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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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Relaxation vs Occlusal (oral) appliance Pain intensity · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer · Treatment completion, Adolescents (12-19 years) Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane | Not pooled. Wahlund 2015: MD 3.70 (95% CI -1.21 to 8.61), n=57 (relaxation 28, appliance 29); Wahlund 2003: MD not reported, n=83 (relaxation 41, appliance 42). Both studies were in adolescents; the occlusal appliance… | 2 studies · 140 participants | Ungraded |
Primary school-based interventions (one or more of: school health policy, oral health education, healthy school environment, access to oral health services, community involvement) vs No intervention or usual practice/activities Oral hygiene measured by plaque scores · Primary school children (aged 3-16 years) attending primary school in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) · Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and… (2022) | SMD -0.32 [-0.46, -0.18] | 7 studies · 3339 participants | Very low |
Full-mouth disinfection (FMD): scaling/root planing (subgingival instrumentation) of all quadrants within 24 hours plus adjunctive antiseptic (chlorhexidine) treatments (rinsing, pocket irrigation, tongue/tonsil brushing) vs Quadrant scaling and root planing (control): SRP of each quadrant in separate sessions at least one week apart Adverse events · Adults with a clinical diagnosis of (chronic) periodontitis (1999 classification); studies of aggressive… Full‐mouth treatment modalities (within 24 hours) for periodontitis in adults (2022) · Cochrane | 13 studies provided adverse-event/participant-reported information; 3 reported an event after FMD or FMS; most important harm was increased body temperature. FMD/chlorhexidine-specific harms reported by Fonseca 2015… | 13 studies | Ungraded |
Clindamycin phosphate antibiotic solution patch vs Saline patch Presence of dry socket · Adults (>18 years) having permanent tooth extraction (predominantly mandibular third molars) · Follow-up: median 7 days Local interventions for the management of alveolar osteitis (dry socket) (2022) · Cochrane | OR (exact) 0 [0, 0.69] | 1 study · 86 participants | Ungraded |
Genetically predicted gene expression (TWAS; S-PrediXcan with GTEx v8 cis-eQTL across 49 tissues; cross-tissue S-MultiXcan) vs ECC-unaffected children (association of genetically predicted expression) Early childhood caries (ECC) - association with genetically predicted expression of TAS2R43 (chr12p13.2) · Children up to age 5-6 years (European / European non-Hispanic ancestry); 843 ECC-affected vs 2124 unaffected across 5… · Cross-sectional (ECC ascertained at the last dental exam before age 6), TAS2R43 (chr12p13.2); 27 (3) tissues; significant (Bonferroni p < 3.09x10-6) Association of Early Childhood Caries with Bitter Taste Receptors: A Meta-Analysis of Genome-Wide… (2022) | Z-score (cross-tissue mean, S-MultiXcan) 1.80 | 5 studies · 2974 participants | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Difference in summary sensitivity (NMA, Analysis 2) · Electrical conductance vs Fluorescence Enamel Caries Detection and Diagnosis: An Analysis of Systematic Reviews. (2022) | Sensitivity difference (95% CrI) 0.06 [-0.09, 0.18] | NR | Ungraded |
Glass ionomer-based sealant vs Resin-based sealant (fluoride-releasing or non-fluoride-releasing) Progression of non-cavitated enamel caries · 'Healthy' children with caries-free second primary molars, aged 3-5 years (schools and kindergartens, India and China) Sealants for preventing dental caries in primary teeth (2022) · Cochrane | No studies reported this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Dental caries (carious oral microbiome) vs Caries-free / healthy oral microbiome Differential microbial abundance / taxa predictive of caries · Individuals providing oral (saliva/supragingival plaque) 16S rRNA microbiome samples; 2016 samples from 19 studies… Meta-analysis of caries microbiome studies can improve upon disease prediction outcomes. (2022) | Mean-decrease-accuracy discriminating taxa: Capnocytophaga HMT-338, Lactobacillus panis, Treponema HMT-230, Bifidobacterium longum, Delftia acidovorans, Staphylococcus schleiferi; higher log2FC in caries: Selenomonas HMT-146, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Actinomyces HMT-896, Treponema HMT-257; Streptococcus not predictive | 19 studies · 2016 participants | Ungraded |
Composite resin vs Compomer Restoration failure · Children with carious primary teeth after vital or non-vital pulp therapy · 2 years Clinical effectiveness of restorative materials for the restoration of carious lesions in pulp treated… (2022) | Annual failure rate (AFR, %) 0 | 1 study · 84 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride-releasing resin-based sealant vs No sealant (no treatment) Development of >=1 new carious lesion (caries incidence) · Children with caries-free or non-cavitated carious lesion primary molars, aged 3-7 years (paediatric department,… · 12 months Sealants for preventing dental caries in primary teeth (2022) · Cochrane | BB OR 1.21 [0.37, 3.94] | 1 study · 88 participants | Low |
Chlorhexidine (CHX) vs Povidone iodine Reduction in level of contamination by particles <=5 um (droplet nuclei) at >=2 m from patient's oral cavity · Dental patients undergoing aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) and the dental healthcare providers treating them · droplet nuclei; anaerobic cultures (9 feet behind patient) Preprocedural mouth rinses for preventing transmission of infectious diseases through aerosols in dental… (2022) · Cochrane | MD -0.8 [-11.65, 10.05] | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |
Non-responsive complementary feeding (NRCF) vs Other models of complementary feeding (responsive/traditional CF) Weight gain (restrictive vs coercive styles) · Healthy, term-born, normal-birth-weight infants aged 4-24 months (breastfed and/or formula-fed) in Western… · Infancy to early childhood, Restrictive vs coercive/pressuring styles Complementary Feeding Caregivers' Practices and Growth, Risk of Overweight/Obesity, and Other… (2022) | Restrictive style would favor excess weight (three of five studies); coercive style (pressure to eat) would favor a lower weight (three of five studies); clinical significance never quantified. | NR | Ungraded |
Full-mouth scaling (FMS): scaling/root planing (subgingival instrumentation) of all quadrants within 24 hours, without antiseptic vs Quadrant scaling and root planing (control): SRP of each quadrant in separate sessions at least one week apart Adverse events · Adults with a clinical diagnosis of (chronic) periodontitis (1999 classification); studies of aggressive… Full‐mouth treatment modalities (within 24 hours) for periodontitis in adults (2022) · Cochrane | 13 studies provided adverse-event/participant-reported information; 3 reported an event after FMD or FMS; most important harm was increased body temperature after treatment. Narrative, not separated by comparison and… | 13 studies | Ungraded |
Apernyl (acetylsalicylic acid pellet) vs Placebo Presence of dry socket · Adults (>18 years) having permanent tooth extraction (predominantly mandibular third molars) · Follow-up: median 7 days Local interventions for the management of alveolar osteitis (dry socket) (2022) · Cochrane | RR 0.25 [0.03, 2.16] | 1 study · 100 participants | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy (partial or full) vs None (single-arm pooled success proportion) Clinical and radiographic success rate (>=6 months) · Human permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis (symptomatic and asymptomatic) due to carious pulp exposure · >=6 months, Randomized trials (GRADE evidence profile) Outcome of pulpotomy in permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | Proportion 0.743 [0.56, 0.86] | 5 studies · 488 participants | Very low |
Intervention NR Difference in summary specificity (NMA, Analysis 2) · Fluorescence vs Transillumination Enamel Caries Detection and Diagnosis: An Analysis of Systematic Reviews. (2022) | Specificity difference (95% CrI) 0.01 [-0.10, 0.15] | NR | Ungraded |
Traditional screening (referral card given if the inspecting dentist judges the child needs to see a dentist) vs No screening Trauma to permanent incisor teeth · School children (aged 4 to 15 years), primary and secondary schools in the UK and India School dental screening programmes for oral health (2022) · Cochrane | Milsom 2006 reported the prevalence of trauma to the permanent incisor teeth as a dichotomous outcome (reduction from baseline yes/no); we were unable to include this data in a meta-analysis. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Total daily fluoride intake (TDFI) and daily fluoride intake from toothpaste Correlation between daily urinary fluoride excretion (DUFE) and fluoride intake · Children and adults with 24-h urinary fluoride monitoring (9 studies reporting both intake and urine; Table 2) · 24-h urine collection, High-fluoride-area data from Idowu et al. [46,47] excluded Fluoride Intake Through Dental Care Products: A Systematic Review. (2022) | R2 (coefficient of determination) <0.07 | 9 studies | Ungraded |
Advanced platelet rich fibrin (A-PRF) vs Control (no treatment) Pain (VAS cm) · Adults (>18 years) with established dry socket following permanent tooth extraction · Days 1-7 (day 7 shown) Local interventions for the management of alveolar osteitis (dry socket) (2022) · Cochrane | MD -3.60 [-4.00, -3.20] | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Not applicable vs Not applicable Prevalence of dental caries · Children aged 12 years (plus or minus one year) in Africa · Overall, urban/rural-status analysis Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review… (2022) | Prevalence 0.3657 [0.3065, 0.4250] | NR | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Difference in summary sensitivity (NMA, Analysis 2) · Fluorescence vs Transillumination Enamel Caries Detection and Diagnosis: An Analysis of Systematic Reviews. (2022) | Sensitivity difference (95% CrI) -0.01 [-0.12, 0.13] | NR | Ungraded |
Genetically predicted gene expression (TWAS; S-PrediXcan with GTEx v8 cis-eQTL across 49 tissues; cross-tissue S-MultiXcan) vs ECC-unaffected children (association of genetically predicted expression) Early childhood caries (ECC) - association with genetically predicted expression of SMIM10L1 (chr12p13.2) · Children up to age 5-6 years (European / European non-Hispanic ancestry); 843 ECC-affected vs 2124 unaffected across 5… · Cross-sectional (ECC ascertained at the last dental exam before age 6), SMIM10L1 (chr12p13.2); 46 (3) tissues; significant (Bonferroni p < 3.09x10-6) Association of Early Childhood Caries with Bitter Taste Receptors: A Meta-Analysis of Genome-Wide… (2022) | Z-score (cross-tissue mean, S-MultiXcan) -0.35 | 5 studies · 2974 participants | Ungraded |
Referral to a specific dental treatment facility vs Generic advice letter to see a dentist Dental attendance (number of dental visits) · School children, primary school in Saudi Arabia · median 11 months School dental screening programmes for oral health (2022) · Cochrane | RR 0.91 [0.34, 2.47] | 1 study · 362 participants | Very low |
Dental caries (carious oral microbiome) vs Caries-free / healthy oral microbiome Alpha diversity (Chao1, Observed, Shannon) · Adults providing oral (saliva/supragingival plaque) 16S rRNA microbiome samples · Adults Meta-analysis of caries microbiome studies can improve upon disease prediction outcomes. (2022) | In adults, there was no significant caries-vs-health difference in Chao1 or Observed diversity, whereas the Shannon index differed significantly (p < 0.001). | NR | Ungraded |
Maternal education attainment vs Children without dental caries Dental caries (association with no formal maternal education) · Children (deciduous and/or permanent dentition) in low- and middle-income countries · No formal education Individual, Family, and Socioeconomic Contributors to Dental Caries in Children from Low- and Middle-Income… (2022) | OR 1.34 [0.76, 2.36] | 3 studies · 3666 participants | Ungraded |
Amalgam vs Composite resin Restoration failure · Children with carious primary teeth · 2 years, Class II Clinical effectiveness of restorative materials for the restoration of carious primary teeth without pulp… (2022) | Annual failure rate (%) amalgam 17.5%; composite resin 6.2% | 1 study · 43 participants | Ungraded |
Chlorhexidine (CHX) vs Water (distilled) 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 · combined patient and operator level Preprocedural mouth rinses for preventing transmission of infectious diseases through aerosols in dental… (2022) · Cochrane | MD -632.94 [-1267.33, 1.45] | 3 studies · 80 participants | Very low |
Tempered cetylpyridinium chloride vs Cold cetylpyridinium chloride 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 · operator level Preprocedural mouth rinses for preventing transmission of infectious diseases through aerosols in dental… (2022) · Cochrane | MD -9.3 [-16.17, -2.43] | 1 study · 20 participants | Very low |
Composite resin with etch-and-rinse (total-etch) adhesion vs Composite resin with self-etch adhesion (same universal adhesive) Treatment failure (annual failure rate) · Children with moderately deep dentine caries in primary molars, no pulp therapy · 18 months (Lenzi 2017), Adhesive strategy (etch-and-rinse vs self-etch) Clinical effectiveness of restorative materials for the restoration of carious primary teeth without pulp… (2022) | Annual failure rate (%) etch-and-rinse 19.5%; self-etch 7.0% | 1 study · 44 participants | Ungraded |
Caries assessment at enamel threshold vs None Enamel caries proportion · European adolescents aged 12 years · Exact age Dental caries at enamel and dentine level among European adolescents - a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | Proportion 0.52 [0.36, 0.75] | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Amalgam restoration vs Composite resin, compomer, conventional glass-ionomer cement, or resin-modified GIC (head-to-head RCT comparators) Treatment failure (annual failure rate) · Children with previously unrestored, vital carious lesions in primary teeth (no pulp therapy); aged 1.5-11 years · 12-60 months follow-up (4 trials; 1-5 years) Clinical effectiveness of restorative materials for the restoration of carious primary teeth without pulp… (2022) | Annual failure rate (%) 1-28% | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Composite strip crown (CSC) with a post (microhybrid composite resin, Amelogen) vs Post type: composite post (CP) vs fibre post (FP) vs reverse metal post (RMP) Treatment failure (annual failure rate) · Children with severely decayed maxillary primary incisors treated by pulpectomy (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) | AFR 2.3 | 1 study · 54 participants | Ungraded |
Chlorhexidine gel (0.2%, intrasocket) vs Chlorhexidine rinse (0.12%) Adverse events · Adults (>18 years) having permanent tooth extraction (predominantly mandibular third molars) · Follow-up: median 7 days Local interventions for the management of alveolar osteitis (dry socket) (2022) · Cochrane | No adverse events were reported in these two trials (Abu-Mostafa 2015; Hita-Iglesias 2008). | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Living with HIV and undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART/HAART) vs Healthy HIV-negative controls Dental development / dental age (mineralization chronology) · Children and adolescents (<18 years) · Cross-sectional (case-control; single time point) Oral Health Status of Children and Adolescents Living with HIV Undergoing Antiretroviral Therapy: A… (2022) | Three studies (Fernandes 2007, de Souza 2015, Holderbaum 2005) assessed dental age (Nolla/Willems methods); Fernandes and de Souza found no significant difference between groups; Holderbaum reported mixed sex-specific… | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Zinc oxide eugenol vs Alvogyl (old formulation) Swelling · 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 outcome | 0 studies | No studies |
Resin-modified GIC vs Composite resin Restoration failure · Children with carious primary teeth · 2 years, Class II Clinical effectiveness of restorative materials for the restoration of carious primary teeth without pulp… (2022) | Annual failure rate (%) RMGIC 8.4%; composite resin 8.4% | 1 study · 55 participants | Ungraded |
Caries experience measurement (mean D(M)FS, enamel lesions included) vs None (descriptive prevalence review; subgroup analyses only) Caries experience (mean DMFS) · European adolescents aged 12–19 years · Age group: 16–19 years Dental caries at enamel and dentine level among European adolescents - a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | MEAN 7.61 [3.78, 15.30] | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Ion-releasing glass ionomer cement (GIC) restorations vs Resin composite restorations Unacceptable marginal adaptation · Patients with permanent dentition in need of restorations · 1 year, 18 months to 2 years, and 3 years, All types of cavities Secondary caries and marginal adaptation of ion-releasing versus resin composite restorations: a systematic… (2022) | RD 0.01 [-0.01, 0.03] | 9 studies · 2725 participants | Ungraded |
Chlorhexidine (CHX) vs Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) 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 · cold CHX vs tempered CPC; assistant level Preprocedural mouth rinses for preventing transmission of infectious diseases through aerosols in dental… (2022) · Cochrane | MD 17.4 [11.3, 23.5] | 1 study · 20 participants | Very low |
Caries assessment at dentine threshold (cavitation into dentine) vs None (descriptive prevalence review; subgroup analyses only) Caries prevalence · European adolescents aged 12–19 years Dental caries at enamel and dentine level among European adolescents - a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | Prevalence 0.56 [0.43, 0.68] | 15 studies | Ungraded |
Glass ionomer-based sealant vs No sealant Development of >=1 new carious lesion (caries incidence) · Children with caries-free primary first molars (with or without caries on other teeth), aged 1-5 years (paediatric… · 6-12 months Sealants for preventing dental caries in primary teeth (2022) · Cochrane | OR 0.033 [0.007, 0.149] | 1 study · 107 participants | Low |
SaliCept (acemannan hydrogel) vs No treatment Pain (VAS) · Adults (>18 years) with established dry socket following permanent tooth extraction Local interventions for the management of alveolar osteitis (dry socket) (2022) · Cochrane | SaliCept (acemannan hydrogel) versus No treatment (Kaya 2011): data not usable (medians presented with error bars). Text reports differences in clinical signs and symptoms between control and all 3 treatment groups… | 1 study | Ungraded |
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 · Data collection period: 2000-2004 Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review… (2022) | Prevalence 0.282 [0.227, 0.337] | 13 studies | Ungraded |
Zinc oxide eugenol vs Alvogyl (old formulation) Fever · 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 outcome | 0 studies | No studies |
Pulpotomy (partial or full) vs None (single-arm pooled success proportion) Clinical and radiographic success rate (>=6 months) · Human permanent teeth with asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis due to carious pulp exposure · >=6 months, Asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis Outcome of pulpotomy in permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | Proportion 0.913 [0.80, 0.965] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Chlorhexidine (CHX) vs Water (distilled) 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 · tempered CHX; combined operator, assistant and patient level Preprocedural mouth rinses for preventing transmission of infectious diseases through aerosols in dental… (2022) · Cochrane | MD -101.1 [-107.01, -95.19] | 1 study · 20 participants | Low |
Caries assessment at enamel threshold (D(M)FS>0 or D(M)FT>0, enamel lesions included) vs None (descriptive prevalence review; subgroup analyses only) Caries prevalence · European adolescents aged 12–19 years · Region: non-Scandinavian Dental caries at enamel and dentine level among European adolescents - a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | Prevalence 0.74 [0.53, 0.96] | 11 studies | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy with Biodentine vs Pulpotomy with Calcium Enriched Mixture (CEM) Clinical and radiographic success rate (>=6 months) · Human permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis due to carious pulp exposure · >=6 months, Pulp capping material: Biodentine vs CEM Outcome of pulpotomy in permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | Biodentine demonstrated a statistically significantly higher success rate than CEM (indirect comparison; Supplementary Table S5, not available). | NR | Ungraded |
Oral care vs No oral care Outcome NR · Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities Oral care measures for preventing nursing home‐acquired pneumonia (2022) · Cochrane | No studies evaluated oral care versus no oral care. | 0 studies | No studies |
Full-mouth disinfection (FMD): scaling/root planing (subgingival instrumentation) of all quadrants within 24 hours plus adjunctive antiseptic (chlorhexidine) treatments (rinsing, pocket irrigation, tongue/tonsil brushing) vs Quadrant scaling and root planing (control): SRP of each quadrant in separate sessions at least one week apart Change in probing pocket depth (PPD) · Adults with a clinical diagnosis of (chronic) periodontitis (1999 classification); studies of aggressive… · 6 to 8 months (SoF); similar at 3 to 4 months Full‐mouth treatment modalities (within 24 hours) for periodontitis in adults (2022) · Cochrane | MD 0.11 [-0.04, 0.27] | 6 studies · 214 participants | Low |