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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.
664 questions in 25 reviews · Endodontics and dental trauma
current versionsNo studies 111 · 16.7%Ungraded 417 · 62.8%Very low 69 · 10.4%Low 50 · 7.5%Moderate 16 · 2.4%High 1 · 0.2%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Super ethoxybenzoic acid (Super-EBA) Success rate at 1 year · Patients needing retrograde filling in root canal therapy (orthograde root canal filling or retreatment not possible;… · 1 year Materials for retrograde filling in root canal therapy (2021) · Cochrane | RR 1.03 [0.96, 1.10] | 1 study | Very low |
Super ethoxybenzoic acid (Super-EBA) vs Intermediate restorative material (IRM) Adverse events · Patients needing retrograde filling in root canal therapy (orthograde root canal filling or retreatment not possible;… Materials for retrograde filling in root canal therapy (2021) · Cochrane | Adverse events: outcome was not assessed by the included studies | 0 studies | No studies |
Pulpotomy vs Pulpectomy Tooth survival · Children with carious vital pulp exposure in primary incisors · 18-24 months Pulpotomy versus pulpectomy in the treatment of vital pulp exposure in primary incisors. A systematic review… (2019) | Survival rate 0.94 (95% CI 0.89 to 0.97) for pulpotomy and 0.97 for pulpectomy at 18 months (Nguyen et al.); 63% for pulpotomy and 85% for pulpectomy at 2 years (Casas et al.). Not pooled. | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Fixation and stabilisation (splint type/duration) vs Different splint, no splint, or different splinting duration Outcome NR · People with avulsed and replanted permanent (front) teeth Interventions for treating traumatised permanent front teeth: avulsed (knocked out) and replanted (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Hyperbaric oxygen (following replantation) vs Control Tooth survival at 12 months · People with avulsed and replanted permanent (front) teeth · 12 months Interventions for treating traumatised permanent front teeth: avulsed (knocked out) and replanted (2019) · Cochrane | RR 1.21 [1.07, 1.36] | 1 study · 69 participants | Very low |
Intervention NR Clinical and radiographic success · MTA vs CH, 3 months (El-Meligy 2006) Materials for pulpotomy in immature permanent teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2019) | no estimate extracted | 1 study | Ungraded |
Ledermix root canal medicament (day 0 to 10) vs Ultracal root canal medicament (day 7 to 10) Adverse effects · People with avulsed and replanted permanent (front) teeth Interventions for treating traumatised permanent front teeth: avulsed (knocked out) and replanted (2019) · Cochrane | Day 2012 used a formal methodology to identify and report adverse effects, with none identified. | 1 study · 22 participants | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) pulpotomy dressing vs Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) Clinical and radiographic success · Immature (young) permanent teeth with open apex and vital pulp exposed to dental caries or trauma, in children aged… · 6, 12 and 24 months Materials for pulpotomy in immature permanent teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2019) | Single RCT (Keswani 2014, 62 teeth): 100% clinical and radiographic success in both MTA and PRF at 6, 12 and 24 months (MTA 29/29, 27/27, 26/26; PRF 30/30, 29/29, 27/27); no difference between groups; not pooled | 1 study · 62 participants | Ungraded |
Thymosin alpha 1 (10-minute soak prior to replantation) vs Control (saline) Tooth survival at 12 months · People with avulsed and replanted permanent (front) teeth · 12 months Interventions for treating traumatised permanent front teeth: avulsed (knocked out) and replanted (2019) · Cochrane | RR 1.46 [1.11, 1.91] | 1 study · 73 participants | Very low |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) pulpotomy dressing vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) Clinical and radiographic success · Immature (young) permanent teeth with open apex and vital pulp exposed to dental caries or trauma, in children aged… · 6 months Materials for pulpotomy in immature permanent teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2019) | RR 1.00 [0.94, 1.06] | 2 studies · 109 participants | Ungraded |
Extra-oral pulp extirpation at day 0 vs Intra-oral pulp extirpation at day 7 Adverse effects · People with avulsed and replanted permanent (front) teeth Interventions for treating traumatised permanent front teeth: avulsed (knocked out) and replanted (2019) · Cochrane | Giannetti 2006 did not report this outcome; following email correspondence, authors reported no adverse effects were seen (uncertain whether formally assessed). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) pulpotomy dressing vs Calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) cement Clinical and radiographic success · Immature (young) permanent teeth with open apex and vital pulp exposed to dental caries or trauma, in children aged… · 6 and 12 months Materials for pulpotomy in immature permanent teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2019) | Single RCT (Nosrat 2012, 118 roots): 100% clinical and radiographic success in both MTA and CEM at 6 and 12 months (MTA 53/53 then 54/54 roots; CEM 55/55 then 57/57 roots); no statistical difference between groups at… | 1 study · 118 participants | Ungraded |
Ledermix root canal medicament (day 0 to 10) vs Ultracal root canal medicament (day 7 to 10) Aesthetics (discolouration) at 12 months (patient level) · People with avulsed and replanted permanent (front) teeth · 12 months Interventions for treating traumatised permanent front teeth: avulsed (knocked out) and replanted (2019) · Cochrane | RR 7.20 [1.03, 50.28] | 1 study · 22 participants | Very low |
Treatment with antibiotics vs No antibiotics, placebo, or different types of antibiotics Outcome NR · People with avulsed and replanted permanent (front) teeth Interventions for treating traumatised permanent front teeth: avulsed (knocked out) and replanted (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Systemic antibiotic (oral penicillin 500 mg) plus analgesic vs Placebo plus analgesic Total number of ibuprofen tablets · Adults over 18 years presenting with a single tooth with a clinical diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis · 7 days Antibiotic use for irreversible pulpitis (2019) · Cochrane | MD -0.40 [-4.23, 3.43] | 1 study · 40 participants | Low |
Thymosin alpha 1 (10-minute soak prior to replantation) vs Control (saline) Pain · People with avulsed and replanted permanent (front) teeth · day 1 Interventions for treating traumatised permanent front teeth: avulsed (knocked out) and replanted (2019) · Cochrane | A benefit in pain scores was reported on day 1 in favour of the thymosin alpha 1 group; no difference found on days 2 and 5. | 1 study · 73 participants | Ungraded |
Triple antibiotic paste (TAP) vs Abscess remedy (AR) Clinical and radiographic success · Immature (young) permanent teeth with open apex and vital pulp exposed to dental caries or trauma, in children aged… · 3 to 24 months Materials for pulpotomy in immature permanent teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2019) | Single RCT (Eppa 2018, 3-arm; 20 TAP and 20 AR teeth): TAP 100% (20/20) vs abscess remedy 80% (16/20) clinical and radiographic success; difference statistically significant at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months (P<0.05);… | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy vs Pulpectomy Pathological periapical radiolucency · Children with carious vital pulp exposure in primary incisors · Longest follow-up Pulpotomy versus pulpectomy in the treatment of vital pulp exposure in primary incisors. A systematic review… (2019) | The results of two trials showed considerable statistical heterogeneity so no meta-analysis was performed for this outcome. | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Systemic antibiotic (oral penicillin 500 mg) plus analgesic vs Placebo plus analgesic Number of adverse events · Adults over 18 years presenting with a single tooth with a clinical diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis Antibiotic use for irreversible pulpitis (2019) · Cochrane | Number of adverse events: Outcome not reported. | NR | No studies |
Pulpotomy vs Pulpectomy Clinical failure · Children with carious vital pulp exposure in primary incisors · Longest follow-up: 18 to 24 months; 15 to 23 months in Howley et al., Overall Pulpotomy versus pulpectomy in the treatment of vital pulp exposure in primary incisors. A systematic review… (2019) | RR 2.63 [0.76, 9.58] | 2 studies · 264 participants | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) pulpotomy dressing vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) Clinical and radiographic success · Immature (young) permanent teeth with open apex and vital pulp exposed to dental caries or trauma, in children aged… · 12 months Materials for pulpotomy in immature permanent teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2019) | RR 1.04 [0.96, 1.13] | 2 studies · 109 participants | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Calcific metamorphosis (adverse event) · MTA vs CH (El-Meligy 2006) Materials for pulpotomy in immature permanent teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2019) | no estimate extracted | 1 study | Ungraded |
Hyperbaric oxygen (following replantation) vs Control Adverse effects · People with avulsed and replanted permanent (front) teeth Interventions for treating traumatised permanent front teeth: avulsed (knocked out) and replanted (2019) · Cochrane | Chen 2000 did not report this outcome; following email correspondence, authors reported no adverse effects were seen (uncertain whether formally assessed). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy vs Pulpectomy Soft tissue pathology · Children with carious vital pulp exposure in primary incisors · Longest follow-up Pulpotomy versus pulpectomy in the treatment of vital pulp exposure in primary incisors. A systematic review… (2019) | RR 3.11 [0.54, 17.7] | NR | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy vs Pulpectomy Pathological mobility · Children with carious vital pulp exposure in primary incisors · Longest follow-up Pulpotomy versus pulpectomy in the treatment of vital pulp exposure in primary incisors. A systematic review… (2019) | Pathologic mobility was not reported for any tooth in three trials (Howley, Aminabadi, Casas); only one tooth with pathological mobility was reported by Nguyen et al. Not pooled. | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Systemic antibiotic (oral penicillin 500 mg) plus analgesic vs Placebo plus analgesic Patient-reported pain intensity (sum of pain intensity difference (SPID) and sum of pain percussion intensity difference (SPPID)) · Adults over 18 years presenting with a single tooth with a clinical diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis · 7 days Antibiotic use for irreversible pulpitis (2019) · Cochrane | Corresponding risk (Antibiotics): The in between-group differences (median +/- IQR) in SPID for the penicillin group were 6.0 +/- 10.5, and for placebo 6.0 +/- 9.5. The SPPID for the penicillin group was 3.5 +/- 7.5… | 1 study · 40 participants | Low |
Thymosin alpha 1 (10-minute soak prior to replantation) vs Control (saline) Adverse effects · People with avulsed and replanted permanent (front) teeth Interventions for treating traumatised permanent front teeth: avulsed (knocked out) and replanted (2019) · Cochrane | Loo 2008 did not report this outcome; following email correspondence, authors reported no adverse effects were seen (uncertain whether formally assessed). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy vs Pulpectomy Pathological root resorption · Children with carious vital pulp exposure in primary incisors · Longest follow-up Pulpotomy versus pulpectomy in the treatment of vital pulp exposure in primary incisors. A systematic review… (2019) | RR 1.5 [0.56, 4.04] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Ledermix root canal medicament (day 0 to 10) vs Ultracal root canal medicament (day 7 to 10) Tooth survival at 12 months · People with avulsed and replanted permanent (front) teeth · 12 months Interventions for treating traumatised permanent front teeth: avulsed (knocked out) and replanted (2019) · Cochrane | Tooth survival at 12 months: Not estimable (due to no events in either arm); 27 teeth in 22 patients (1 RCT). At 12 months, no teeth were lost. 1 tooth was lost at 16 months in the Ultracal group. | 1 study · 22 participants | Very low |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) pulpotomy dressing vs Abscess remedy (AR) Clinical and radiographic success · Immature (young) permanent teeth with open apex and vital pulp exposed to dental caries or trauma, in children aged… · 3 to 24 months Materials for pulpotomy in immature permanent teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2019) | Single RCT (Eppa 2018, 3-arm; 20 MTA and 20 AR teeth): MTA 100% (20/20) vs abscess remedy 80% (16/20) clinical and radiographic success; the 4 abscess-remedy failures occurred at 3 months; difference statistically… | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Pulpotomy vs Pulpectomy Radiographic failure · Children with carious vital pulp exposure in primary incisors · Longest follow-up (15-24 months) Pulpotomy versus pulpectomy in the treatment of vital pulp exposure in primary incisors. A systematic review… (2019) | RR 0.79 [0.25, 2.42] | 3 studies · 338 participants | Ungraded |
Systemic antibiotic (oral penicillin 500 mg) plus analgesic vs Placebo plus analgesic Total number of paracetamol (acetaminophen) with codeine (Tylenol) tablets · Adults over 18 years presenting with a single tooth with a clinical diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis · 7 days Antibiotic use for irreversible pulpitis (2019) · Cochrane | MD 2.45 [-1.23, 6.13] | 1 study · 40 participants | Low |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) pulpotomy dressing vs Triple antibiotic paste (TAP) Clinical and radiographic success · Immature (young) permanent teeth with open apex and vital pulp exposed to dental caries or trauma, in children aged… · 1 to 24 months Materials for pulpotomy in immature permanent teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2019) | Single RCT (Eppa 2018, 3-arm; 20 MTA and 20 TAP teeth): 100% clinical and radiographic success in both MTA and TAP at all follow-ups (1-24 months); no difference between groups; not pooled | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Storage of the tooth prior to replantation (storage medium) vs Different storage medium or dry storage Outcome NR · People with avulsed and replanted permanent (front) teeth Interventions for treating traumatised permanent front teeth: avulsed (knocked out) and replanted (2019) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Intervention NR Marginal restoration discoloration (adverse event) · MTA vs CH (Ozgur 2017) Materials for pulpotomy in immature permanent teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2019) | no estimate extracted | 1 study | Ungraded |
Extra-oral pulp extirpation at day 0 vs Intra-oral pulp extirpation at day 7 Radiographic resorption (proxy measure for periodontal healing) at 12 months · People with avulsed and replanted permanent (front) teeth · 12 months Interventions for treating traumatised permanent front teeth: avulsed (knocked out) and replanted (2019) · Cochrane | RR 1.35 [0.81, 2.24] | 1 study · 19 participants | Very low |
Pulpotomy vs Pulpectomy Pain · Children with carious vital pulp exposure in primary incisors · Longest follow-up Pulpotomy versus pulpectomy in the treatment of vital pulp exposure in primary incisors. A systematic review… (2019) | RR 2.06 [0.31, 13.8] | NR | Ungraded |
Hyperbaric oxygen (following replantation) vs Control Pulpal healing at 12 months · People with avulsed and replanted permanent (front) teeth · 12 months Interventions for treating traumatised permanent front teeth: avulsed (knocked out) and replanted (2019) · Cochrane | RR 1.25 [1.06, 1.48] | 1 study · 69 participants | Very low |
Pulpotomy vs Pulpectomy Pulp canal obliteration · Children with carious vital pulp exposure in primary incisors · 23-24 months Pulpotomy versus pulpectomy in the treatment of vital pulp exposure in primary incisors. A systematic review… (2019) | Pulp canal obliteration seen in 18 teeth (60%) in the pulpotomy group at 23 months (Howley et al.); none at 2 years (Aminabadi et al.); 3 teeth (25%) in the pulpotomy group at 2 years (Casas et al.). Not pooled. | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Clinical and radiographic success · MTA vs CH, 18 and 24 months (Ozgur 2017) Materials for pulpotomy in immature permanent teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2019) | no estimate extracted | 1 study | Ungraded |
Hyperbaric oxygen (following replantation) vs Control Periodontal healing at 12 months · People with avulsed and replanted permanent (front) teeth · 12 months Interventions for treating traumatised permanent front teeth: avulsed (knocked out) and replanted (2019) · Cochrane | RR 2.04 [1.52, 2.73] | 1 study · 69 participants | Very low |
Thymosin alpha 1 (10-minute soak prior to replantation) vs Control (saline) Periodontal healing at 48 months · People with avulsed and replanted permanent (front) teeth · 48 months Interventions for treating traumatised permanent front teeth: avulsed (knocked out) and replanted (2019) · Cochrane | RR 5.60 [2.22, 14.11] | 1 study · 73 participants | Very low |
Systemic antibiotic (oral penicillin 500 mg) plus analgesic vs Placebo plus analgesic Patient-reported pain relief · Adults over 18 years presenting with a single tooth with a clinical diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis Antibiotic use for irreversible pulpitis (2019) · Cochrane | Patient-reported pain relief: Outcome not reported. | NR | No studies |
Pulpotomy vs Pulpectomy Radiographic failure · Children with carious vital pulp exposure in primary incisors · Longest follow-up (18-23 months), Sensitivity analysis excluding Aminabadi et al. (outlier) Pulpotomy versus pulpectomy in the treatment of vital pulp exposure in primary incisors. A systematic review… (2019) | RR 0.45 [0.25, 0.83] | 2 studies · 246 participants | Ungraded |
Ledermix root canal medicament (day 0 to 10) vs Ultracal root canal medicament (day 7 to 10) Periodontal healing at 12 months (tooth level) · People with avulsed and replanted permanent (front) teeth · 12 months Interventions for treating traumatised permanent front teeth: avulsed (knocked out) and replanted (2019) · Cochrane | RR 1.67 [0.80, 3.49] | 1 study · 22 participants | Very low |
Thymosin alpha 1 (10-minute soak prior to replantation) vs Control (saline) Tooth survival at 48 months · People with avulsed and replanted permanent (front) teeth · 48 months Interventions for treating traumatised permanent front teeth: avulsed (knocked out) and replanted (2019) · Cochrane | RR 3.58 [1.86, 6.89] | 1 study · 73 participants | Very low |
Glutaraldehyde + zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) vs Full strength formocresol (FC) Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 3 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.46 [0.04, 4.74] | 1 study · 48 participants | Ungraded |
Metapex (calcium hydroxide/iodoform) vs Endoflas chlorophenol free (Endoflas-CF) Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6 and 12 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.33 [0.35, 5.03] | 1 study · 32 participants | Ungraded |
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) + calcium hydroxide vs Formocresol (FC) Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 12 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 7.00 [0.39, 124.83] | 1 study · 30 participants | Ungraded |
Biodentine vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6 and 12 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.33 [0.01, 7.72] | 1 study · 62 participants | Ungraded |