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 following titles are our priority reviews for updating or undertaking during the period 2021 to 2024.
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. The decisions on each topic were made by the Cochrane Oral Health Editorial Base team:
Review title | Decision | Date of last publication |
We will aim to publish an update in 2021 | 2013 | |
We will aim to publish an update in 2022/2023 | 2019 | |
An update was published 2020, we will make this review stable on The Cochrane Library and re-run the literature search at a later date. | 2020 | |
We will aim to publish an update in 2022/2023 | 2019 | |
We will aim to publish an update in 2022/2023
| 2015 | |
Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia | We will aim to publish an update in 2021/2022 | 2016 |
Interventions with pregnant women and new mothers for preventing caries in children | We will aim to publish an update in 2022/2023 | 2019 |
Revisit in 2022/2023 – we will run a new literature search and update if there is new evidence. | 2020 | |
Direct composite resin fillings versus amalgam fillings for permanent or adult posterior teeth | We will aim to publish an update in 2021/2022 | 2014 |
Primary school-based behavioural interventions for preventing caries | We will aim to publish an update in 2022/2023 | 2013 |
Oral hygiene interventions for people with intellectual disabilities | We will aim to publish an update in 2022/2023 | 2019 |
Oral health educational interventions for nursing home staff and residents | We will aim to publish an update in 2022/2023 | 2016 |
One topical fluoride versus another for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents | We will convene a meeting with the American Dental Association, our Global Evidence Ecosystem for Oral Health partner, to discuss whether we can work with them to reframe this question to make it more clinically relevant. | 2004 |
Screening programmes for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer | There is no new evidence to include in this review. We will make it stable on the Cochrane Library. | 2013 |
Enamel matrix derivative (Emdogain®) for periodontal tissue regeneration in intrabony defects | We will convene a meeting to get advice from clinical experts in the field of periodontitis, to understand how we might update this review and make it clinically relevant. | 2009 |
Treating periodontal disease for preventing adverse birth outcomes in pregnant women | We will aim to publish an update in 2022/2023 | 2017 |
This review was previously published as “Triclosan/co-polymer toothpastes for oral health”. However, triclosan has been withdrawn from toothpastes (Versaci, 2019). We will therefore broaden the scope of this review to include all antibacterials, and aim to publish by 2023. | 2013 | |
Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment | We will aim to publish an update in 2022/2023 | 2018 |
Revisit in 2022/2023 – we will run a new literature search and update if there is new evidence. | 2019 | |
Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults | We will aim to publish an update in 2023 | 2018 |
Full-mouth treatment modalities (within 24 hours) for chronic periodontitis in adults | We will aim to publish an update in 2022/2023 | 2015 |
Antibiotics for the prophylaxis of bacterial endocarditis in dentistry | We will aim to publish an update in 2021/2022 | 2013 |
One-to-one dietary interventions undertaken in a dental setting to change dietary behaviour | We will aim to publish an update in 2023 | 2012 |
Root coverage procedures for treating localised and multiple recession-type defects | We will convene a meeting to get advice from clinical experts in the field of periodontitis, to understand how we might update this review and make it clinically relevant. | 2018 |
We will convene a meeting with the American Dental Association, our Global Evidence Ecosystem for Oral Health partner, to discuss whether we can work with them to reframe this question to make it more clinically relevant. | 2004 | |
Autologous platelet concentrates for treating periodontal infrabony defects | We will convene a meeting to get advice from clinical experts in the field of periodontitis, to understand how we might update this review and make it clinically relevant. | 2018 |
An update was published in 2020, we will revisit with a new literature search at a later date. | 2020 | |
We will aim to publish an update in 2022/2023 | 2018 | |
Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries | We will revisit this review with a new literature search in 2023 to see if there is enough evidence to update the review. | 2019 |
We will convene a meeting with the American Dental Association, our Global Evidence Ecosystem for Oral Health partner, to discuss whether we can work with them to reframe this question to make it more clinically relevant. | 2003 | |
Chlorhexidine mouthrinse as an adjunctive treatment for gingival health | There is unlikely to be new evidence to include in this review that would change the results. We will make it stable on the Cochrane Library. | 2017 |
Fluoride gels for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents | There is unlikely to be new evidence to include in this review that would change the results. We will make it stable on the Cochrane Library. | 2015 |
Fluoride mouthrinses for preventing caries in children and adolescents | There is unlikely to be new evidence to include in this review that would change the results. We will make it stable on the Cochrane Library. | 2016 |
Micro-invasive interventions for managing proximal dental decay in primary and permanent teeth | We will aim to update this review by 2023. | 2015 |
Pit and fissure sealants for preventing dental decay in permanent teeth | We will aim to update this review by 2023. | 2017 |
We will aim to update this review by 2023. | 2014 | |
There is unlikely to be new evidence to include in this review that would change the results. We will make it stable on the Cochrane Library. | 2018 |
The Editorial Base Team also agreed that the following reviews should be regarded as priorities, as they form a suite with Interventions for the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment. We also plan to update these reviews within the next 3-5 years:
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. We may register, undertake, and publish a selection of new reviews in the period 2021 to 2024. Some priority topics are too broad in scope for a single systematic review, and some overlap reviews we already have registered. Our decisions on each priority topic are outlined in the table below, the decisions on each topic were made by the Cochrane Oral Health Editorial Base team. They are presented in rank order, as decided by our panel of consumers, policy-makers, guideline developers, clinicians and researchers:
Review title | Decision |
What are the best ways to prevent tooth decay and oral disease in the elderly? | This is a broad question, and we believe that we have already covered many aspects of this topic. We will develop a special collection for Cochrane Oral Health’s website, highlighting the reviews that cover this question, with an accompanying commentary. This will be a pilot project and will be completed in 2021. |
How can oral cancer be prevented? | This is a broad question, and we believe that we and other Cochrane review groups have already covered many aspects of this topic. If our pilot project to develop a special collection for on prevention of oral disease in the elderly is a success, we will develop a special collection for Cochrane Oral Health’s website on this topic, highlighting the reviews that cover this question. |
What is the best way to promote better oral health? | This is a broad question, and we believe that we and other Cochrane review groups have already covered many aspects of this topic. If our pilot project to develop a special collection for on prevention of oral disease in the elderly is a success, we will develop a special collection for Cochrane Oral Health’s website on this topic, highlighting the reviews that cover this question. |
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? | This is a broad question, and we believe that we have already covered many aspects of this topic. If our pilot project to develop a special collection for on prevention of oral disease in the elderly is a success, we will develop a special collection for Cochrane Oral Health’s website on this topic, highlighting the reviews that cover this question. |
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 in 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? | After our pilot project, creating a special collection on prevention of oral disease in the elderly is complete in 2021, we will see if we have gaps in our review portfolio which could be filled by a new review on one or more aspects of this question. |
By changing parental, or primary care-giver behaviours, can tooth decay in children be prevented? | There is potential for a new title to be registered. We will seek help from experts in the field to scope out a new title. |
Interventions for managing root caries | This title has already been registered and a review is underway. We aim to publish before 2023. |
Does a better diet or diet supplements improve oral health? If so what are the best foods/nutrients/supplements? | This is a broad question and there is potential for one or more new titles to be registered. We will advertise this as a priority vacant topic area on our website and in our newsletter. |
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. We will look to see if there is funding available to progress a review in this area. |
Topical silver diamine fluoride for managing dental caries in children and adults | This title has already been registered and a review is underway. We aim to publish before 2023. |
Psychological interventions for improving adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases | This title has already been registered and a review is underway. We aim to publish before 2023. |
Adjunctive systemic antimicrobials for the non-surgical treatment of chronic and aggressive periodontitis | This title has already been registered and a review is underway. We aim to publish before 2023. |
Can taking probiotics (live bacteria and yeasts) prevent and control chronic gum disease (periodontitis)? | We will convene a meeting to get advice from clinical experts in the field of periodontitis, to understand how we might approach this review and make it clinically relevant. There is potential for a new Cochrane review. |