Table 3. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) summary of findings and table for the outcomes of the systematic review.
| Certainty assessment | Summary of results | Certainty | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of studies (sample) | Study design | Risk of bias | Inconsistency | Indirectness | Imprecision | Other considerations | Effect | |
| Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval. ¶ Effect estimate (MD: mean and standard deviation). ≠ Effect estimate (RR: relative risk). a All studies presented at low risk of bias. b Similar effect estimates among different studies, overlap of 95% CI, low I 2 , and nonsignificant p -value. c The evidence comes from adults undergoing root canal treatment, and we can apply to the patients of our PICO question. d Total number of teeth is lower than optimal information size (OIS) considered the minimum ideal (400)—rated down one level due to imprecision. e 95% CI cross-the line of null effect (1.0)—rated down one level due imprecision. Note: GRADE Working Group grades of evidence. High certainty: We are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect. Moderate certainty : We are moderately confident in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different. Low certainty: Our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: The true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect. Very low certainty : We have very little confidence in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect. | ||||||||
| Pain intensity—24 h after root canal treatment | ||||||||
| 3 ( n = 342 teeth) | Randomized trials | Not serious a | Not serious b | Not serious c | Serious d | None |
MD
¶
(95% CI)
0.37 (0.88, 0.15) |
⊕⊕⊕ MODERATE |
| Pain intensity—48 h after root canal treatment | ||||||||
| 2 ( n = 186 teeth) | Randomized trials | Not serious a | Not serious b | Not serious c | Serious d | None |
MD
¶
(95% CI)
0.37 (0.69, 0.05) |
⊕⊕⊕ MODERATE |
| Pain risk—24 h after root canal treatment | ||||||||
| 3 ( n = 342 teeth) | Randomized trials | Not serious a | Not serious b | Not serious c | Serious e | None |
RR
≠
(95% CI)
0.83 (0.60, 1.16) |
⊕⊕⊕ MODERATE |
| Pain risk—48 h after root canal treatment | ||||||||
| 2 ( n = 186 teeth) | Randomized trials | Not serious a | Not serious b | Not serious c | Serious e | None |
RR
≠
(95% CI)
0.56 (0.26, 1.21) |
⊕⊕⊕ MODERATE |