Priority reviews

Cochrane Oral Health has undertaken an extensive prioritisation process, to determine the priority areas for evidence synthesis in oral health. Find out how we went about prioritising our reviews here.

The titles listed below were established as our priorities to undertake or to update, and some have already been completed as the date of last publication indicates. Cochrane Oral Health are actively working on the priority titles marked with an asterisk (*).

Priority reviews to update

The following titles are reviews previously published by Cochrane Oral Health. They have been prioritised for updating, and are presented in rank order, as decided by our panel of consumers, policy-makers, guideline developers, clinicians and researchers. 

Review titleDate of last publication
Clinical assessment to screen for the detection of oral cavity cancer and potentially malignant disorders in apparently healthy adults2021
NEW UPDATE! Periodontal therapy for the management of cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic periodontitis2022
Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients2020
Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal diseases and dental caries2019
Water fluoridation for the prevention of dental caries*2015
Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia2020
Interventions with pregnant women and new mothers for preventing caries in children*2019
Surgical removal versus retention for the management of asymptomatic disease-free impacted wisdom teeth  2020
Direct composite resin fillings versus amalgam fillings for permanent or adult posterior teeth2021
Primary school-based behavioural interventions for preventing caries*2013
Oral hygiene interventions for people with intellectual disabilities2019
Oral health educational interventions for nursing home staff and residents*2016
One topical fluoride versus another for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents2004
Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer2013
Enamel matrix derivative (Emdogain®) for periodontal tissue regeneration in intrabony defects2009
Treating periodontal disease for preventing adverse birth outcomes in pregnant women*2017
Antibacterial toothpastes for oral health*2013
Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment*2018
NEW UPDATE! School dental screening programmes for oral health2022
Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults*2018
NEW UPDATE! Full-mouth treatment modalities (within 24 hours) for chronic periodontitis in adults2022
NEW UPDATE! Antibiotics for the prophylaxis of bacterial endocarditis in dentistry2022
One-to-one dietary interventions undertaken in a dental setting to change dietary behaviour2012
Root coverage procedures for treating localised and multiple recession-type defects2018
Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents2004
Autologous platelet concentrates for treating periodontal infrabony defects2018
Pit and fissure sealants versus fluoride varnishes for preventing dental decay in the permanent teeth of children and adolescents2020
Sedation of children undergoing dental treatment  2018
Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries2019
Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents2003
Chlorhexidine mouthrinse as an adjunctive treatment for gingival health2017
Fluoride gels for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents2015
Fluoride mouthrinses for preventing caries in children and adolescents2016
Micro-invasive interventions for managing proximal dental decay in primary and permanent teeth2015
Pit and fissure sealants for preventing dental decay in permanent teeth2017
Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health2014
Routine scale and polish for periodontal health in adults2018

Cochrane Oral Health also regard the following reviews as priorities, as part of a suite of reviews alongside Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment:

Review titleDate of last publication
Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: chemotherapy2021
Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: radiotherapy2010
Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: targeted therapy and immunotherapy2015


Priority topics for new reviews

A number of topic areas emerged from the priority setting process which currently do not form part of Cochrane Oral Health's portfolio. They are presented in rank order, as decided by our panel of consumers, policy-makers, guideline developers, clinicians and researchers:

Review titleDecision
What are the best ways to prevent tooth decay and oral disease in the elderly?NEW! See our Priority Collection on the evidence available from Cochrane reviews.
How can oral cancer be prevented?We are not actively working on this title but we recognise it is a priority title.
What is the best way to promote better oral health?We are not actively working on this title but we recognise it is a priority title.
What is the best way to measure the risk of tooth decay?After discussion, we decided that this question is not suitable for a Cochrane review, although it is an important question. It would also overlap work currently being undertaken by the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme, and we do not want to contribute to research waste.
At what stage of tooth decay should a dentist use a drill?We are not actively working on this title but we recognise it is a priority title.
How should I brush my teeth? For how long, and how often?We agreed that there was not enough available evidence to warrant separate reviews on these questions. Instead, we will incorporate what little evidence there is into our existing reviews on toothbrushing and toothpaste.
What are the best ways to prevent oral diseases in the elderly living in nursing homes or other institutions?We are not actively working on this title but we recognise it is a priority title. We are working on an update of our review of Oral health educational interventions for nursing home staff and residents.
By changing parental, or primary care-giver behaviours, can tooth decay in children be prevented?We are not actively working on this title but we recognise it is a priority title. We are working on an update of our review of Interventions with pregnant women and new mothers for preventing caries in children.
Interventions for managing root caries*This title has been registered and a review is underway. We aim to publish it in 2023-4.
Does a better diet or diet supplements improve oral health? If so what are the best foods/nutrients/supplements?We are not actively working on this title but we recognise it is a priority title.
What role does technology play in providing dental care?This is a very broad topic area and there is potential for one or more new titles to be registered. We agreed that we would like to explore the area of teledentistry in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. A review has been registered.
Topical silver diamine fluoride for managing dental caries in children and adults*This title has been registered and a review is underway. We aim to publish it in 2023.
Psychological interventions for improving adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases*This title has been registered and a review is underway. We aim to publish it in 2024.
Adjunctive systemic antimicrobials for the non‐surgical treatment of periodontitisNow published on the Cochrane Library (November 2020)
Can taking probiotics (live bacteria and yeasts) prevent and control chronic gum disease (periodontitis)?We are not actively working on this title but we recognise it is a priority title.