What do systematic reviews say?

Chlorhexidine mouthrinse (any concentration; 0.05% to 0.2%) used in conjunction with mechanical oral hygiene procedures vs Placebo/control mouthrinse, or no mouthrinse (mechanical oral hygiene alone); controls pooled (protocol's separate comparisons versus mechanical oral hygiene alone and versus placebo/control merged)

• Chlorhexidine mouthrinse as an adjunctive treatment for gingival health 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
  SoF narrative row (Other adverse effects): 22 trials reported at least 1 adverse effect apart from extrinsic tooth staining and calculus formation in the chlorhexidine rinse arms. The adverse effects most commonly…
  22 studies
  GRADE not reported

Systemic oral acyclovir vs placebo or no treatment

Systemic oral acyclovir led to lower number of individuals with oral lesions (8 days after… compared with placebo or no treatment; GRADE not reported.

• Acyclovir for treating primary herpetic gingivostomatitis 2008 · Cochrane All outcomes

  8 days after administration
  RR 0.10 [0.02, 0.38]
  1 study · 72 participants
  GRADE not reported

Systemic oral acyclovir vs placebo or no treatment

Systemic oral acyclovir led to lower number of individuals who developed new extraoral lesions after… compared with placebo or no treatment; GRADE not reported.

• Acyclovir for treating primary herpetic gingivostomatitis 2008 · Cochrane All outcomes

  After administration
  RR 0.04 [0.00, 0.65]
  1 study · 72 participants
  GRADE not reported

Chlorhexidine mouthrinse (any concentration; 0.05% to 0.2%) used in conjunction with mechanical oral hygiene procedures vs Placebo/control mouthrinse, or no mouthrinse (mechanical oral hygiene alone); controls pooled (protocol's separate comparisons versus mechanical oral hygiene alone and versus placebo/control merged)

Chlorhexidine mouthrinse (any concentration; 0.05% to 0.2%) used in… showed no clear difference in supragingival calculus formation (various calculus indices) compared with placebo/control mouthrinse, or no mouthrinse (mechanical oral…; GRADE not reported.

• Chlorhexidine mouthrinse as an adjunctive treatment for gingival health 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 to 6 weeks
  SMD 0.02 [-0.09, 0.14]
  2 studies · 102 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Chlorhexidine mouthrinse as an adjunctive treatment for gingival health 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  7 to 12 weeks
  SMD 0.32 [-0.04, 0.69]
  6 studies · 425 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Chlorhexidine mouthrinse as an adjunctive treatment for gingival health 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 months
  SMD 0.80 [0.33, 1.26]
  4 studies · 323 participants
  GRADE not reported

Chlorhexidine mouthrinse (any concentration; 0.05% to 0.2%) used in conjunction with mechanical oral hygiene procedures vs Placebo/control mouthrinse, or no mouthrinse (mechanical oral hygiene alone); controls pooled (protocol's separate comparisons versus mechanical oral hygiene alone and versus placebo/control merged)

Chlorhexidine mouthrinse (any concentration; 0.05% to 0.2%) used in… leads to lower gingivitis (gingival inflammation) measured by Gingival Index of Loe… compared with placebo/control mouthrinse, or no mouthrinse (mechanical oral… (high certainty).

• Chlorhexidine mouthrinse as an adjunctive treatment for gingival health 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 to 6 weeks
  MD -0.21 [-0.31, -0.11]
  10 studies · 805 participants
  High
• Chlorhexidine mouthrinse as an adjunctive treatment for gingival health 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 months
  MD -0.20 [-0.30, -0.11]
  13 studies · 2616 participants
  High

Chlorhexidine mouthrinse (any concentration; 0.05% to 0.2%) used in conjunction with mechanical oral hygiene procedures vs Placebo/control mouthrinse, or no mouthrinse (mechanical oral hygiene alone); controls pooled (protocol's separate comparisons versus mechanical oral hygiene alone and versus placebo/control merged)

Chlorhexidine mouthrinse (any concentration; 0.05% to 0.2%) used in… led to lower gingival bleeding (various bleeding indices) compared with placebo/control mouthrinse, or no mouthrinse (mechanical oral…; GRADE not reported.

• Chlorhexidine mouthrinse as an adjunctive treatment for gingival health 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 to 6 weeks
  SMD -0.56 [-0.79, -0.33]
  8 studies · 649 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Chlorhexidine mouthrinse as an adjunctive treatment for gingival health 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 months
  SMD -0.72 [-1.02, -0.42]
  8 studies · 1132 participants
  GRADE not reported

Chlorhexidine mouthrinse (any concentration; 0.05% to 0.2%) used in conjunction with mechanical oral hygiene procedures vs Placebo/control mouthrinse, or no mouthrinse (mechanical oral hygiene alone); controls pooled (protocol's separate comparisons versus mechanical oral hygiene alone and versus placebo/control merged)

Chlorhexidine mouthrinse (any concentration; 0.05% to 0.2%) used in… leads to lower dental plaque (various plaque indices) compared with placebo/control mouthrinse, or no mouthrinse (mechanical oral… (high certainty).

• Chlorhexidine mouthrinse as an adjunctive treatment for gingival health 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 months
  SMD -1.43 [-1.76, -1.10]
  11 studies · 2075 participants
  High
• Chlorhexidine mouthrinse as an adjunctive treatment for gingival health 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 to 6 weeks
  SMD -1.45 [-1.90, -1.00]
  12 studies · 950 participants
  High

Chlorhexidine mouthrinse (any concentration; 0.05% to 0.2%) used in conjunction with mechanical oral hygiene procedures vs Placebo/control mouthrinse, or no mouthrinse (mechanical oral hygiene alone); controls pooled (protocol's separate comparisons versus mechanical oral hygiene alone and versus placebo/control merged)

Chlorhexidine mouthrinse (any concentration; 0.05% to 0.2%) used in… led to higher extrinsic tooth staining (various staining indices) compared with placebo/control mouthrinse, or no mouthrinse (mechanical oral…; GRADE not reported.

• Chlorhexidine mouthrinse as an adjunctive treatment for gingival health 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 months
  SMD 1.54 [1.22, 1.86]
  4 studies · 323 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Chlorhexidine mouthrinse as an adjunctive treatment for gingival health 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 to 6 weeks
  SMD 1.07 [0.80, 1.34]
  8 studies · 415 participants
  Moderate

Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs Educational intervention (oral hygiene education/instruction)

• Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes

  5 weeks (2 weeks post-intervention)
  Stewart 1991: for self reported brushing only the comparison of the control group with the cognitive behavioural intervention was significant; the cognitive behavioural (psychological) intervention showed no…
  1 study · 50 participants
  GRADE not reported

Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs Educational intervention (oral hygiene education/instruction)

• Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes

  5 weeks (2 weeks post-intervention)
  Stewart 1991: while the educational intervention group and the cognitive behavioural intervention group both showed significant differences compared to the control group in plaque scores, the cognitive behavioural…
  1 study · 50 participants
  GRADE not reported

Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs Educational intervention (oral hygiene education/instruction)

• Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes

  5 weeks (2 weeks post-intervention)
  Stewart 1991: there were no differences between the educational intervention group and the cognitive behavioural (psychological) intervention group for self reported flossing; improvements in flossing could not be…
  1 study · 50 participants
  GRADE not reported

Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs Educational intervention (oral hygiene education/instruction)

• Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Stewart 1996: there was no difference in change in dental knowledge at post-intervention between the educational and psychological groups (both improved significantly relative to control).
  1 study · 78 participants
  GRADE not reported

Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs Educational intervention (oral hygiene education/instruction)

• Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Stewart 1996: the psychological intervention group demonstrated significantly higher change in self efficacy scores for flossing at post-intervention compared to the educational group (there was no difference in the…
  1 study · 78 participants
  GRADE not reported

Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs usual care or no treatment

• Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 months
  Little 1997 observed and rated participants on flossing skill; Analysis of Covariance found a significant difference favouring the intervention group.
  1 study · 107 participants
  GRADE not reported

Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs usual care or no treatment

• Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes
  The impact of psychological interventions on clinical markers was assessed in three studies (Little 1997; Stewart 1991; Weinstein 1996). All three found that psychological interventions resulted in improved plaque…
  3 studies
  GRADE not reported

Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs usual care or no treatment

• Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Stewart 1996: the psychological intervention group demonstrated significantly higher change in self efficacy scores for flossing at post-intervention compared to the other two groups (control and educational). Flossing…
  1 study · 117 participants
  GRADE not reported

Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs attention control

• Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Weinstein 1996 reported that the psychological intervention led to improvements in plaque score greater than that noted in the attention control group; however the sample size in each arm was very small (n=5) and the…
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs usual care or no treatment

• Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 months
  Little 1997: no change in pocket depth; there were no differences between the intervention and control groups in overall change in pocket depth. (Some analyses suggested greater change in the intervention group when…
  1 study · 107 participants
  GRADE not reported

Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs usual care or no treatment

• Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 months
  Little 1997 reported decreased gingival bleeding in the active intervention group: gingival bleeding present in 9% of the intervention group at baseline and 4% at 4-month follow up, versus 10% of the control group on…
  1 study · 107 participants
  GRADE not reported

Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs usual care or no treatment

• Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 months
  Little 1997: no change in attachment loss; no differences between the intervention and control groups in overall change in attachment (loss of attachment) markers.
  1 study · 107 participants
  GRADE not reported