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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.

Limit to evidence status or GRADE (optional)

866 questions in 43 reviews · Oral and maxillofacial surgery

current versions
No studies 188 · 21.7%Ungraded 548 · 63.3%Very low 81 · 9.4%Low 37 · 4.3%Moderate 8 · 0.9%High 4 · 0.5%

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
Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) vs No cleft lip and/or palate (non-CL/P)
Care index (CI = f/[d+m+f]) in the primary dentition · Children in the primary dentition with non-syndromic cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) and comparable children without CL/P
Caries in children with and without orofacial clefting: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022)
Two out of three studies for which the CI could be calculated (Nagappan 2019; Veiga 2016) showed a higher CI for non-CL/P children demonstrating a higher proportion of extraction-based treatment in CL/P children…3 studiesUngraded
Concentrated growth factor (CGF) and primary wound closure vs Primary wound closure only
Healing of MRONJ (soft tissue healing) · Women with osteoporosis and established MRONJ · 6 months
Interventions for managing medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (2022) · Cochrane
RR 1.38 [0.81, 2.34]1 study · 28 participantsVery low
Platelet-rich fibrin after bone surgery vs Bone surgery alone
Healing of MRONJ (mucosal integrity and absence of infection) · People with established (manifest) MRONJ · 1 year
Interventions for managing medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (2022) · Cochrane
RR 1.05 [0.90, 1.22]1 study · 47 participantsVery low
Hypnosis vs Relaxation
Adverse events · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer
Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane
Abrahamsen 2011: one participant who received hypnosis was admitted to a psychiatric hospital during the intervention; per study authors this was unrelated to the study treatment.1 studyUngraded
Heal-all tissue patch vs No treatment
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 0.08 [0.00, 1.32]1 study · 80 participantsUngraded
Chlorhexidine rinse (0.12% and 0.2%, pre- and post-extraction) vs Placebo or no treatment
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 0.38 [0.25, 0.58]6 studies · 1547 participantsModerate
Gaseous ozone vs Placebo or control
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 0.20 [0.02, 1.61]1 study · 60 participantsUngraded
Artemisia desertorum spreng (Shahaosan) 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 0.13 [0.02, 1.02]1 study · 188 participantsUngraded
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs Alternative (active) treatment (e.g. oral splint, medication, self-care or disease management)
Additional physical symptoms · 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 additional physical symptoms).NRNo studies
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs Usual care, waiting list or no treatment (control)
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 for this comparison.NRNo studies
Mindfulness plus medication vs Medication alone
Pain intensity · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer
Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane
Shevtsova 2020: data could not be combined; both groups achieved at least a 30% reduction in pain from baseline at treatment completion and follow-up (Table 1). No between-group MD reported.1 studyUngraded
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs Alternative (active) treatment (e.g. oral splint, medication, self-care or disease management)
Disability caused by pain 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 -0.15 [-0.40, 0.10]3 studies · 245 participantsLow
Zinc oxide eugenol vs Alvogyl (old formulation)
Healing · Adults (>18 years) with established dry socket following permanent tooth extraction
Local interventions for the management of alveolar osteitis (dry socket) (2022) · Cochrane
Healing: 2 studies (Faizel 2015; Supe 2018) used different healing outcomes and could not be combined; Alvogyl appeared to heal faster than zinc oxide eugenol. Supe 2018: delayed (non-healed after 10 days) 2/25 Alvogyl…2 studiesUngraded
Platelet-rich fibrin after bone surgery vs Bone surgery alone
Healing of MRONJ (mucosal integrity, absence of infection, and no re-intervention) · People with established (manifest) MRONJ · 1 year
Interventions for managing medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (2022) · Cochrane
RR 1.60 [1.04, 2.46]1 study · 47 participantsVery low
Alvogyl vs Platelet rich fibrin
Pain · Adults (>18 years) with established dry socket following permanent tooth extraction
Local interventions for the management of alveolar osteitis (dry socket) (2022) · Cochrane
Alvogyl versus platelet rich fibrin (Keshini 2020): single study (30 participants); no usable pooled estimate extracted1 study · 30 participantsUngraded
Metronidazole (intrasocket) vs Placebo
Duration of treatment (days) · Adults (>18 years) with established dry socket following permanent tooth extraction
Local interventions for the management of alveolar osteitis (dry socket) (2022) · Cochrane
MD -3.17 [-5.30, -1.04]1 study · 55 participantsUngraded
Delicate surgery and wound closure by primary intention vs Non-traumatic tooth avulsion and wound closure by secondary intention
Rate of complications and side effects of the intervention · People treated with oral bisphosphonates undergoing dental extractions (at risk of MRONJ)
Interventions for managing medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (2022) · Cochrane
No intraoperative complications were observed in either of the two groups.1 study · 700 participantsUngraded
Autofluorescence-guided bone surgery vs Conventional bone surgery
Healing of MRONJ · People with established (manifest) MRONJ · 1 year
Interventions for managing medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (2022) · Cochrane
RR 1.08 [0.85, 1.37]1 study · 30 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Caries experience - % with caries (descriptive), primary dentition · CL/P vs no CL/P; Table 4 (7 groups/6 studies)
Caries in children with and without orofacial clefting: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022)
% caries experience CL/P 64.84% vs no CL/P 52.13%6 studiesUngraded
Povidone iodine 1% vs Control
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 0.36 [0.14, 0.98]1 study · 189 participantsUngraded
Plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) vs Alvogyl
Pain (VAS cm) · Adults (>18 years) with established dry socket following permanent tooth extraction · Day 7 (also day 3)
Local interventions for the management of alveolar osteitis (dry socket) (2022) · Cochrane
MD -0.40 [-1.77, 0.97]1 study · 44 participantsUngraded
Recombinant bovine fibroblast growth factor gel vs Control
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 0.10 [0.01, 0.76]1 study · 160 participantsUngraded
Neocone vs Zinc oxide eugenol
Time to initial pain relief (minutes) · Adults (>18 years) with established dry socket following permanent tooth extraction · Initial pain relief
Local interventions for the management of alveolar osteitis (dry socket) (2022) · Cochrane
MD -7.77 [-8.86, -6.68]1 study · 78 participantsUngraded
Relaxation vs Occlusal (oral) appliance
Adverse events · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer · Adolescents (12-19 years)
Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane
Wahlund 2015: reported no adverse treatment effects from treatment with an occlusal appliance or with relaxation therapy.1 studyUngraded
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs Usual care, waiting list or no treatment (control)
Pain intensity at follow-up (12 months) · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer · Follow-up (12 months)
Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane
SMD -0.30 [-0.51, -0.09]6 studies · 639 participantsLow
Platelet rich fibrin vs Control
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 0.44 [0.15, 1.35]1 study · 100 participantsUngraded
Chlorhexidine rinse (0.12% and 0.2%, pre- and post-extraction) vs Placebo or no treatment
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
3 trials reported no adverse events. 1 study reported adverse events (alterations in taste, bad taste, staining) in 24/62 in chlorhexidine group versus 0/40 in placebo group, Peto OR = 8.42 (95% CI 3.31 to 21.39). A…6 studiesUngraded
Iodine tampon vs Saline irrigation (monoject syringe)
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
Iodine tampon versus rinsing with saline in a syringe (Tuk 2019): Iodine tampon 0/54 Monoject with saline 0/54; no events (effect not estimable)1 study · 108 participantsUngraded
Hypnosis vs Relaxation
Pain intensity · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer · Treatment completion
Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane
Not pooled (clinical heterogeneity). Abrahamsen 2011: MD -1.00 (95% CI -2.27 to 0.27), n=38 (hypnosis 19, relaxation 19); Stam 1984: MD not reported, n=27 (hypnosis 12, relaxation 15).2 studies · 65 participantsUngraded
Habit reversal treatment vs Waiting-list control
Pain intensity · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer · Treatment completion
Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane
MD -1.31 [-1.97, -0.65]1 study · 20 participantsUngraded
Intervention NR
Caries experience - mean dft (descriptive), primary dentition · CL/P vs no CL/P; Table 4 (1 group/1 study, Howe 2017)
Caries in children with and without orofacial clefting: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022)
Mean dft (SD) CL/P 0.59 (SD 1.35) vs no CL/P 0.11 (SD 0.54)1 studyUngraded
Alvogyl 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
Alvogyl 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 significant (P<0.05) at…1 studyUngraded
Isolated cleft palate (CP) or other specific cleft type vs Cleft lip and palate (CLP) or other cleft type
Caries experience by cleft type · Children in the primary dentition with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P)
Caries in children with and without orofacial clefting: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022)
Five studies investigated caries experience by cleft type (Howe 2017; Kirchberg 2014; Mutarai 2008; Sunderji 2017; Zhu 2010). A subgroup analysis comparing CP and CL/P as different entities was not possible due to the…5 studiesUngraded
Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) vs No cleft lip and/or palate (non-CL/P)
Caries experience in the primary dentition (dmft/dmfs/dfs/deft/ds; pooled as standardized mean difference) · Children in the primary dentition with non-syndromic cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) and comparable children without CL/P · Mixed dentition
Caries in children with and without orofacial clefting: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022)
SMD 1.74 [0.24, 3.25]4 studies · 789 participantsUngraded
Education vs Usual care
Pain intensity · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer
Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane
Lupton 1968: multi-arm study; education arm versus usual care. No usable pain-reduction data reported and could not be combined in meta-analysis (Table 1).1 studyUngraded
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs Alternative (active) treatment (e.g. oral splint, medication, self-care or disease management)
Disability caused by pain at follow-up · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer · Follow-up
Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane
SMD -0.15 [-0.42, 0.12]3 studies · 245 participantsLow
Delicate surgery and wound closure by primary intention vs Non-traumatic tooth avulsion and wound closure by secondary intention
Incidence of MRONJ · People treated with oral bisphosphonates undergoing dental extractions (at risk of MRONJ)
Interventions for managing medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (2022) · Cochrane
In both study arms, no case of postoperative MRONJ was observed (700 participants; 1 RCT); effect not estimable.1 study · 700 participantsUngraded
Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) together with platelet-rich fibrin vs Platelet-rich fibrin alone
Healing of MRONJ · People with established (manifest) MRONJ · 16 weeks
Interventions for managing medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (2022) · Cochrane
RR 1.10 [0.94, 1.29]1 study · 55 participantsVery low
Zinc oxide eugenol vs Alvogyl (old formulation)
Pain (VAS 0-10) · Adults (>18 years) with established dry socket following permanent tooth extraction · Day 7
Local interventions for the management of alveolar osteitis (dry socket) (2022) · Cochrane
MD 1.40 [1.04, 1.75]2 studies · 80 participantsVery low
Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) vs No cleft lip and/or palate (non-CL/P)
Caries experience in the primary dentition (dmft/dmfs/dfs/deft/ds; pooled as standardized mean difference) · Children in the primary dentition with non-syndromic cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) and comparable children without CL/P · Primary dentition
Caries in children with and without orofacial clefting: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022)
SMD 0.27 [0.06, 0.49]10 studies · 2366 participantsUngraded
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) as an adjunct to conventional therapy vs Conventional therapy
Healing of MRONJ · People with established (manifest) MRONJ · up to 24 months (at last follow-up)
Interventions for managing medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (2022) · Cochrane
RR 1.56 [0.77, 3.18]1 study · 46 participantsVery low
CBT plus hypnosis (combined package) vs Usual care
Pain intensity · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer · Treatment completion
Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane
MD -2.32 [-3.52, -1.12]1 study · 59 participantsUngraded
Chlorhexidine rinse (0.2%) pre- and post-extraction vs Chlorhexidine rinse (0.2%) post-extraction only
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 0.58 [0.15, 2.17]1 study · 99 participantsUngraded
Neocone vs Zinc oxide eugenol
Time to complete resolution of pain (days) · Adults (>18 years) with established dry socket following permanent tooth extraction · Complete resolution of pain
Local interventions for the management of alveolar osteitis (dry socket) (2022) · Cochrane
MD -3.79 [-4.04, -3.54]1 study · 78 participantsUngraded
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) vs Usual care, waiting list or no treatment (control)
Pain disability 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 0.02 [-0.21, 0.24]3 studies · 315 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Caries experience - mean dfs (descriptive), primary dentition · CL/P vs no CL/P; Table 4 (1 group/1 study, Dahllof 1989)
Caries in children with and without orofacial clefting: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022)
Mean dfs (SD) CL/P 7 (SD 8.5) vs no CL/P 3.9 (SD 5.1)1 studyUngraded
Counselling (non-directive) vs Usual care
Pain intensity · People aged 12 years and over with painful TMD lasting 3 months or longer
Psychological therapies for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) (2022) · Cochrane
Lupton 1968: multi-arm study; counselling arm versus usual care. No usable pain-reduction data reported and could not be combined in meta-analysis (Table 1).1 studyUngraded
Dental examinations at three-month intervals and preventive treatments vs Standard care
MRONJ (incidence proportion) · Men with metastatic prostate cancer receiving intravenous zoledronic acid (at risk of MRONJ) · mean 32 months
Interventions for managing medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (2022) · Cochrane
RR 0.10 [0.02, 0.39]1 study · 253 participantsVery low
Metronidazole gel (25%, intrasocket) vs Placebo gel
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 0.53 [0.23, 1.20]1 study · 302 participantsUngraded
Herbal mouthrinse vs Chlorhexidine 0.2% mouthrinse
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 0.50 [0.05, 5.17]1 study · 50 participantsUngraded