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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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Radiographic caries detection (bitewing radiography) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted)

NPV for detecting all (initial and advanced) occlusal caries · Occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly in vitro)

In the German private-practice setting, the negative predictive value of radiographic detection for all (initial and advanced) occlusal caries was 91.4% at an assumed prevalence of 11.0% (ungraded).

2 findings from 1 review

Total-etching 36% phosphoric acid + acetone-based total-etch adhesive vs Calcium hydroxide (CH)

Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth

It is very uncertain whether total-etching 36% phosphoric acid + acetone-based total-etch adhesive changes clinical failure compared with calcium hydroxide (CH) (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride in rinse vs no treatment

Caries increment, surface index D(M)FS · Children or adolescents

In the illustrative network meta-regression the SMD for caries increment differed between fluoride in rinse and no treatment at every displayed randomization year; certainty was not graded.

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride in dentifrice vs placebo

Caries increment, surface index D(M)FS · Children or adolescents

In the illustrative network meta-regression the SMD for caries increment differed between fluoride in dentifrice and placebo at every displayed randomization year; certainty was not graded.

1 finding from 1 review

Women who experienced preterm birth vs Women who did not experience preterm birth (term)

Decayed, missing, filled surfaces (DMFS) · pregnant women

Women who experienced preterm birth did not have a significantly different DMFS than those who did not (mean difference -0.15, 95% CI -3.40 to 3.09; 3 studies; I2=89%); certainty of evidence not graded.

1 finding from 1 review
  • Dental caries and preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2018 All outcomes
    Pregnant women assessed around delivery in observational studies across multiple countries (Mexico, Malawi, India, France, Jordan, Finland, Tanzania); mostly retrospective cohort and case-control designs
    MD -0.15 [-3.40, 3.09]
    3 studies · 2594 participants
    GRADE not reported

Primary education vs University education

Prevalence of fair/poor self-rated oral health · Adults aged 25 years and older in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States

In New Zealand, primary versus university education differed by 17.59 percentage points in prevalence of fair/poor self-rated oral health.

5 findings from 1 review
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Glutaraldehyde + calcium hydroxide (CH) vs Glutaraldehyde + zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE)

Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth

Glutaraldehyde + calcium hydroxide (CH) showed no clear difference in radiological failure compared with glutaraldehyde + zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE); GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Post-secondary education vs University education

Mean number of decayed teeth (mean DT) · Adults aged 25 years and older in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States

In Canada, post-secondary versus university education differed by 0.2 decayed teeth in mean number of decayed teeth.

4 findings from 1 review
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Primary education vs University education

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

In Australia, primary versus university education differed by 18.40 percentage points in prevalence of untreated decay.

5 findings from 1 review
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Total-etching 36% phosphoric acid + acetone-based total-etch adhesive vs Acetone-based total-etch adhesive

Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth

It is very uncertain whether total-etching 36% phosphoric acid + acetone-based total-etch adhesive changes radiological failure compared with acetone-based total-etch adhesive (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Radiographic caries detection vs Reference standard (often histological; also invasive opening)

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

Pooled sensitivity for radiographic detection of advanced proximal lesions was 0.444 (95% CI 0.38 to 0.51).

8 findings from 1 review
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Medium income vs High income

Prevalence of fair/poor self-rated oral health · Adults aged 25 years and older in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States

In Canada, medium versus high income differed by 8.3 percentage points in prevalence of fair/poor self-rated oral health.

4 findings from 1 review
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Radiographic caries detection (bitewing radiography) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted)

Negative LR for detecting advanced occlusal caries · Occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly in vitro)

In the conventional (all-studies) meta-analysis, the negative lr of radiographic detection for advanced occlusal caries was 0.53 (95% CI 0.46 to 0.62) (ungraded).

3 findings from 1 review

Visual caries detection (ICDAS visual/visual-tactile inspection) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted)

Sensitivity for detecting all (initial and advanced) occlusal caries · Occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly in vitro)

In the meta-analysis tailored to Germany, pooled sensitivity of visual detection for all (initial and advanced) occlusal caries was 49.1% (95% CI 40 to 58) (ungraded).

3 findings from 1 review

Medium 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, medium versus high income differed by 6.8 percentage points in prevalence of untreated decay.

4 findings from 1 review
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