Question · asked by 1 review

Visual or visual-tactile classification systems (any system: ICDAS, ERK, Nyvad, Downer, Lussi, UniViSS, or unspecified) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, radiographs/microCT, or tooth separation): Diagnostic accuracy in previously restored teeth (secondary caries)

Population
Asymptomatic children, adolescents, or adults presenting for clinical examination (in vivo studies), or extracted teeth of children or adults (in vitro studies); teeth apparently healthy or with suspected early caries. Studies intentionally including caries obviously into dentine or frank cavitation, or participants referred to secondary care for restorative treatment, were excluded. Target condition: early (non-cavitated enamel-only) coronal dental caries on occlusal, approximal, or smooth surfaces
Intervention
Visual or visual-tactile classification systems (any system: ICDAS, ERK, Nyvad, Downer, Lussi, UniViSS, or unspecified)
Comparison
Reference standard (histology, excavation, radiographs/microCT, or tooth separation)
Outcome
Diagnostic accuracy in previously restored teeth (secondary caries)

What each review found

Include earlier review versions
FindingEffectStudiesGRADE certainty
Visual or visual-tactile classification systems (any system: ICDAS, ERK, Nyvad, Downer, Lussi, UniViSS, or unspecified) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, radiographs/microCT, or tooth separation)
Diagnostic accuracy in previously restored teeth (secondary caries) · Asymptomatic children or adults presenting for clinical examination (in vivo studies), or extracted teeth of children… · Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies), Previously restored teeth (secondary caries)
Visual or visual‐tactile examination to detect and inform the diagnosis of enamel caries (2021) · Cochrane All outcomes
Only one study (Kim 2017) intentionally included restored teeth in its sample; the pre-specified secondary-caries subgroup analysis could not be performed, no summary estimate reported.1 studyGRADE not reported

Findings are shown side by side, never pooled across reviews.

The reviews

ReviewSearched up toIncluded studiesAMSTAR 2
Visual or visual‐tactile examination to detect and inform the diagnosis of enamel caries
2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
2020-04Not listedNot assessed
How reviews are matched to this question

Reviews word the same question differently. Four decision models (TypeSafe's Jev, Liquid AI's d1-ultra, SubQ Snap and Baseten's Elephant) judged each wording of the population, intervention, comparator and outcome against the others; two wordings count as the same when at least three of them agree and none clearly disagrees, and findings count as this question only when all four elements match. Timing, setting and subgroup never split a question: they are shown on each finding.