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Search review questions
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.
264 questions in 10 reviews · Other oral health
current versionsNo studies 45 · 17%Ungraded 127 · 48.1%Very low 24 · 9.1%Low 46 · 17.4%Moderate 13 · 4.9%High 9 · 3.4%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Traditional screening (referral card given if the inspecting dentist judges the child needs to see a dentist) vs No screening Proportion of children with treated/untreated caries · 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 | Proportion of children with treated/untreated caries: Not reported (Summary of findings 1). | 0 studies | No studies |
Criteria-based screening (dentist refers using pre-established criteria) vs Traditional screening Dental attendance · School children, primary and secondary schools in the UK · 3 to 4 months School dental screening programmes for oral health (2022) · Cochrane | RR 1.01 [0.94, 1.08] | 2 studies · 5316 participants | Very low |
Traditional screening (referral card given if the inspecting dentist judges the child needs to see a dentist) vs No screening Developmental defects of enamel measured by any validated index · 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 | No studies measured developmental defects of enamel (by any validated index). | 0 studies | No studies |
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 |
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 |
Traditional screening (referral card given if the inspecting dentist judges the child needs to see a dentist) vs No screening Dental attendance · School children (aged 4 to 15 years), primary and secondary schools in the UK and India · 3 to 4 months School dental screening programmes for oral health (2022) · Cochrane | Data not pooled; 6281 participants (4 RCTs); Very low. There was substantial heterogeneity, in part due to study design (3 cluster-RCTs and 1 individually randomised trial). We are unable to draw conclusions about this… | 4 studies · 6281 participants | Very low |
Traditional screening with motivation (oral health education and offer of free treatment) vs Traditional screening alone Dental attendance · School children, primary and secondary schools in India · mean 3 months School dental screening programmes for oral health (2022) · Cochrane | RR 3.08 [2.57, 3.71] | 1 study · 2486 participants | Very low |
Traditional screening (referral card given if the inspecting dentist judges the child needs to see a dentist) vs No screening Gingivitis measured by any validated index · 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 | No studies measured gingivitis (by any validated index). | 0 studies | No studies |
Referral letter based on the common-sense model (CSM) of self-regulation vs Standard referral letter Proportion of children with treated/untreated caries (receipt of dental care) · School children, primary schools in the USA · mean 8 months School dental screening programmes for oral health (2022) · Cochrane | OR 0.97 [0.62, 1.51] | 1 study · 388 participants | Very low |
Criteria-based screening with specific (personalised) referral letter vs Criteria-based screening with non-specific referral letter Dental attendance at orthodontist · School children, secondary school in the UK (aged 11 to 13 years) · mean 8 months School dental screening programmes for oral health (2022) · Cochrane | RR 1.90 [1.18, 3.06] | 1 study · 201 participants | Very low |
Referral letter based on the common-sense model (CSM) plus dental information guide (DIG) vs Referral letter based on the common-sense model (CSM) alone Proportion of children with treated/untreated caries (receipt of dental care) · School children, primary schools in the USA · mean 8 months School dental screening programmes for oral health (2022) · Cochrane | OR 1.30 [0.85, 1.99] | 1 study · 411 participants | Very low |
Traditional screening (referral card given if the inspecting dentist judges the child needs to see a dentist) vs No screening Malocclusion or orthodontic treatment needs measured by any validated index · 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 | No studies measured malocclusion or orthodontic treatment needs (by any validated index). | 0 studies | No studies |
Traditional screening (referral card given if the inspecting dentist judges the child needs to see a dentist) vs No screening Proportion of children with other untreated oral health needs · 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 | Proportion of children with other treated/untreated oral health need: Not reported (Summary of findings 1). | 0 studies | No studies |
Referral to a specific dental treatment facility vs Generic advice letter to see a dentist Number of caries in primary teeth (dt index) · School children, primary school in Saudi Arabia · median 11 months School dental screening programmes for oral health (2022) · Cochrane | MD -0.20 [-0.72, 0.32] | 1 study · 362 participants | Very low |
Traditional screening (referral card given if the inspecting dentist judges the child needs to see a dentist) vs No screening Adverse events · 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 | Adverse events: Not reported (Summary of findings 1). | 0 studies | No studies |
Traditional screening (referral card given if the inspecting dentist judges the child needs to see a dentist) vs No screening Prevalence of dental caries per child · 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 measured prevalence of dental caries as mean number of teeth with active caries in primary teeth (dt) and permanent teeth (DT); post-intervention changes from baseline were not significant, and the authors… | 1 study · 16684 participants | Ungraded |
Referral to a specific dental treatment facility vs Generic advice letter to see a dentist Number of caries in permanent teeth (DT index) · School children, primary school in Saudi Arabia · median 11 months School dental screening programmes for oral health (2022) · Cochrane | MD 0.30 [-0.03, 0.63] | 1 study · 362 participants | Very low |
Criteria-based screening (dentist refers using pre-established criteria) vs No screening Dental attendance · School children, primary and secondary schools in the UK · 3 to 4 months School dental screening programmes for oral health (2022) · Cochrane | RR 1.07 [0.99, 1.16] | 2 studies · 4980 participants | Low |
Traditional screening (referral card given if the inspecting dentist judges the child needs to see a dentist) vs No screening Cost effectiveness · 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 | As none of the studies reported cost-effectiveness, we could not assess the cost-benefit aspect of school dental screening. | 0 studies | No studies |
Referral letter based on the common-sense model (CSM) of self-regulation plus dental information guide (DIG) vs Standard referral letter Proportion of children with treated/untreated caries (receipt of dental care) · School children, primary schools in the USA · mean 8 months School dental screening programmes for oral health (2022) · Cochrane | OR 1.26 [0.82, 1.93] | 1 study · 395 participants | Very low |
Criteria-based screening with specific (personalised) referral letter vs Criteria-based screening with non-specific referral letter Dental attendance at general dentist · School children, secondary school in the UK (aged 11 to 13 years) · mean 8 months School dental screening programmes for oral health (2022) · Cochrane | RR 1.39 [1.09, 1.77] | 1 study · 201 participants | Very low |
Clinical examination with 24-month recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall Patient satisfaction with actual care received (1-7 scale) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD -0.11 [-0.26, 0.04] | 1 study · 308 participants | Ungraded |
Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 24-month recall Oral health knowledge (1-9 scale) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD -0.01 [-0.05, 0.03] | 1 study · 303 participants | Ungraded |
Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 24-month recall Cost (healthcare-system perspective): total cost per patient (GBP) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD 17.00 [-14.34, 48.34] | 1 study · 404 participants | Ungraded |
One type of dental check-up (e.g. examination plus scale and polish) vs A different type of dental check-up (e.g. examination only) at the same fixed recall interval Outcome NR · Children and adults receiving dental check-ups in primary care, irrespective of oral disease risk Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | No studies identified comparing different check-up types at the same fixed recall interval. | 0 studies | No studies |
Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 24-month recall Periodontal disease: gingival bleeding (percentage of sites) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD -0.07 [-4.10, 3.96] | 1 study · 279 participants | High |
Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 24-month recall Oral health attitudes (1-7 scale) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD -0.02 [-0.20, 0.16] | 1 study · 304 participants | Ungraded |
Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 24-month recall Oral health behaviour (1-9 scale) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD 0.01 [-0.02, 0.04] | 1 study · 304 participants | Ungraded |
Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall Patient satisfaction with actual care received (1-7 scale) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD 0.03 [-0.03, 0.09] | 1 study · 1607 participants | Ungraded |
Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall Oral health behaviour (1-9 scale) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD 0.00 [-0.01, 0.01] | 1 study · 1608 participants | Ungraded |
Clinical examination with 24-month recall vs Clinical examination with 12-month recall Total time (examination plus treatment) (minutes) · Regular-attending primary-care dental patients aged 3, 16 or 18 years at entry (aged up to 20; low caries risk) · 2 years, 3-5 year olds (primary teeth) Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD -10 [-26.7, 6.7] | 1 study · 58 participants | Ungraded |
Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall Periodontal disease: gingival bleeding (percentage of sites) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD 0.78 [-1.17, 2.73] | 1 study · 1472 participants | High |
Clinical examination with 24-month recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall Oral health attitudes (1-7 scale) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD 0.17 [-0.01, 0.35] | 1 study · 308 participants | Ungraded |
Clinical examination with 24-month recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall Dental caries: number of tooth surfaces with any caries (ICDAS 1-6) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD -0.60 [-2.54, 1.34] | 1 study · 271 participants | Moderate |
Clinical examination with 24-month recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall Cost (patient perspective): total cost per patient (GBP) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD -53.00 [-76.91, -29.09] | 1 study · 375 participants | Ungraded |
Clinical examination with 24-month recall vs Clinical examination with 12-month recall Periodontal disease · Regular-attending primary-care dental patients aged 3, 16 or 18 years at entry (aged up to 20; low caries risk) · 2 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | Summary of findings 1 lists 'Periodontal disease: Not reported' for the 24-month versus 12-month comparison (Wang 1992 did not measure it). | 0 studies | No studies |
Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall Dental caries: prevalence of root caries · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | RR 0.93 [0.76, 1.13] | 1 study · 1306 participants | Ungraded |
Clinical examination with 24-month recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall Periodontal disease: gingival bleeding (percentage of sites) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD -0.91 [-5.02, 3.20] | 1 study · 271 participants | Moderate |
Clinical examination with 24-month recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall Dental caries: prevalence of moderate to extensive caries (ICDAS 3-6) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | RR 1.05 [0.92, 1.20] | 1 study · 271 participants | Low |
Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall Oral health attitudes (1-7 scale) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD 0.04 [-0.04, 0.12] | 1 study · 1607 participants | Ungraded |
Clinical examination with 24-month recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall Periodontal disease: probing pocket depth (mm) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD -0.03 [-0.12, 0.06] | 1 study · 270 participants | Moderate |
Clinical examination with 24-month recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall Oral-health-related quality of life (OHIP-14) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD -0.24 [-1.55, 1.07] | 1 study · 305 participants | High |
Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 24-month recall Oral-health-related quality of life (OHIP-14) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD -0.37 [-1.69, 0.95] | 1 study · 298 participants | High |
Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall Cost (healthcare-system perspective): total cost per patient (GBP) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD 13.77 [-1.56, 29.11] | 1 study · 2006 participants | Ungraded |
Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall Cost (patient perspective): total cost per patient (GBP) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD -9.49 [-23.05, 4.07] | 1 study · 1944 participants | Ungraded |
Clinical examination with 24-month recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall Oral health behaviour (1-9 scale) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD 0.00 [-0.03, 0.03] | 1 study · 308 participants | Ungraded |
Clinical examination with 24-month recall vs Clinical examination with 12-month recall Dental caries: dmfs increment (primary teeth) · Regular-attending primary-care dental patients aged 3, 16 or 18 years at entry (aged up to 20; low caries risk) · 2 years, 3-5 year olds (primary teeth) Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD 0.90 [-0.16, 1.96] | 1 study · 58 participants | Very low |
Clinical examination with 24-month recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall Cost (healthcare-system perspective): total cost per patient (GBP) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD -16.00 [-51.76, 19.76] | 1 study · 404 participants | Ungraded |
Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 24-month recall Periodontal disease: probing pocket depth (mm) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD 0.10 [0.01, 0.19] | 1 study · 279 participants | Moderate |
Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 24-month recall Patient satisfaction with actual care received (1-7 scale) · Dentate adults (aged 18 years and older) receiving dental check-ups in UK general dental practices (regular attenders) · 4 years Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients (2020) · Cochrane | MD 0.16 [0.01, 0.31] | 1 study · 304 participants | Ungraded |