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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.
1,325 questions in 34 reviews · Oral medicine and oral cancer
current versionsNo studies 164 · 12.4%Ungraded 841 · 63.5%Very low 209 · 15.8%Low 72 · 5.4%Moderate 38 · 2.9%High 1 · 0.1%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Two-phase oil-water mouthrinse (0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride) vs Essential oils mouthrinse (Listerine) Peak volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) · Adults over 18 years with a clinical or self-assessed diagnosis of halitosis, without significant comorbidity (e.g.… · 6 weeks Mouthrinses for the treatment of halitosis (2008) · Cochrane | Kozlovsky 1996: peak VSC (ppb). Two-phase oil-water (0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride): 94 (SD 36) at baseline to 56 (SD 10) at week 6 (less than 40% reduction); Control essential oils (Listerine): 79 (SD 40) to 56 (SD… | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Systemic oral acyclovir vs Placebo or no treatment Direct costs (medication, hospital bed days) · Children and young adults under 25 years with primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (with or without herpes labialis) Acyclovir for treating primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (2008) · Cochrane | No data available in either included study. | NR | No studies |
Pericarp extract of Garcinia mangostana L mouthrinse (herbal) vs Placebo Halimeter-assessed volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) · Adults over 18 years with a clinical or self-assessed diagnosis of halitosis, without significant comorbidity (e.g.… · 15 days Mouthrinses for the treatment of halitosis (2008) · Cochrane | Rassameemasmaung 2007: halimeter-assessed VSC (ppb). Herbal (Garcinia mangostana L): 248.35 (SD 172.30) at baseline to 100.54 (SD 69.37) at day 15 (59.68% reduction, P < 0.05); Placebo: 237.45 (SD 114.15) to 176.83 (SD… | 1 study · 60 participants | Ungraded |
0.05% chlorhexidine + 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride + 0.14% zinc lactate mouthrinse vs Placebo Organoleptic assessment of halitosis (mean change from baseline) · Adults over 18 years with a clinical or self-assessed diagnosis of halitosis, without significant comorbidity (e.g.… · 2 weeks Mouthrinses for the treatment of halitosis (2008) · Cochrane | Winkel 2003 (2-week trial): mean change (SD) in organoleptic score (scale 0 to 5). 0.05% chlorhexidine + 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride + 0.14% zinc lactate: -1.13 (1.1), baseline 2.8 (0.5) to 1.5 (1.0) at day 14, P <… | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Minimal incision palatopharyngoplasty (MIPP) vs MIPP with additional individualised velopharyngeal surgery (pharyngeal flap or sphincter pharyngoplasty) Self-esteem (validated questionnaires) · Children or adolescents aged 3 years or older with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) associated with non-syndromic… Interventions for the management of submucous cleft palate (2008) · Cochrane | No data were available for this patient-reported outcome in the single included trial. | 0 studies | No studies |
Minimal incision palatopharyngoplasty (MIPP) vs MIPP with additional individualised velopharyngeal surgery (pharyngeal flap or sphincter pharyngoplasty) Instrumental assessment: velopharyngeal complete closure and gap size (videonasopharyngoscopy and multiview videofluoroscopy) · Children or adolescents aged 3 years or older with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) associated with non-syndromic… · 3 months post-operatively Interventions for the management of submucous cleft palate (2008) · Cochrane | Complete closure occurred in 32 (86%) of the participants in group 1 (MIPP) and in 31 (89%) in group 2, P > 0.05. After eliminating the nine patients with residual velopharyngeal insufficiency, the post-operative gap… | 1 study · 72 participants | Ungraded |
0.05% chlorhexidine + 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride + 0.14% zinc lactate mouthrinse vs Placebo Peak volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) (mean change from baseline) · Adults over 18 years with a clinical or self-assessed diagnosis of halitosis, without significant comorbidity (e.g.… · 2 weeks Mouthrinses for the treatment of halitosis (2008) · Cochrane | Winkel 2003: mean change (SD) in peak VSC (ppb). Mouthrinse: -120 (92), baseline 292 (141) to 172 (104) at day 14, P < 0.005; Placebo: 8 (145), baseline 352 (161) to 360 (254). The mouthrinse caused a significantly… | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Cetylpyridinium chloride + essential oils + chlorine dioxide + zinc mouthrinse (Breath Rx) vs Placebo Organoleptic assessment of halitosis (mean change from baseline) · Adults over 18 years with a clinical or self-assessed diagnosis of halitosis, without significant comorbidity (e.g.… · 4 weeks Mouthrinses for the treatment of halitosis (2008) · Cochrane | Borden 2002: mean change in organoleptic score (scale 0 to 5). Breath Rx (cetylpyridinium chloride + essential oils + chlorine dioxide + zinc): -0.52 at 2 weeks, -0.41 at 4 weeks; Placebo: 0.23 at 2 weeks, 0.16 at 4… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Chlorine dioxide + zinc mouthrinse (Oxygene) vs Placebo Organoleptic assessment of halitosis (mean change from baseline) · Adults over 18 years with a clinical or self-assessed diagnosis of halitosis, without significant comorbidity (e.g.… · 4 weeks Mouthrinses for the treatment of halitosis (2008) · Cochrane | Borden 2002: mean change in organoleptic score (scale 0 to 5). Oxygene (chlorine dioxide + zinc): 0 at 2 weeks, 0.06 at 4 weeks; Placebo: 0.23 at 2 weeks, 0.16 at 4 weeks. Oxygene did not appear to reduce organoleptic… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Systemic oral acyclovir vs Placebo or no treatment Number of individuals with eating difficulties (8 days after administration); duration of eating difficulties · Children and young adults under 25 years with primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (with or without herpes labialis) · 8 days after administration Acyclovir for treating primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (2008) · Cochrane | RR 0.14 [0.03, 0.58] | 1 study · 72 participants | Ungraded |
0.05% chlorhexidine + 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride + 0.14% zinc lactate mouthrinse vs Placebo Adverse events (tongue and tooth staining) · Adults over 18 years with a clinical or self-assessed diagnosis of halitosis, without significant comorbidity (e.g.… · 2 weeks Mouthrinses for the treatment of halitosis (2008) · Cochrane | Winkel 2003: significantly more tongue staining (P < 0.001) and tooth staining (P < 0.002) were noted with the chlorhexidine + cetylpyridinium chloride + zinc lactate mouthrinse than with placebo. | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Zinc chloride + sodium chlorite mouthrinse (TriOral) vs Control mouthrinse (containing neither zinc chloride nor sodium chlorite) Halimeter-assessed volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) · Adults over 18 years with a clinical or self-assessed diagnosis of halitosis, without significant comorbidity (e.g.… · 4 weeks Mouthrinses for the treatment of halitosis (2008) · Cochrane | Codipilly 2004: precise data could not be extracted (results presented as graph plots). Reported VSC reductions from baseline for zinc chloride + sodium chlorite (TriOral): 55% (P < 0.01) at 2 weeks and 60% (P < 0.01)… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Essential oils mouthrinse (Listerine) vs Placebo Organoleptic assessment of halitosis (mean change from baseline) · Adults over 18 years with a clinical or self-assessed diagnosis of halitosis, without significant comorbidity (e.g.… · 4 weeks Mouthrinses for the treatment of halitosis (2008) · Cochrane | Borden 2002: mean change in organoleptic score (scale 0 to 5). Essential oils (Listerine): 0.02 at 2 weeks, 0 at 4 weeks; Placebo: 0.23 at 2 weeks, 0.16 at 4 weeks. Listerine did not reduce organoleptic scores. No… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Systemic oral acyclovir vs Placebo or no treatment Number of individuals with drinking difficulties (8 days after administration); duration of drinking difficulties · Children and young adults under 25 years with primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (with or without herpes labialis) · 8 days after administration Acyclovir for treating primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (2008) · Cochrane | RR 0.11 [0.01, 0.83] | 1 study · 72 participants | Ungraded |
Systemic oral acyclovir vs Placebo or no treatment Number of individuals admitted to hospital after administration · Children and young adults under 25 years with primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (with or without herpes labialis) · After administration Acyclovir for treating primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (2008) · Cochrane | RR 0.14 [0.01, 2.67] | 1 study · 72 participants | Ungraded |
Essential oils mouthrinse (Listerine) vs Placebo Halimeter-assessed volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) (mean change from baseline) · Adults over 18 years with a clinical or self-assessed diagnosis of halitosis, without significant comorbidity (e.g.… · 4 weeks Mouthrinses for the treatment of halitosis (2008) · Cochrane | Borden 2002: mean change in halimeter-assessed VSC (ppb). Essential oils (Listerine): -43.22 at 2 weeks (48.54% reduction), -68.90 at 4 weeks (77.39% reduction); Placebo: -39.86 at 2 weeks (45.25%), -36.77 at 4 weeks… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Zinc chloride + sodium chlorite mouthrinse (TriOral) vs Control mouthrinse (containing neither zinc chloride nor sodium chlorite) Organoleptic assessment (indirect surrogate salivary organoleptic score) · Adults over 18 years with a clinical or self-assessed diagnosis of halitosis, without significant comorbidity (e.g.… · 4 weeks Mouthrinses for the treatment of halitosis (2008) · Cochrane | Codipilly 2004: only indirect surrogate salivary organoleptic scores were reported (not organoleptic breath scores); no accurate deductions could be made from the reported values. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Systemic oral acyclovir vs Placebo or no treatment Fever (duration; time to return to normal temperature) · Children and young adults under 25 years with primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (with or without herpes labialis) Acyclovir for treating primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (2008) · Cochrane | Amir 1997b: fever disappeared significantly earlier with acyclovir (median 1 day) than placebo (median 3 days); difference in median (95% CI): From 72: 1 (0.0 to 2.0); From 61: 2 (0.8 to 3.2); reported as median, not… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Zinc chloride without sodium chlorite mouthrinse (Breath Rx containing cetylpyridinium chloride) vs Control mouthrinse (containing neither zinc chloride nor sodium chlorite) Halimeter-assessed volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) · Adults over 18 years with a clinical or self-assessed diagnosis of halitosis, without significant comorbidity (e.g.… · 4 weeks Mouthrinses for the treatment of halitosis (2008) · Cochrane | Codipilly 2004: reported VSC reduction from baseline for zinc chloride minus sodium chlorite (Breath Rx containing cetylpyridinium chloride): 38% (P < 0.05) at 2 weeks, versus a control containing neither zinc chloride… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Systemic oral acyclovir vs Placebo or no treatment Patient or parental satisfaction (tolerance and acceptability of drug) · Children and young adults under 25 years with primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (with or without herpes labialis) Acyclovir for treating primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (2008) · Cochrane | Amir 1997b: no data available. Ducoulombier 1988: tolerance and acceptability of the drug was described as satisfactory, but it was unclear how this was assessed by the trialists. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Minimal incision palatopharyngoplasty (MIPP) vs MIPP with additional individualised velopharyngeal surgery (pharyngeal flap or sphincter pharyngoplasty) Adverse effect: failure of muscle fusion in the region of the cleft after surgery · Children or adolescents aged 3 years or older with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) associated with non-syndromic… Interventions for the management of submucous cleft palate (2008) · Cochrane | There were no reports of failure of muscle fusion after surgery. | 1 study · 72 participants | Ungraded |
Minimal incision palatopharyngoplasty (MIPP) vs MIPP with additional individualised velopharyngeal surgery (pharyngeal flap or sphincter pharyngoplasty) Adverse effect: unacceptable nasal resonance after repair · Children or adolescents aged 3 years or older with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) associated with non-syndromic… Interventions for the management of submucous cleft palate (2008) · Cochrane | The trial report provided no information on this adverse event; no information on adverse events or serious complications was reported. | 0 studies | No studies |
Systemic oral acyclovir vs Placebo or no treatment Adverse effects · Children and young adults under 25 years with primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (with or without herpes labialis) Acyclovir for treating primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (2008) · Cochrane | Amir 1997b: two children in each group (2 vs 2) had mild gastrointestinal symptoms that resolved spontaneously after 24 to 48 hours without a change in study treatment. Ducoulombier 1988: no significant adverse effects… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Minimal incision palatopharyngoplasty (MIPP) vs MIPP with additional individualised velopharyngeal surgery (pharyngeal flap or sphincter pharyngoplasty) Adverse effect: obstructive sleep apnoea or airway compromise · Children or adolescents aged 3 years or older with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) associated with non-syndromic… Interventions for the management of submucous cleft palate (2008) · Cochrane | The investigators stated that none of the participants reported obstructive sleep apnoea after the interventions. | 1 study · 72 participants | Ungraded |
Minimal incision palatopharyngoplasty (MIPP) vs MIPP with additional individualised velopharyngeal surgery (pharyngeal flap or sphincter pharyngoplasty) Perceptual speech assessment: residual post-operative velopharyngeal insufficiency · Children or adolescents aged 3 years or older with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) associated with non-syndromic… · 3 months post-operatively Interventions for the management of submucous cleft palate (2008) · Cochrane | Five (14%) of the participants in group 1 (MIPP) and four (11%) in group 2 had residual post-operative velopharyngeal insufficiency, P > 0.05. The report provided no details on post-operative speech assessment other… | 1 study · 72 participants | Ungraded |
Systemic oral acyclovir vs Placebo or no treatment Quality of life (assessed by a validated questionnaire) · Children and young adults under 25 years with primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (with or without herpes labialis) Acyclovir for treating primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (2008) · Cochrane | No data were available in either included study (Amir 1997b; Ducoulombier 1988). | NR | No studies |
Systemic oral acyclovir vs Placebo or no treatment Pain/discomfort (time to resolution of pain) · Children and young adults under 25 years with primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (with or without herpes labialis) Acyclovir for treating primary herpetic gingivostomatitis (2008) · Cochrane | Amir 1997b: no data available. Ducoulombier 1988: time to resolution of pain, acyclovir (1 day=1, 2 days=1, 3 days=3, 4 days=3, 5 days=1, persistent=0) vs placebo (1 day=0, 2 days=0, 3 days=1, 4 days=2, 5 days=4,… | 1 study · 18 participants | Ungraded |
Antifungal drugs partially absorbed from GI tract (miconazole, clotrimazole) vs Placebo or no treatment Systemic fungal infection · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 2.27 [0.23, 22.56] | 1 study · 32 participants | Ungraded |
Antifungal drugs not absorbed from GI tract vs Placebo or no treatment Oral candidiasis (present) · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 0.69 [0.47, 1.01] | 8 studies · 382 participants | Ungraded |
Amphotericin B vs Placebo or no treatment Oral candidiasis (present) · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 0.46 [0.18, 1.23] | 2 studies · 48 participants | Ungraded |
Itraconazole vs Fluconazole Empirical antifungal treatment · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 0.5 [0.05, 5.43] | 1 study · 202 participants | Ungraded |
Antifungal drugs absorbed from GI tract (fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole) vs Placebo or no treatment Systemic fungal infection · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 0.65 [0.37, 1.14] | 6 studies · 1041 participants | Ungraded |
Antifungal drugs absorbed from GI tract (fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole) vs Placebo or no treatment Relief of dysphagia · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | No trial reported this planned secondary outcome for any comparison in this review | NR | No studies |
Antifungal drugs absorbed from GI tract (fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole) vs Placebo or no treatment Empirical antifungal treatment · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 0.85 [0.73, 0.99] | 2 studies · 465 participants | Ungraded |
Chlorhexidine vs Placebo or no treatment Oral candidiasis (present) · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 0.59 [0.19, 1.83] | 3 studies · 115 participants | Ungraded |
Itraconazole vs Fluconazole Oral candidiasis (present) · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | 1 study (Huijgens 1999); no evidence of a difference; single-study total not pooled | 1 study | Ungraded |
Antifungal drugs absorbed from GI tract (fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole) vs Placebo or no treatment Cost of oral care · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | No trial reported this planned secondary outcome for any comparison in this review | NR | No studies |
Antifungal drugs absorbed from GI tract (fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole) vs Placebo or no treatment Good compliance · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 1.06 [0.89, 1.27] | 2 studies · 615 participants | Ungraded |
Norfloxacin plus amphotericin B vs Amphotericin B Oral candidiasis (present) · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 0.38 [0.15, 1.0] | 1 study · 106 participants | Ungraded |
Antifungal drugs absorbed from GI tract (fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole) vs Placebo or no treatment Duration of stay in hospital (days) · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | No trial reported this planned secondary outcome for any comparison in this review | NR | No studies |
Antifungal drugs partially absorbed from GI tract (miconazole, clotrimazole) vs Placebo or no treatment Toxicity (adverse events probably due to drug) · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | 2 studies, 60 participants; effect not estimable (no events reported) | 2 studies · 60 participants | Ungraded |
Chlorhexidine vs Chlorhexidine plus nystatin Oral candidiasis (present) · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 1.62 [0.64, 4.1] | 1 study · 52 participants | Ungraded |
Antifungal drugs absorbed from GI tract (fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole) vs Placebo or no treatment Death associated with fungal infection · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 1.44 [0.14, 15.43] | 3 studies · 718 participants | Ungraded |
Itraconazole vs Fluconazole Systemic fungal infection · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 1.0 [0.26, 3.89] | 1 study · 202 participants | Ungraded |
Ketoconazole 400 mg vs Ketoconazole 200 mg Oral candidiasis (present) · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | 1 study (Scrimgeour 1985); no patient experienced oral candidiasis, not estimable | 1 study | Ungraded |
Antifungal drugs absorbed from GI tract (fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole) vs Placebo or no treatment Patient quality of life · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | No trial reported this planned secondary outcome for any comparison in this review | NR | No studies |
Thymostimulin vs Placebo or no treatment Oral candidiasis (present) · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 0.4 [0.12, 1.32] | 1 study · 35 participants | Ungraded |
Antifungal drugs absorbed from GI tract vs Antifungal drugs not absorbed from GI tract Empirical antifungal treatment · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 0.89 [0.68, 1.16] | 4 studies · 1031 participants | Ungraded |
Itraconazole vs Fluconazole Toxicity (adverse events probably due to drug) · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | 2 studies, 232 participants; effect not estimable | 2 studies · 232 participants | Ungraded |
Norfloxacin plus amphotericin B vs Amphotericin B Systemic fungal infection · Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both Interventions for preventing oral candidiasis for patients with cancer receiving treatment (2007) · Cochrane | RR 0.67 [0.2, 2.23] | 1 study · 106 participants | Ungraded |