2.89]
  1 study · 100 participants
  GRADE not reported

Dietary counselling tailored to a Stage of Change (Transtheoretical Model) to increase fruit and vegetable intake (two counselling sessions) vs usual care

• One‐to‐one dietary interventions undertaken in a dental setting to change dietary behaviour 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 weeks after receiving replacement dentures (about 10 weeks after baseline)
  Mean (SD) g/day (Table 1): vegetables - intervention 157 (73) to 224 (109); control 168 (83) to 175 (91). No significant between-group change in vegetable consumption.
  1 study · 58 participants
  GRADE not reported

Nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (Ostim) vs Bovine-derived xenograft (Bio-Oss) plus resorbable barrier

• Interventions for replacing missing teeth: treatment of peri‐implantitis 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 months
  No implant failure occurred in any of the groups.
  1 study · 22 participants
  GRADE not reported

LongoVital (herbal plus vitamin component) vs LongoVital (herbal component alone)

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 months
  A single trial at high risk of bias (Kolseth 2005) randomised participants to the herbal component of LongoVital alone or LongoVital with herbal plus vitamin component. Data presented as medians with 95% CIs,…
  1 study · 40 participants
  GRADE not reported

LongoVital (herbal plus vitamin component) vs placebo

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 months
  Reported adverse events were minor and evenly distributed between the groups.
  1 study · 40 participants
  GRADE not reported

Multivitamin vs placebo

Daily multivitamin showed no clear difference in mean number of new lesions compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Systemic interventions for recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers) 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD -0.41 [-1.85, 1.03]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Tooth/implant FDP with rigid connectors vs Tooth/implant FDP with non-rigid connectors

• Interventions for replacing missing teeth: partially absent dentition 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  5 years
  No significant differences between the two types of connectors with regard to prosthesis survival or crestal bone loss at 5 years (narrative)
  1 study · 42 participants
  GRADE not reported

HAART regimen + topical treatment vs HAART alone

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Topical treatments for HIV‐related oral ulcers 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No studies were included in this review. A total of 233 abstracts were retrieved; 25 were selected as potentially eligible but all were excluded (10 reported systemic rather than topical treatment; 3 non‐RCTs; 6…
  0 studies
  No studies found

Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% vs Sodium hypochlorite 5.25% with hydrogen peroxide 3%

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found