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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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2400 to 2800 ppm F toothpaste vs 1450 to 1500 ppm F toothpaste

Caries increment, surface index D(M)FS · Children and adolescents with immature permanent dentition (aged 5 to 16 years at study start)

2400 to 2800 ppm F toothpaste showed no clear difference in caries increment, surface index D(M)FS compared with 1450 to 1500 ppm F toothpaste (moderate certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (PDT) vs No photodynamic therapy (untreated negative control)

Microbial reduction (viable count, log CFU/mL) · Patients with dental caries (in vivo cariogenic microorganisms, including children with early childhood caries)

In randomized clinical trials, photodynamic therapy significantly reduced cariogenic microbial counts versus untreated control (SMD -1.16, 95% CI -2.02 to -0.30; 2 trials), but heterogeneity was high (I2=70%) and considered too high to rely on; certainty was not graded.

1 finding from 1 review

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) vs Children and adolescents without JIA (healthy peers)

Dental caries in permanent teeth · Children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)

There was no significant difference in dental caries of the permanent teeth (DMFT) between children/adolescents with JIA and healthy peers (pooled MD -0.08, 95% CI -0.42 to 0.26; 6 cross-sectional studies; no heterogeneity I2=0%; ungraded).

1 finding from 1 review

Sealant + 5% NaF varnish vs no treatment

Arrest or reversal of noncavitated occlusal carious lesions · Children and adults with noncavitated carious lesions on occlusal surfaces (primary and permanent teeth)

Sealant + 5% NaF varnish was probably more effective than no treatment for arrest or reversal of occlusal carious lesions (RR 3.35, 95% CI 2.42 to 4.64; moderate certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

1400/250 ppm F (amine F/SnF2) toothpaste + mouthrinse, daily vs 1400/250 ppm F (NaF) toothpaste + mouthrinse, daily

Plaque index (PI) / oral hygiene · Orthodontic patients of any age with fixed braces (new DLs assessed at debond)

It is very uncertain whether 1400/250 ppm F (amine F/SnF2) toothpaste + mouthrinse, daily changes visible plaque index (mean change from baseline) compared with 1400/250 ppm F (NaF) toothpaste + mouthrinse, daily (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

250 ppm F toothpaste vs Non-fluoride (0 ppm F) placebo toothpaste

Caries increment, tooth index D(M)FT · Children and adolescents with immature permanent dentition (aged 5 to 16 years at study start)

250 ppm F toothpaste showed no clear difference in caries increment, tooth index D(M)FT compared with non-fluoride (0 ppm F) placebo toothpaste (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Oral-health promotion programs (OHPPs): community-based oral-health education/training, supervised toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste and topical fluoride, dental screening, and dietary advice vs No oral-health promotion program, or a differing (usual-care) action under similar conditions

Incremental cost‐effectiveness · Children with dental caries

OHPPs were associated with a lower program cost per DMFT/S in about 97 of 100 programs (OR 0.03, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.11; ungraded, very high heterogeneity I2=99%).

1 finding from 1 review

Professionally-applied 12,300 ppm F APF foam, every 2 months vs 0 ppm F placebo foam

Adverse effects · Orthodontic patients of any age with fixed braces (new DLs assessed at debond)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (PDT) vs No photodynamic therapy (untreated negative control)

Microbial reduction (viable count, log CFU/mL) · Cariogenic bacteria (mainly Streptococcus mutans reference strains) and oral biofilms in vitro

In in vitro studies, photodynamic therapy significantly reduced cariogenic microbial counts versus untreated control (SMD -2.64, 95% CI -4.50 to -0.79; 2 studies; I2=0%); certainty was not graded.

1 finding from 1 review

Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing

Side effects · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate)
1 finding from 1 review · compare the 2 reviews

Fluoride varnish vs Non-fluoride (placebo) varnish

Adverse effects · Orthodontic patients of any age with fixed braces (new DLs assessed at debond)
1 finding from 1 review

440 to 550 ppm F toothpaste vs 250 ppm F toothpaste

Caries increment, surface index D(M)FS · Children and adolescents with immature permanent dentition (aged 5 to 16 years at study start)

440 to 550 ppm F toothpaste showed no clear difference in caries increment, surface index D(M)FS compared with 250 ppm F toothpaste (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

250 ppm F toothpaste vs Non-fluoride (0 ppm F) placebo toothpaste

Proportion developing new caries · Children and adolescents with immature permanent dentition (aged 5 to 16 years at study start)

250 ppm F toothpaste showed no clear difference in proportion developing new caries compared with non-fluoride (0 ppm F) placebo toothpaste (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Resin infiltration + 5% NaF varnish vs Sealants plus fluoride varnish (with or without restorations)

Arrest or reversal of noncavitated occlusal carious lesions · Children and adults with noncavitated carious lesions on occlusal surfaces (primary and permanent teeth)

Resin infiltration + 5% NaF varnish may not differ from Sealant + 5% NaF varnish for arrest or reversal of occlusal carious lesions (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.21; low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Intervention not reported

Dental caries prevalence · Children (<12 years) and adolescents (12-18 years) with type 1 diabetes

Caries prevalence among those with poor metabolic control was 66% (95% CI 0.43 to 0.83); certainty not graded.

1 finding from 1 review

Oral-health promotion programs (OHPPs): community-based oral-health education/training, supervised toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste and topical fluoride, dental screening, and dietary advice vs No oral-health promotion program, or a differing (usual-care) action under similar conditions

DMFT/DMFS index (dental caries experience) · Children younger than 6 years (healthy except for dental caries)

In children younger than 6 years, OHPPs were associated with lower odds of DMFT/S (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.39; ungraded).

1 finding from 1 review

Low income vs High income

Prevalence of untreated decay (% DT > 0) · Adults aged 25 years and older in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States

In Australia, low versus high income differed by 11.90 percentage points in prevalence of untreated decay.

5 findings from 1 review
Show 2 more findings

Postnatal passive tobacco exposure (secondhand/household smoke in infancy) vs No passive tobacco exposure (non-exposed children)

Caries presence in primary teeth · Young children with primary (deciduous) dentition (aged 1 to 6 years at study start)

Postnatal (infancy) tobacco exposure is associated with higher odds of caries in primary dentition (pooled OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.45 to 2.05; 13 studies; high heterogeneity I2=83%); certainty not graded.

1 finding from 1 review

Visual caries detection (ICDAS visual/visual-tactile inspection) vs Reference standard (often histological; also invasive opening)

All occlusal carious lesions · Permanent molar surfaces in diagnostic accuracy studies (mostly in vitro; clinical)

Pooled specificity for visual detection of all occlusal lesions was 0.770 (95% CI 0.73 to 0.81).

2 findings from 1 review