Cochrane

Review question We reviewed the evidence about the effectiveness of oral health education for nursing staff or nursing home residents compared to usual care for improving residents' oral health. Background Nursing home residents are often unable to carry out proper oral care, which is an important factor in maintaining the health of the mouth, teeth, ...

Background Cleft lip and palate is one of the most common birth defects and can cause difficulties with feeding, speech and hearing, as well as psychosocial problems. Treatment of clefts is lengthy, typically taking from birth to adulthood to complete. Upper jaw growth in cleft patients is highly variable, and in a relatively high percentage, it does ...

Review question This review addressed the issue of whether there is an advantage to laser therapy for the removal of decay in teeth and patient pain, compared to a traditional drill, in children, adolescents and adults. Background Dental decay is a cavity formation in teeth resulting from the destruction of dental tissue caused by bacteria under ...

Review question This review examined whether different isolation methods affect the performance of dental restorations. Background Restorative dental treatments are used to repair damage to teeth caused by tooth decay or accidents. Creating a physical barrier around a treatment site to reduce contamination of the site with saliva is a common practice. ...

Is providing advice about oral health to people with serious mental illness effective? Background People with mental health problems have an increased likelihood of oral disease (affecting the teeth, mouth, and gums) and can require more dental treatment than the general population. Oral health is currently not a priority for service users and mental ...

Review question This review, produced through Cochrane Oral Health, seeks to assess the effects of removal compared with conservative management of impacted wisdom teeth, in the absence of symptoms and without evidence of local disease, in adolescents and adults. This is an update of an existing review published in 2012. Background Wisdom teeth, ...

Review question Does giving children painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen before dental treatment help reduce pain after the treatment? Background Dental pain is common after dental procedures and can lead to increased fear of dental treatment, avoidance of dental treatment and other associated problems. Reduction of pain is important, ...

Review question How effective and safe is the use of fluoride mouthrinse for preventing tooth decay (dental caries) in children and adolescents compared with placebo (a mouthrinse without the active ingredient fluoride) or no treatment? Background Tooth decay is a health problem worldwide, affecting the vast majority of adults and children. Levels ...

Review question People with oral leukoplakia are at higher risk of developing oral cancer than those with normal oral mucosa. This review, produced through Cochrane Oral Health, seeks to evaluate whether people affected by leukoplakia can benefit from surgical, medical or complementary treatments, either local or systemic. In particular, we conducted ...

Review question We conducted this review to assess different interventions for treating bleeding after tooth removal. Background After tooth extraction, it is normal for the area to bleed and then clot, generally within a few minutes. It is abnormal if bleeding continues without clot formation, or lasts beyond 8 to 12 hours; this is known as post-extraction ...