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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. Every word you type has to appear somewhere in the question, and the closest matches are ranked first.

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10,375 questions in 429 reviews · Oral Health

current versions
No 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.

QuestionEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s)
Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Disney,1992 [15]; model performance 4
Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023)
LR− 0.45 [0.38, 0.54]1 studyUngraded
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 4
Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023)
LR+ 10.26 [8.20, 12.84]1 studyUngraded
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 1
Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023)
LR− 1.13 [0.96, 1.33]1 studyUngraded
Older age vs Younger age
Oral health-related quality of life · Adolescents aged 10-19 years
Oral-health-related quality of life in adolescents: umbrella review. (2023)
no estimate extractedNRUngraded
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, Fixed partial dentures (FPD)
Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023)
Proportion 5.01 [2.76, 7.88]15 studies · 4674 participantsUngraded
Tooth location
Pulp necrosis incidence · Vital teeth · Kontakiotis et al. 2015 maxillary posterior
Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023)
Proportion 7.51 studyUngraded
Self-assembling peptide P11-4 vs CPP-ACFP
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 -0.13 [-0.68, 0.42]2 studiesUngraded
Bruxism vs No bruxism
Oral health-related quality of life · Adolescents aged 10-19 years
Oral-health-related quality of life in adolescents: umbrella review. (2023)
no estimate extractedNRUngraded
Light-emitting diode (LED) photobiomodulation 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
Harms and side effects | Not reported. None of the included studies assessed harms arising during the LED intervention.NRNo studies
Surgery plus adjuvant radiotherapy vs Chemotherapy (chemoradiotherapy)
Locoregional recurrence · Adults with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer · oral cavity
Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane
Locoregional recurrence: reported difference between groups not statistically significant (P=0.355), but no useable data; 32 participants (1 RCT, Iyer 2015).1 study · 32 participantsVery low
Herbal mouthwash vs Blank control
Gingival inflammation-related index · Orthodontic patients · ≤ 3 months
The efficacy of mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and gingivitis in patients undergoing orthodontic… (2023)
CPI was significantly reduced compared to baseline [35]; SBI was significantly reduced while MGI was similar compared to baseline [45]; BOP was significantly reduced compared to blank control [39].3 studiesVery low
Intervention NR
Confidence
Strategies to integrate oral health into primary care: a systematic review. (2023)
3 of 3 studies reported favourable outcomes3 studiesUngraded
PET-CT following chemoradiotherapy (neck dissection only if no/incomplete response) vs Planned neck dissection before or after chemoradiotherapy
Adverse events associated with treatment · 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
Adverse events: 22 surgical complications in the PET-CT group vs 83 in the planned-surgery group (Mehanna 2017).1 study · 564 participantsVery low
Prosthetic need vs Individuals without prosthetic need
Oral health-related quality of life (continuous), measured by GOHAI · Indian elderly and general-population adults
Impact of oral conditions on oral health-related quality of life among Indians- a systematic review and… (2023)
Prosthetic need and QoL (continuous, GOHAI): of three studies, one found no significant difference (Shetty 2013) and two proved the association (Pillai 2015, Rekhi 2018). Not pooled.3 studiesUngraded
Light-emitting diode (LED) photobiomodulation vs Conventional orthodontic appliance treatment
Duration of orthodontic treatment: alignment stage (mandibular arch) · 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 -24.5 [-42.45, -6.55]1 study · 34 participantsVery low
PET-CT following chemoradiotherapy (neck dissection only if no/incomplete response) vs Planned neck dissection before or after chemoradiotherapy
Disease-free survival · 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
Disease-free survival: outcome not reported in a usable way (Mehanna 2017: disease-specific and other-cause mortality did not differ, P=0.80 and 0.41).1 studyUngraded
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 8
Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023)
LR+ 1.04 [1.0, 1.08]1 studyUngraded
Herbal mouthwash vs Blank control
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 baseline [48]; another study found an insignificant reduction compared to baseline [51].2 studiesVery low
Dental (tooth) agenesis vs No dental agenesis
Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) · Adolescents (10-19 years)
Oral-health-related quality of life in adolescents: umbrella review. (2023)
tooth agenesis does not have enough scientific evidence to support a relationship between OHRQoL [41]. No articles were found that had evaluated children and adolescent. Only one was found to have a greater impact in…NRUngraded
Mutans streptococci detected in plaque or saliva at baseline vs No mutans streptococci detected in plaque or saliva at baseline
Development of carious lesions · Children younger than 6 years with caries-free primary dentition · 6 months to 3.5 years, Overall sample sensitivity analysis
Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and… (2023)
OR 4.04 [3.33, 4.90]12 studies · 3313 participantsUngraded
Elective radical (comprehensive) neck dissection vs Elective selective neck dissection
Disease-free survival (new disease, progression, and mortality) · Adults with oral cavity cancer · 5 years
Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane
HR 0.57 [0.29, 1.11]1 study · 104 participantsVery low
Outer carious dentin vs Inner carious dentin
MMP-20 expression · Human carious dentin
Presence of host and bacterial-derived collagenolytic proteases in carious dentin: a systematic review of ex… (2023)
no estimate extracted1 study · 5 participantsModerate
Severe traumatic dental injury with pulp exposure or tooth darkening vs No traumatic dental injury
Oral health-related quality of life · Adolescents aged 10-19 years
Oral-health-related quality of life in adolescents: umbrella review. (2023)
no estimate extractedNRUngraded
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 coronal caries increment (negative likelihood ratio, LR-) · Children and adolescents (aged 2-19) at risk of coronal caries increment (caries onset or progression) · Follow-up >=1 year (included studies 1-5 years), Model validation studies
Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023)
No meta-analysis. Per-model LR- (Table 2) across the 9 validation studies ranged from about 0.14 to 1.13 (e.g. Gao 2013 NUS-CRA 0.26, CAMBRA 0.14-0.31, CAT up to ~1.10; Campus 0.20; Pang 2020 low-risk 1.13). Overall…9 studiesUngraded
Full-time clear plastic (removable) retainer vs Any type of fixed (bonded) retainer
Adverse effects on oral health: caries (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
RD 0.00 [-0.05, 0.05]1 study · 84 participantsVery low
Skin color / ethnicity vs Reference skin color / ethnicity
Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) · Adolescents (10-19 years)
Oral-health-related quality of life in adolescents: umbrella review. (2023)
Biological data such as skin color and age have no concrete evidence about this impact in the OHRQoL. Important aspects like gender and skin color did not have their level of impact clarified.NRUngraded
Indirect restorations vs None
Pulp necrosis incidence · Vital teeth · ≤ 5 years, ≤ 5 years
Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023)
Proportion 3.53 [2.10, 5.31]5532 participantsLow
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 2
Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023)
LR+ 1.58 [1.38, 1.82]1 studyUngraded
Zinc oxide eugenol vs Alvogyl (old formulation)
Limitation of chewing or swallowing · Adults (>18 years) with established dry socket following permanent tooth extraction
Local interventions for the management of alveolar osteitis (dry socket) (2022) · Cochrane
No studies reported this outcome0 studiesNo studies
Fluoride toothpaste use vs None (descriptive single-group pooled prevalence)
Fluoride toothpaste use prevalence (among children with caries) · Children with dental caries (deciduous and/or permanent dentition) in low- and middle-income countries
Individual, Family, and Socioeconomic Contributors to Dental Caries in Children from Low- and Middle-Income… (2022)
Prevalence 0.391 [0.1658, 0.644]2 studiesUngraded
Icon resin infiltration vs Baseline before resin infiltration
Lightness change · Patients with post-orthodontic white spot lesions and permanent dentition · 6 months
Changes in the Color and Brightness of White Spots Associated with Orthodontic Treatment 6 Months after the… (2022)
Cohen's d 0.71 [0.32, 1.09]1 studyUngraded
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs Alternative (active) treatment (e.g. oral splint, medication, self-care or disease management)
Quality of life · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer
Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane
This outcome was not measured (not synthesised for this comparison; review-wide only one study reported quality of life).NRNo studies
Antiretroviral therapy (any, including cART) vs No antiretroviral medication (treatment-naive)
Salivary immunoglobulin A (SIgA) concentration · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
Impact of Antiretroviral Therapy on Oral Health among Children Living with HIV: A Systematic Review and… (2022)
Two studies gave divergent results: Subramaniam (2015) reported higher SIgA in children on ART for more than 3 years than pre-ART (8.6 (SD 2.9) vs 6.2 (SD 1.7) mg/dL; p < 0.001), whereas Pomarico (2009) found lower…2 studiesVery low
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs Alternative (active) treatment (e.g. oral splint, medication, self-care or disease management)
Pain intensity at treatment completion · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer · Treatment completion
Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane
SMD 0.03 [-0.21, 0.28]5 studies · 509 participantsLow
Selective caries removal with composite resin vs Complete caries removal with composite resin
Restoration failure · Children with carious primary teeth after vital or non-vital pulp therapy · 2 to 3 years
Clinical effectiveness of restorative materials for the restoration of carious lesions in pulp treated… (2022)
Relative probability of failure 3.441 study · 48 participantsUngraded
Visual or visual-tactile classification (e.g., ICDAS, ERK) vs Reference standard (histology, operative excavation, or enhanced visual examination)
Sensitivity for detecting enamel caries · Asymptomatic children or adults suspected of enamel caries (clinical studies); extracted teeth (in vitro studies) · Analysis 1: fully within-person comparison (studies evaluating >=3 index tests)
Enamel Caries Detection and Diagnosis: An Analysis of Systematic Reviews. (2022)
Sensitivity 0.82 [0.73, 0.89]19 studies · 2849 participantsUngraded
Food and nonalcoholic beverage marketing (exposure) vs No, less, or less powerful food marketing
Food intake · Children and adolescents aged 0-19 years · Immediate/short-term (post-exposure), Overall (pooled across designs)
Association of Food and Nonalcoholic Beverage Marketing With Children and Adolescents' Eating Behaviors and… (2022)
SMD 0.25 [0.15, 0.35]41 studiesUngraded
Resin-based pit and fissure sealant (PFS) vs Fluoride varnish (FV)
DMFS (decayed, missing, filled surfaces) increment, occlusal surfaces · Schoolchildren aged 6-12 years with sound occlusal surfaces of the first permanent molars · 24 months
Pit and Fissure Sealant versus Fluoride Varnish for the Prevention of Dental Caries in School Children: A… (2022)
MD 0.09 [-0.03, 0.21]2 studies · 762 participantsUngraded
Responsive complementary feeding (RCF) vs Other models of complementary feeding (traditional/non-responsive CF)
Overweight/obesity risk · Healthy, term-born, normal-birth-weight infants aged 4-24 months (breastfed and/or formula-fed) in Western… · Follow-up to 3 years
Complementary Feeding Caregivers' Practices and Growth, Risk of Overweight/Obesity, and Other… (2022)
RR 0.41 [0.24, 0.71]2 studies · 478 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Adverse events
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Role of Sugar-Free Chewing Gum on Plaque Quantity in the Oral… (2022)
No adverse events reported8 studiesUngraded
Single-visit root canal treatment vs Multiple-visit root canal treatment (two or more visits)
Post-treatment pain within 1 week (from first session) · People aged 10 years or above requiring root canal treatment; permanent teeth with completely formed apex and without… · Within 1 week of treatment (from first session)
Single versus multiple visits for endodontic treatment of permanent teeth (2022) · Cochrane
RR 1.55 [1.14, 2.09]5 studies · 638 participantsModerate
High-viscosity GIC atraumatic restorative treatment vs No control
Restoration survival · Children with caries in primary molars · 1 year, Multi-surface
Minimal intervention dentistry for managing carious lesions into dentine in primary teeth: an umbrella review. (2022)
Survival rate 739 studiesUngraded
Composite strip crowns with composite, fiber, or reverse metal posts vs Alternative post type
Restoration failure · Children with carious primary teeth after vital or non-vital pulp therapy · 1 year, Composite post (CP) arm
Clinical effectiveness of restorative materials for the restoration of carious lesions in pulp treated… (2022)
Annual failure rate (AFR, %) 2.31 study · 54 participantsUngraded
Dental caries assessment (WHO/clinical diagnostic criteria; caries = DMFT>0) vs None (descriptive prevalence review; subgroup analyses by urban/rural status, country and year)
Caries prevalence · 12-year-old children (permanent dentition) in Africa · Country: Uganda
Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review… (2022)
Prevalence 0.27 [0.126, 0.418]3 studiesUngraded
Caries assessment at enamel threshold vs None
Caries prevalence · European adolescents aged 15 years · Exact age
Dental caries at enamel and dentine level among European adolescents - a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022)
Prevalence 0.77 [0.70, 0.85]9 studiesUngraded
Resin-modified glass-ionomer cement (RMGIC) restoration vs Amalgam, compomer, composite resin, or glass carbomer
Treatment failure (annual failure rate) · Children with previously unrestored, vital carious lesions in primary teeth (no pulp therapy); aged 1.5-11 years · 12-48 months
Clinical effectiveness of restorative materials for the restoration of carious primary teeth without pulp… (2022)
Annual failure rate (%) 1.9-16.9%4 studiesUngraded
Chlorhexidine (CHX) vs Essential oils/herbal mouthwash
Reduction in level of contamination by particles >5 um (droplets) at <2 m from patient's oral cavity · Dental patients undergoing aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) and the dental healthcare providers treating them · 15 cm from mouth (essential oil mouthwash B)
Preprocedural mouth rinses for preventing transmission of infectious diseases through aerosols in dental… (2022) · Cochrane
MD -44.1 [-59.12, -29.08]1 study · 20 participantsUngraded
Combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) vs Monotherapy or dual antiretroviral therapy
Dental caries prevalence and severity · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
Impact of Antiretroviral Therapy on Oral Health among Children Living with HIV: A Systematic Review and… (2022)
No significant difference in dental caries/severity between CLWH on cART and those on monotherapy or dual therapy (no numeric estimate reported in the text); 2 study(ies).2 studiesVery low
High-viscosity GIC atraumatic restorative treatment vs No control
Restoration survival · Children with caries in primary molars · 1 year, Single-surface
Minimal intervention dentistry for managing carious lesions into dentine in primary teeth: an umbrella review. (2022)
Survival rate 959 studiesUngraded
Caries assessment at enamel threshold vs None
Enamel caries proportion · European adolescents aged 15 years · Exact age
Dental caries at enamel and dentine level among European adolescents - a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022)
Proportion 0.72 [0.55, 0.96]2 studiesUngraded