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Evidence found and GRADE certainty

3,323 questions · 5,762 findings · 263 reviews · Dental caries

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No studies found 321 · 5.6%GRADE not reported 4,450 · 77.2%Very low 455 · 7.9%Low 297 · 5.2%Moderate 200 · 3.5%High 39 · 0.7%

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All fluorescence-based devices (red, blue, and green fluorescence combined) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination)

Diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) by subgroup: Smooth or secondary-caries surfaces (detection of early enamel caries, D1 threshold) · Asymptomatic children, adolescents, or adults presenting for clinical examination (in vivo studies), or extracted teeth of children or…
1 finding from 1 review

Illicit drug use vs People who do not use drugs

Periodontal disease · People who use drugs (PWUD): methamphetamine, heroin, opiate, cannabis and cocaine users

Illicit drug use was not significantly associated with periodontal disease (pooled OR 1.44, 95% CI 0.80-2.60; 5 studies; substantial heterogeneity I2=85%; ungraded).

1 finding from 1 review

Laser fluorescence (LF; DIAGNOdent) vs Reference standard: histology (in vitro studies) or visual-tactile examination (in vivo studies)

Sensitivity · Adults presenting asymptomatically or suspected of having root caries (in vivo studies); extracted teeth of adults (in vitro studies). 2…
1 finding from 1 review
  • Tests to detect and inform the diagnosis of root caries 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
    4 studies (4997 root surfaces) investigated laser fluorescence and reported estimates of sensitivity ranging from 0.50 to 0.81 and specificity ranging from 0.40 to 0.80. 2 studies evaluated tests on in vivo primary…
    4 studies
    Very low

All fluorescence-based devices (red, blue, and green fluorescence combined) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination)

Diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) by subgroup: Proximal surfaces (detection of early enamel caries, D1 threshold) · Asymptomatic children, adolescents, or adults presenting for clinical examination (in vivo studies), or extracted teeth of children or…
1 finding from 1 review

All fluorescence-based devices (red, blue, and green fluorescence combined) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination)

Diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) by subgroup: Occlusal surfaces (detection of early enamel caries, D1 threshold) · Asymptomatic children, adolescents, or adults presenting for clinical examination (in vivo studies), or extracted teeth of children or…
1 finding from 1 review

Intervention not reported

Dental caries in permanent teeth · Children (permanent dentition) worldwide

In the Americas, the pooled prevalence of permanent-teeth caries in children was 48.9% (95% CI 37.6 to 60.3); certainty not graded.

1 finding from 1 review

Resin-based fissure sealant vs Fluoride varnish

Dentine caries in permanent molars (24 months) · Children and adolescents (general population, aged under 20 years)

It is very uncertain whether resin-based fissure sealant changes dentine caries in permanent molars (yes/no) compared with fluoride varnish (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

LTF rs2073495 variant vs Reference allele/genotype

Dental caries · Individuals assessed for dental caries (cases with caries/high caries vs. caries-free or low/very-low-caries controls)

LTF rs2073495 showed no significant association with dental caries in a single study (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.15; ungraded).

1 finding from 1 review

Intervention not reported

Dental caries in permanent teeth · Children (permanent dentition) worldwide

In Asia, the pooled prevalence of permanent-teeth caries in children was 58.8% (95% CI 53.4 to 64.0); certainty not graded.

1 finding from 1 review

Pulpotomy (full or partial) vs Pulpectomy

Tooth survival · Children with carious vital pulp exposure in primary incisors

Tooth survival was reported narratively in two trials and was not pooled.

1 finding from 1 review

Longitudinal follow-up over time (natural caries progression; no assigned intervention) vs Within-cohort change from baseline to follow-up (>=3 y)

Annual decline in percentage of caries-free participants (permanent dentition, D3) · Children and adolescents (permanent dentition, D3, up to 21 y), Western or comparable populations

For low baseline caries experience, the annual decline in caries-free participants ranged 4.3% to 10.2% (9 studies; ungraded).

4 findings from 1 review
  • Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
    Annual (studies with >=3 y follow-up) · Western Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand (or comparable Western populations) · Baseline caries experience: low
    4.3% to 10.2%
    9 studies · 4811 participants
    GRADE not reported
  • Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
    Annual (studies with >=3 y follow-up) · Western Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand (or comparable Western populations)
    0.8% to 10.2%
    18 studies · 12017 participants
    GRADE not reported
  • Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
    Annual (studies with >=3 y follow-up) · Western Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand (or comparable Western populations) · Baseline caries experience: high
    0.8% to 2.2%
    2 studies · 5029 participants
    GRADE not reported
Show 1 more finding
  • Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
    Annual (studies with >=3 y follow-up) · Western Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand (or comparable Western populations) · Baseline caries experience: moderate
    3.7% to 8.3%
    4 studies · 928 participants
    GRADE not reported