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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Light vibrational forces (LVF) vs Conventional orthodontic appliance treatment (placebo or no adjunct) Patient perception of pain and discomfort (VAS 0 to 100 mm), immediately after ligation of initial archwire · Adolescents and adults with malocclusion undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed or removable appliances · Immediately after ligation of initial archwire (also 4-8h, 1, 3, 7 days) Non‐surgical adjunctive interventions for accelerating tooth movement in patients undergoing orthodontic… (2023) · Cochrane | MD 2.56 [-2.35, 7.47] | 3 studies · 153 participants | Low |
Tooth location Pulp necrosis incidence · Vital teeth · Cheung et al. 2005 mandibular posterior Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023) | Proportion 6.1 | 1 study | Ungraded |
Surgery plus radiotherapy vs Radiotherapy alone Disease-free survival · Adults with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane | Disease-free survival: not reported. | 0 studies | No studies |
Calcium hydroxide (CH) vs Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) Dentin bridge formation · Patients with carious pulp exposure in permanent teeth undergoing partial pulpotomy · ≥6 months follow-up Comparative efficacy of materials used in patients undergoing pulpotomy or direct pulp capping in carious… (2023) | Four RCTs compared CH with MTA for dentin bridge formation (all used partial pulpotomy; all at low risk of bias except Qudeimat 2007). Apart from Wei 2010, trials yielded implausibly large ORs with very wide 95% CIs;… | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Calcium hydroxide (CH) vs Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) Clinical and radiographic success (composite) · Patients with carious pulp exposure in immature permanent teeth · ≥6 months; follow-up range 1-2 years, Root maturation: immature Comparative efficacy of materials used in patients undergoing pulpotomy or direct pulp capping in carious… (2023) | OR 2.22 [0.13, 36.67] | 2 studies · 106 participants | Very low |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Pang,2021 [19]; model performance 2 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR+ 1.48 [1.20, 1.82] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Root caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Ritter,2016 [22]; model performance 5 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR+ 2.04 [1.49, 2.81] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Root caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Ritter,2016 [22]; model performance 2 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR− 0.36 [0.23, 0.56] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Calcium hydroxide (CH) vs Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) Clinical and radiographic success (composite) · Patients with carious pulp exposure in permanent teeth undergoing direct pulp capping (DPC) · ≥6 months; follow-up range 1-3 years, Treatment performed: DPC Comparative efficacy of materials used in patients undergoing pulpotomy or direct pulp capping in carious… (2023) | OR 3.10 [1.66, 5.79] | 4 studies · 559 participants | Moderate |
Mutans streptococci present in oral samples at baseline vs Mutans streptococci absent in oral samples at baseline Development of any (cavitated or non-cavitated) carious lesion · Children younger than 6 years with caries-free primary dentition (no cavitated or non-cavitated lesions at baseline) · 1 year, Follow-up: 1 year Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and… (2023) | OR 4.37 [3.50, 5.45] | 4 studies · 2016 participants | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Fontana,2011 [16]; model performance 3 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR+ 1.88 [1.65, 2.28] | 1 study | Ungraded |
CPP-ACP enamel pre-treatment for prevention of white spot lesions before bonding metallic orthodontic brackets vs No enamel pre-treatment before bonding, or treatment with another material Shear bond strength (SBS) of metallic orthodontic brackets · Sound enamel of extracted permanent human teeth · Before bonding, Prevention of WSLs (sound enamel) Shear bond strength of metallic brackets bonded to enamel pretreated with CPP-ACP: a systematic review and… (2023) | MD 1.009 [-0.723, 2.740] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Operative treatment of dental caries lesions vs No caries treatment Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) · Adolescents (10-19 years) Oral-health-related quality of life in adolescents: umbrella review. (2023) | the operative treatment of caries lesions has a positive effect on OHRQoL, despite the low quality of evidence [9]. There is low evidence that the OHRQoL of children and adolescents improved following caries… | NR | Ungraded |
Pre-operative caries fillings or crowns vs Intact teeth Pulp necrosis incidence · Vital teeth · Intact teeth Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023) | Proportion 5 | 1 study | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal and/or root caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Powell,1991 [21]; model performance 1 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR+ 2.20 [0.74, 6.53] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Gum chewing (sugar-free) vs No gum chewing (control) Self-reported thirst · Elderly (>60 years) and medically compromised adults with xerostomia / dry mouth · Various (preoperative period to 3 + 1 months) The effect of gum chewing on xerostomia and salivary flow rate in elderly and medically compromised… (2023) | Narrative vote-count: of 7 studies measuring thirst, 6 found gum chewing reduced thirst [16,20,21,26,27,31] and 1 detected no effect [29]. | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Gao.2010 [17]; model performance 5 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR+ 4.37 [3.80, 5.04] | 1 study | Ungraded |
CAD/CAM nitinol fixed (bonded) retainer vs Conventional/analogue multistrand fixed (bonded) retainer Survival of retainers (failure, lower arch) · People who had received fixed appliance orthodontic treatment · 12 months, lower arch Retention procedures for stabilising tooth position after treatment with orthodontic braces (2023) · Cochrane | RR 1.29 [0.67, 2.49] | 1 study · 41 participants | Very low |
Chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash (adjunct to mechanical cleaning) vs Blank control (no mouthwash; before-after comparison) Plaque Index (PI, Silness & Loe 1964) · Orthodontic patients (any age) undergoing orthodontic treatment (mostly fixed appliances) · <=3 months (short-term) The efficacy of mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and gingivitis in patients undergoing orthodontic… (2023) | WMD -0.70 [-1.12, -0.27] | 4 studies · 188 participants | Very low |
Periodontal disease assessed by loss of attachment (LOA / clinical attachment loss) vs Individuals without periodontal disease (by LOA) Oral health-related quality of life (continuous), measured by OHIP-14 / OIDP · Indian adults and elderly (police, teachers, general and institutionalised populations) Impact of oral conditions on oral health-related quality of life among Indians- a systematic review and… (2023) | SMD -0.04 [-2.01, 1.92] | 4 studies · 3414 participants | Very low |
Full-time clear plastic (removable) retainer vs Any type of fixed (bonded) retainer Survival of retainers (failure, lower arch) · People who had received fixed appliance orthodontic treatment · 12 months, lower arch Retention procedures for stabilising tooth position after treatment with orthodontic braces (2023) · Cochrane | RR 3.42 [1.38, 8.47] | 1 study · 77 participants | Very low |
Low level laser therapy (LLLT) vs Conventional orthodontic appliance treatment Harms and side effects arising during treatment · Adolescents and adults with malocclusion undergoing fixed orthodontic appliance treatment Non‐surgical adjunctive interventions for accelerating tooth movement in patients undergoing orthodontic… (2023) · Cochrane | SoF states harms/side effects Not reported; Ghaffer 2022 (the only LLLT study to assess harms) reported no serious harms other than gingivitis associated with plaque accumulation. | 1 study | Ungraded |
38% SDF plus potassium iodide (KI) (indirect pulp capping) vs Resin-modified GIC (RMGIC) Secondary caries prevention in young permanent first molars · Children with deep occlusal caries in young permanent first molars (indirect pulp capping) · 12 months, Baraka 2022 A systematic review on the effect of silver diamine fluoride for management of dental caries in permanent… (2023) | SDF+KI 2 (8%) vs RMGIC 0 (0%); p=0.63 (NS), 12 months | 1 study · 49 participants | Ungraded |
Outer/shallower carious dentin vs Inner/deeper carious dentin MMP-9 location/depth · Human carious dentin Presence of host and bacterial-derived collagenolytic proteases in carious dentin: a systematic review of ex… (2023) | no estimate extracted | 3 studies | Very low |
Periodontal disease assessed by Community Periodontal Index vs No periodontal disease assessed by community periodontal index Poor oral health-related quality of life · Indians Impact of oral conditions on oral health-related quality of life among Indians- a systematic review and… (2023) | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 1345 participants | Very low |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Pang,2021 [19]; model performance 4 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR+ 2.71 [2.18, 3.38] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Mutans streptococci present in oral samples at baseline vs Mutans streptococci absent in oral samples at baseline Development of any (cavitated or non-cavitated) carious lesion · Children younger than 6 years with caries-free primary dentition (no cavitated or non-cavitated lesions at baseline) · 2.7 years (31 months median), Follow-up: 2.7 years (31 months median) Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and… (2023) | OR 33.00 [3.18, 342.26] | 1 study · 28 participants | Ungraded |
Early childhood caries / severe early childhood caries vs Caries-free children Change in height-for-age z-score (adjusted model) · Children in early childhood (0-6 years) · ~9.73-month follow-up, Shen et al. 2019 (China; adjusted) The bi-directional relationship between growth stunting and early childhood caries: a rapid review. (2023) | Regression coefficient -0.02 [-0.04, 0.01] | 1 study · 1111 participants | Ungraded |
Strategies to integrate oral health into primary care (e.g., training/education of non-dental primary care professionals, policy/financing and health-insurance changes, colocation of dental and medical services, interprofessional and community-health-worker collaboration, teledentistry, integrated oral health assessment tools, school-based activities) vs No integration / usual care (or pre-integration baseline; many included studies uncontrolled) Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of staff and patients regarding oral health · People of all ages and abilities served through primary care and related settings (children, pregnant women, older… Strategies to integrate oral health into primary care: a systematic review. (2023) | Knowledge/attitudes/perceptions of staff and patients was the second most studied outcome (n=16). Patient and staff perceptions on various aspects of the integration strategy were usually reported as positive.… | 16 studies | Ungraded |
Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) mouthwash vs Blank control (no mouthwash; before-after comparison) Plaque-related index · Orthodontic patients (any age) undergoing orthodontic treatment (mostly fixed appliances) · <=3 months (short-term) The efficacy of mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and gingivitis in patients undergoing orthodontic… (2023) | BBPI was significantly reduced compared to blank control [47]. PI was significantly reduced compared to blank control [50]. The amount of dental plaque was significantly reduced compared to baseline [38]. | 3 studies | Very low |
Multivariable prediction model of caries increment (>=3 predictors), e.g. logistic-regression or algorithm-based caries-risk models vs Alternative prediction model(s) within the same study, or no formal comparator (models compared descriptively; no between-model statistical test) Predictive performance for root caries increment (negative likelihood ratio, LR-) · Older adults (aged 52-95; mean 52-73) at risk of root caries increment · Follow-up >=1 year (included studies 1-5 years), Model development studies Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | No meta-analysis. Per-model LR- (Table 2): Ritter 0.36-0.48 (5 models), Powell 0.20 (0.04-0.90), Sanchez-Garcia 0.86 (0.80-0.93). Powell reached the useful rule-out threshold (LR- 0.20). | 2 studies | Ungraded |
SDF plus potassium iodide vs Split into two contrasts: (1) TCS paste (arrest 100%); (2) CPP-ACP (arrest 100%); SDF+KI arrest 54.8% at 24 months, p<.001 caries arrest · Patients with early enamel carious lesions on permanent molars (n=45) · 24 months A systematic review on the effect of silver diamine fluoride for management of dental caries in permanent… (2023) | Caries arrest (%) 54.8 | 1 study · 45 participants | Ungraded |
P11-4 + fluoride varnish vs CPP-ACP Change in lesion metric measured by QLF, laser fluorescence, or lesion area · People or specimens with white spot lesions or early caries lesions · 2 weeks to 36 months Comparison of therapies of white spot lesions: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. (2023) | SMD -0.78 [-1.33, -0.24] | NR | Ungraded |
38% SDF one-time application vs Information unavailable new carious lesions or fillings · children with caries in permanent first molars · 12 months A systematic review on the effect of silver diamine fluoride for management of dental caries in permanent… (2023) | Preventative fraction (%) 57 | 1 study · 141 participants | Ungraded |
Sentinel node biopsy (neck dissection only if biopsy positive) vs Elective neck dissection Locoregional recurrence · Adults with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer · 3 years Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane | HR 1.04 [0.91, 1.19] | 1 study · 279 participants | Low |
Sodium fluoride (5% NaF, one-time [Mauro] or every 6 months [Liu]) vs Control (water or unspecified) New coronal caries in permanent molars (caries prevention) · Children with dental caries in permanent (first) molars · 12 months, Mauro 2004 (5% NaF one-time) A systematic review on the effect of silver diamine fluoride for management of dental caries in permanent… (2023) | Prevented Fraction 47 | 1 study · 141 participants | Ungraded |
Self-assembling peptide P11-4 vs Control (placebo / no active therapy) Remineralization / reduction in lesion severity (change in QLF, laser fluorescence, or lesion area) · Patients with white spot lesions / early caries lesions (WSLs/ECLs), including orthodontic and non-orthodontic… Comparison of therapies of white spot lesions: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. (2023) | SMD -0.56 [-0.96, -0.15] | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Gao,2013 [29]; model performance 11 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR− 0.14 [0.06, 0.33] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Compomer vs Resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) Secondary caries (occurrence) · Patients requiring dental restoration; deciduous (primary) teeth · 2 or more years of follow-up Clinical efficacy of bioactive restorative materials in controlling secondary caries: a systematic review… (2023) | RR 1.68 [0.87, 3.25] | 5 studies · 207 participants | Low |
Low level laser therapy (LLLT) vs Conventional orthodontic appliance treatment Periodontal health during molar intrusion · Adolescents and adults with malocclusion undergoing fixed orthodontic appliance treatment Non‐surgical adjunctive interventions for accelerating tooth movement in patients undergoing orthodontic… (2023) · Cochrane | Abellan 2021 assessed periodontal health (plaque index, pocket depth, bleeding on probing) after intrusion of maxillary molars; no evidence of significant difference with LLLT. Statistical test results not published. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Indirect restorations (crowns, fixed partial dentures, inlays/onlays/veneers) vs None (single-group incidence) Pulp necrosis · Vital teeth restored with indirect restorations · Follow-up ≤5 to >10 years, Polyvinyl siloxane impression material Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023) | Proportion 3.17 [1.55, 5.34] | 636 participants | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Hänsel Petersson,2010 [31]; model performance 5 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR− 0.50 [0.28, 0.90] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Fibre-reinforced composite fixed (bonded) retainer vs Multistrand / spiral wire fixed (bonded) retainer Survival of retainers (failure, lower arch) · People who had received fixed appliance orthodontic treatment · 12 months, lower arch Retention procedures for stabilising tooth position after treatment with orthodontic braces (2023) · Cochrane | RR 1.01 [0.84, 1.21] | 7 studies · 1337 participants | Low |
PET-CT following chemoradiotherapy (neck dissection only if no/incomplete response) vs Planned neck dissection before or after chemoradiotherapy Recurrence · Adults with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer with nodal disease (stage N2 or N3) Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane | Recurrence: outcome not reported in a usable way (Mehanna 2017: nodal recurrence 3 vs 1; distant metastases 21 vs 23). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Low level laser therapy (LLLT) vs Conventional orthodontic appliance treatment Total number of orthodontic appliance adjustment appointments during alignment stage · Adolescents and adults with malocclusion undergoing fixed orthodontic appliance treatment · Alignment stage Non‐surgical adjunctive interventions for accelerating tooth movement in patients undergoing orthodontic… (2023) · Cochrane | MD -2.25 [-2.52, -1.97] | 2 studies · 125 participants | Very low |
Herbal mouthwash vs Placebo Cariogenic bacteria (Mutans streptococci) · Orthodontic patients · ≤ 3 months The efficacy of mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and gingivitis in patients undergoing orthodontic… (2023) | Colony count of MS was significantly reduced compared to placebo [52]; colony count was slightly reduced compared to placebo in a short time in one study [40]. | 2 studies | Very low |
Part-time clear plastic (removable) retainer vs Any type of fixed (bonded) retainer Survival of retainers (failure, lower arch) · People who had received fixed appliance orthodontic treatment · 12 months, lower arch Retention procedures for stabilising tooth position after treatment with orthodontic braces (2023) · Cochrane | RR 0.44 [0.20, 0.98] | 1 study · 57 participants | Very low |
38% SDF plus KI (applied annually) vs Tricalcium silicate (TCS) paste (applied twice daily) Remineralization/arrest of early enamel carious lesions · Patients with early enamel carious lesions on permanent molars · 24 months, Hamdi 2022 (early enamel lesions, Egypt) A systematic review on the effect of silver diamine fluoride for management of dental caries in permanent… (2023) | Proportion of lesions arrested (%) 54.8 | 1 study · 45 participants | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Root caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Sánchez-García,2011 [23]; model performance 1 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR- 0.86 [0.80, 0.93] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Birpou,2019 [25]; model performance 14 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR− 0.58 [0.42, 0.80] | 1 study | Ungraded |