What do systematic reviews say?

Sodium bicarbonate rinse (plus toothbrushing) vs Water rinse (plus toothbrushing)

Sodium bicarbonate rinse (plus toothbrushing) showed no clear difference in incidence of VAP compared with water rinse (plus toothbrushing); GRADE not reported.

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  RR 1.57 [0.62, 3.99]
  2 studies · 347 participants
  GRADE not reported

The wand (computer-controlled LA delivery system) vs other local anaesthetic

The wand (computer-controlled LA delivery system) showed no clear difference in pain perception during the intervention (pooled) compared with traditional local anaesthetic; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for increasing acceptance of local anaesthetic in children and adolescents having dental treatment 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  During LA (injection is the intervention)
  RR 1.15 [0.83, 1.59]
  2 studies · 68 participants
  GRADE not reported

Levofloxacin + SRP vs SRP

Levofloxacin + SRP showed no clear difference in adverse events compared with SRP; GRADE not reported.

• Adjunctive systemic antimicrobials for the non‐surgical treatment of periodontitis 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Both included trials (Pradeep 2014; Pradeep 2015) reported dizziness and diarrhoea in the levofloxacin + SRP group.
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall

Clinical examination with risk-based recall showed no clear difference in oral health attitudes (1-7 scale) compared with clinical examination with 6-month recall; GRADE not reported.

• Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 years
  MD 0.04 [-0.04, 0.12]
  1 study · 1607 participants
  GRADE not reported

Clinical examination with 24-month recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall

Clinical examination with 24-month recall showed no clear difference in periodontal disease: probing pocket depth (mm) compared with clinical examination with 6-month recall (moderate certainty).

• Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 years
  MD -0.03 [-0.12, 0.06]
  1 study · 270 participants
  Moderate

Counter-stimulation or distraction vs Conventional treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for increasing acceptance of local anaesthetic in children and adolescents having dental treatment 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Immediately before or during LA
  Successful LA/painless treatment: included studies did not report on this outcome
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Clinical examination with 24-month recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall

Clinical examination with 24-month recall showed no clear difference in oral-health-related quality of life (OHIP-14) compared with clinical examination with 6-month recall (high certainty).

• Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 years
  MD -0.24 [-1.55, 1.07]
  1 study · 305 participants
  High

Antimicrobial coolant A (chlorhexidine) vs povidone‐iodine

It is very uncertain whether antimicrobial coolant A (chlorhexidine) changes reduction in level of contamination in aerosols (CFU): chlorhexidine… compared with antimicrobial coolant B (povidone iodine) (very low certainty).

• Interventions to reduce contaminated aerosols produced during dental procedures for preventing infectious diseases 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD -59.30 [-64.16, -54.44]
  1 study · 20 participants
  Very low

Saline rinse vs usual or supportive care

Saline rinse showed no clear difference in duration of mechanical ventilation compared with usual care (no rinse); GRADE not reported.

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD -0.40 [-2.55, 1.75]
  2 studies · 324 participants
  GRADE not reported

Tetracycline + SRP vs SRP

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Adjunctive systemic antimicrobials for the non‐surgical treatment of periodontitis 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Long-term (≥ 1 year)
  Included studies have not reported this outcome
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Antimicrobial coolant A (chlorhexidine) vs Antimicrobial coolant B (cinnamon extract)

It is very uncertain whether antimicrobial coolant A (chlorhexidine) changes reduction in level of contamination in aerosols (CFU): chlorhexidine… compared with antimicrobial coolant B (cinnamon extract) (very low certainty).

• Interventions to reduce contaminated aerosols produced during dental procedures for preventing infectious diseases 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  MD -11.90 [-35.88, 12.08]
  1 study · 40 participants
  Very low

Moxifloxacin + SRP vs SRP

Moxifloxacin + SRP led to lower probing pocket depth compared with SRP; GRADE not reported.

• Adjunctive systemic antimicrobials for the non‐surgical treatment of periodontitis 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Intermediate-term (> 3 months to < 1 year)
  MD -0.42 [-0.74, -0.10]
  1 study · 40 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Adjunctive systemic antimicrobials for the non‐surgical treatment of periodontitis 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Short-term (≤ 3 months)
  MD -0.55 [-0.87, -0.23]
  1 study · 40 participants
  GRADE not reported

Chlorhexidine vs Nanosil (nanosilver)

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Chlorhexidine versus Nanosil (Khaky 2018): no evidence of a difference in mortality; single study.
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Amoxicillin + metronidazole + SRP vs SRP

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Adjunctive systemic antimicrobials for the non‐surgical treatment of periodontitis 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Long-term (≥ 1 year)
  Included studies have not reported this outcome
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Any antimicrobial mouthwash and/or nasal spray (alone or in combination), at any concentration, delivered to healthcare workers, with or without the same intervention given to the patients with COVID-19 vs No treatment or saline or water

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Use of antimicrobial mouthwashes (gargling) and nasal sprays by healthcare workers to protect them when treating… 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No data available (no included studies)
  0 studies
  No studies found

Pre-cooling of the injection site vs Conventional treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for increasing acceptance of local anaesthetic in children and adolescents having dental treatment 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Immediately before LA
  Completion of dental treatment: included studies did not report on this outcome
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Triamcinolone plus systemic glucosamine sulphate (adjunctive) vs triamcinolone

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Hesen 2017: no benefit of adjunctive systemic glucosamine sulphate for pain (low to very low certainty collectively)
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 24-month recall

Clinical examination with risk-based recall showed no clear difference in oral-health-related quality of life (OHIP-14) compared with clinical examination with 24-month recall (high certainty).

• Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 years
  MD -0.37 [-1.69, 0.95]
  1 study · 298 participants
  High

Cefixime + SRP vs SRP

Cefixime + SRP showed no clear difference in adverse events compared with SRP; GRADE not reported.

• Adjunctive systemic antimicrobials for the non‐surgical treatment of periodontitis 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  The only included trial (Dukic 2016) reported nausea, dizziness and/or anorexia in the cefixime + SRP group.
  1 study · 60 participants
  GRADE not reported

Antimicrobial mouthwash and/or nasal spray (alone or in combination), any concentration, frequency or dosage vs No treatment or saline or water

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Antimicrobial mouthwashes (gargling) and nasal sprays administered to patients with suspected or confirmed COVID‐19… 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Minimum 2 weeks
  No data available (no included studies)
  0 studies
  No studies found