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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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38% SDF (one-time application) vs inactive control

New coronal carious lesions or fillings on permanent (first) molars (caries prevention) · Children with dental caries in permanent (first) molars

One-time SDF within a brushing programme did not significantly reduce caries vs control (p>0.05; ungraded).

2 findings from 1 review

38% SDF (indirect pulp capping) vs Resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC)

Secondary prevention of caries · children with deep occlusal carious lesions in permanent molars

No significant difference in secondary caries prevention was reported; no effect estimate or GRADE rating was reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Multivariable caries prediction model vs Alternative prediction model(s) within the same study, or no formal comparator (models compared descriptively; no between-model statistical test)

Predictive performance for root caries increment (positive likelihood ratio, LR+) · Older adults (aged 52-95; mean 52-73) at risk of root caries increment

Developmental root-caries prediction models were generally modest, except Sanchez-Garcia 2011 (LR+ 7.09) which reached the useful threshold; no pooled estimate; ungraded.

2 findings from 1 review

Pre-operative bone level < 35% vs Pre-operative bone level ≥ 35%

Periapical pathosis incidence · Vital teeth

One study reported a 1.4% incidence with bone level < 35%.

2 findings from 1 review

Dental caries vs Caries-free controls

Oral health-related quality of life · Indians

In adolescents (10-19 years), dental caries was associated with poorer OHRQoL (pooled OR 3.92; 5 studies); ungraded.

5 findings from 1 review
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38% SDF (indirect pulp capping under resin composite) vs Resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC)

Secondary caries prevention in young permanent first molars · Children with deep occlusal caries in young permanent first molars (indirect pulp capping)

SDF and RMGIC did not differ significantly for secondary caries prevention in young permanent molars (no events; p>0.05; ungraded).

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

Oral health-related quality of life · Adolescents (10-19 years)

Oral health promotion programs have a positive effect on OHRQoL in adolescents (narrative synthesis; low methodological quality of included evidence; no pooled estimate or GRADE rating).

2 findings from 1 review

Outer carious dentin (by lesion depth/location) vs Inner carious dentin

MMP-8 location/depth · Human ex vivo carious dentin

MMP-8 showed no statistical difference by lesion location; the evidence is very uncertain (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Cariogram multivariable caries-risk model (including modified/reduced-predictor versions) vs Alternative prediction model(s) within the same study, or no formal comparator (models compared descriptively; no between-model statistical test)

Predictive performance of the Cariogram for caries increment (negative likelihood ratio, LR-) · Children/adolescents (coronal caries) and older adults (root caries); populations from areas with varying caries risk

Modified Cariogram models showed negative likelihood ratios of about 0.5-0.61, above the useful rule-out threshold; no pooled estimate; ungraded.

1 finding from 1 review
  • Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. 2023 All outcomes
    Follow-up >=1 year (included studies 1-5 years) · Oral health care; children/adolescents and older adults; multiple countries · Model validation studies
    Review-stated LR- range 0.5-0.61 across the Cariogram validation models (with one exception). Model performance was largely unaffected by removing the predictors mutans streptococci in saliva, saliva secretion and…
    6 studies
    GRADE not reported

Older age vs Younger adults (population mean age <=33.4 years)

Oral health-related quality of life · Adolescents (10-19 years)

The abstract reports older age is associated with worse OHRQoL, but the body notes the evidence on age is limited and conflicting (narrative synthesis; no pooled estimate or GRADE rating).

2 findings from 1 review

Resin infiltration vs Self-assembling peptide P11-4

Remineralization / reduction in lesion severity (change in QLF, laser fluorescence, or lesion area) · Patients with white spot lesions / early caries lesions (WSLs/ECLs), including orthodontic and non-orthodontic lesions, active caries…

Resin infiltration did not differ significantly from P11-4 alone (SMD -0.39, 95% CI -0.97 to 0.20); certainty of evidence not assessed (no GRADE).

1 finding from 1 review

Glass ionomer cement vs Resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC)

Secondary caries · Patients requiring dental restoration; deciduous (primary) teeth

Over 2 or more years in deciduous teeth, GIC probably had a higher risk of secondary caries than RMGIC (RR 1.92, 95% CI 1.03-3.56; moderate certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Eugenol-based temporary cement vs Eugenol-free temporary cement

Pulp necrosis · Vital teeth

The pooled incidence with eugenol-based temporary cement was 3.34%.

2 findings from 1 review

38% SDF plus potassium iodide (KI) (indirect pulp capping) vs Resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC)

Secondary prevention of caries · children with deep occlusal carious lesions in permanent molars

No significant difference in secondary caries prevention was reported; no effect estimate or GRADE rating was reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Elective neck dissection (at time of primary tumour resection) vs Therapeutic (delayed) neck dissection

Adverse events associated with treatment · Adults with oral cavity cancer (tongue or floor of mouth) and clinically negative neck nodes

Elective neck dissection (at time of primary tumour resection) probably leads to higher adverse events associated with treatment compared with therapeutic (delayed) neck dissection (moderate certainty).

1 finding from 1 review