Oral irrigation devices: a scoping review protocol

Abstract

<p><strong>Background: </strong>Effective daily removal of dental biofilm is essential for oral health. Although toothbrushing can effectively remove dental biofilm, it has little effect on subgingival biofilm and biofilm on contact surfaces of teeth and prostheses. Unlike toothbrushes, oral irrigation devices can deliver a pressurised stream of water below the gingival margin and on the proximal surfaces of teeth and prostheses. To our knowledge, no systematic, rigorous, scoping review on oral irrigation devices has been conducted to date. The purpose of this scoping review is to map key concepts and types of evidence available for oral irrigation devices, as well as to identify knowledge gaps to inform future research.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The protocol for this scoping review has been designed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. Four databases (Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and Scopus) and eight sources of unpublished literature (Cochrane Library, Cochrane Oral Health’s Trials Register, Google, Google Scholar, ISRCTN registry, Open Grey, Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global, and the WHO Clinical Trials Registry Platform) will be searched. Data will be extracted using a data extraction table designed by the reviewers. Extracted data will be summarised and presented in diagrammatic and tabular form, accompanied by a narrative explanation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> By identifying key concepts, types of evidence and knowledge gaps, this scoping review will guide future research in the field.</p>