Gap finder
Search review questions
Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.
92 questions in 11 reviews · intervention: Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) · outcome domain: Lesion arrest/remineralization
current versionsNo studies 5 · 5.4%Ungraded 37 · 40.2%Very low 13 · 14.1%Low 6 · 6.5%Moderate 13 · 14.1%High 18 · 19.6%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
Intervention categories, outcome domains and clusters are a proposed key pending human validation. Clear all filters
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Placebo Treatment success (caries lesion arrest or restoration survival) · Children (aged 3-11 y) with cavitated caries lesions in primary teeth · 6 months, 6-month follow-up Comparative success of minimally invasive treatments for cavitated caries in primary teeth: a network… (2025) | OR 33.62 [3.01, 375.92] | 44 studies | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% in most trials, 30% in three) vs Other methods (pooled: ART/glass ionomer cement, nano-silver fluoride, placebo) Caries arrestment at the individual (patient) level · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition) · 3 weeks to 12 months, Overall (all comparators pooled) The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 3.86 [0.34, 43.96] | 5 studies · 720 participants | Low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% in most trials, 30% in three) vs Atraumatic restorative treatment / glass ionomer cement (ART/GIC) Caries arrestment at the individual (patient) level · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition) · 3 weeks to 12 months, SDF vs ART(GIC) The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 18.03 [7.34, 44.28] | 1 study · 234 participants | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Placebo, control, and/or other interventions Caries arrestment at the surface level · Children and adults without systemic diseases affecting dental health · 12 months to 18 months The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.03 [0.47, 2.27] | 3 studies · 5394 participants | Moderate |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% in most trials, 30% in three) vs Sodium fluoride varnish (5% NaF) Caries arrestment at the tooth level · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition) · 6 to 12 months, SDF vs NAF The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 4.75 [1.57, 14.31] | 1 study · 62 participants | Ungraded |
SDF (given at a particular frequency, concentration, or duration) vs SDF (given at a different frequency, concentration, or duration) Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 12 to 30 months, Primary dentition Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | In 1 study (45 children), 4 applications of 38% SDF at 1-monthly intervals resulted in fewer surfaces with active caries compared with 2 applications at 6-monthly intervals (MD 1.04 surfaces, 95% CI 0.23 to 1.85), and… | 4 studies · 1360 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% in most trials, 30% in three) vs Sodium fluoride varnish (5% NaF) Caries arrestment at the surface level · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition) · 12 to 18 months, SDF vs NAF The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.46 [0.71, 2.98] | 2 studies · 3541 participants | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Chlorhexidine varnish Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | No studies reported data for this outcome in this comparison | 0 studies | No studies |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Sealants or resin infiltration Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · Primary and permanent dentition Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | No studies reported data in either dentition type | 0 studies | No studies |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 36 months, Permanent dentition (coronal) Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | MD 0.20 [0.00, 0.40] | 1 study · 373 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) plus fluoride varnish vs Sealants plus fluoride varnish (with or without restorations) Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 24 months, Mixed dentition (coronal) Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | MD 0.11 [-0.01, 0.22] | 1 study · 413 participants | Low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 24 months, Permanent dentition (root) Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | MD 0.24 [0.12, 0.36] | 1 study · 158 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% in most trials, 30% in three) vs Nano-silver fluoride (NSF; with or without green tea extract) Caries arrestment at the surface level · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition) · 12 to 18 months, SDF vs NSF The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 0.52 [0.43, 0.63] | 1 study · 1853 participants | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% in most trials, 30% in three) vs Nano-silver fluoride (NSF; with or without green tea extract) Caries arrestment at the individual (patient) level · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition) · 3 weeks to 12 months, SDF vs NSF The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 0.39 [0.26, 0.60] | 2 studies · 384 participants | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 24 to 36 months, Primary dentition Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | MD 0.86 [0.39, 1.33] | 2 studies · 841 participants | Low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Restoration (restorative treatment) Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 12 months, Primary dentition (coronal) Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | OR 0.03 [0.01, 0.10] | 1 study · 98 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Placebo, control, and/or other interventions Caries arrestment at the individual level · Children and adults without systemic diseases affecting dental health · 3 weeks to 12 months The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 3.86 [0.34, 43.96] | 5 studies · 720 participants | Low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% in most trials, 30% in three) vs Other methods (pooled: ART/glass ionomer cement, nano-silver fluoride, sodium fluoride varnish) Caries arrestment at the tooth level · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition) · 6 to 12 months, Overall (all comparators pooled) The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.74 [0.88, 3.46] | 5 studies · 743 participants | Moderate |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% in most trials, 30% in three) vs Placebo (inactive control) Caries arrestment at the individual (patient) level · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition) · 3 weeks to 12 months, SDF vs placebo The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 18.10 [3.89, 84.15] | 2 studies · 102 participants | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Glass ionomer cement (GIC) plus fluoride varnish Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 6 months, Primary dentition (coronal) Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | OR 1.89 [0.61, 5.87] | 1 study · 69 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% in most trials, 30% in three) vs Other methods (pooled: nano-silver fluoride, sodium fluoride varnish) Caries arrestment at the surface level · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition) · 12 to 18 months, Overall (all comparators pooled) The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.03 [0.47, 2.27] | 3 studies · 5394 participants | Moderate |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Fluoride varnish Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · Permanent dentition (root) Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | No studies reported data in this dentition type | 0 studies | No studies |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Placebo, control, and/or other interventions Caries arrestment at the tooth level · Children and adults without systemic diseases affecting dental health · 6 months to 12 months The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.74 [0.88, 3.46] | 5 studies · 743 participants | Moderate |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Fluoride varnish Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · Permanent dentition (coronal) Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | No studies reported data in this dentition type | 0 studies | No studies |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Silver nitrate plus fluoride varnish Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 18 months, Primary dentition (coronal) Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | MD -0.10 [-0.51, 0.31] | 1 study · 1070 participants | Low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) with glass ionomer cement (GIC) or glass ionomer material Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · Permanent dentition Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | No studies reported this outcome in this dentition type | 0 studies | No studies |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% in most trials, 30% in three) vs Nano-silver fluoride (NSF; with or without green tea extract) Caries arrestment at the tooth level · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition) · 6 to 12 months, SDF vs NSF The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.47 [0.93, 2.33] | 2 studies · 408 participants | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Fluoride varnish Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 30 months, Primary dentition Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | MD -0.13 [-0.87, 0.61] | 1 study · 309 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) with glass ionomer cement (GIC) or glass ionomer material Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 24 months, Primary dentition Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | OR 1.13 [0.52, 2.45] | 1 study · 143 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% in most trials, 30% in three) vs Atraumatic restorative treatment / glass ionomer cement (ART/GIC) Caries arrestment at the tooth level · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition) · 6 to 12 months, SDF vs ART(GIC) The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.22 [0.09, 16.34] | 2 studies · 273 participants | Ungraded |
SDF plus potassium iodide vs Split into two contrasts: (1) TCS paste (arrest 100%); (2) CPP-ACP (arrest 100%); SDF+KI arrest 54.8% at 24 months, p<.001 caries arrest · Patients with early enamel carious lesions on permanent molars (n=45) · 24 months A systematic review on the effect of silver diamine fluoride for management of dental caries in permanent… (2023) | Caries arrest (%) 54.8 | 1 study · 45 participants | Ungraded |
38% SDF plus KI (applied annually) vs Tricalcium silicate (TCS) paste (applied twice daily) Remineralization/arrest of early enamel carious lesions · Patients with early enamel carious lesions on permanent molars · 24 months, Hamdi 2022 (early enamel lesions, Egypt) A systematic review on the effect of silver diamine fluoride for management of dental caries in permanent… (2023) | Proportion of lesions arrested (%) 54.8 | 1 study · 45 participants | Ungraded |
38% SDF plus KI (annual) vs CPP-ACP (casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate, twice daily) Remineralization/arrest of early enamel carious lesions · Patients with early enamel carious lesions on permanent molars · 24 months, Hamdi 2022 A systematic review on the effect of silver diamine fluoride for management of dental caries in permanent… (2023) | Proportion of lesions arrested (%) 54.8 | 1 study · 45 participants | Ungraded |
38% SDF (every 6 months) vs No treatment Inactive (arrested) carious lesions on permanent first molars · Children with dental caries in permanent (first) molars · 36 months, Llodra 2005 A systematic review on the effect of silver diamine fluoride for management of dental caries in permanent… (2023) | Mean inactive lesions per child 0.3 | 1 study · 452 participants | Ungraded |
SDF applied biannually (every 6 months) vs Other non/minimally-invasive treatment (ART or 5% NaF varnish) Caries arrest · Children (age 1-10 years) with active cavitated dentin caries lesions in primary molars · Follow-up up to 12 months (biannual application), SDF application frequency: biannual (every 6 months) Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Efficacy in Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions in Primary Molars: A Systematic… (2022) | ES 0.39 [0.19, 0.60] | 2 studies · 381 participants | Ungraded |
38% SDF (applied every 6 or 12 months) vs 12% SDF Caries arrest · Children (age 1-10 years) with active cavitated dentin caries lesions in primary molars · 24-30 months, SDF application frequency: variable (Fung 2018; 38% vs 12% SDF) Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Efficacy in Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions in Primary Molars: A Systematic… (2022) | ES 0.37 [0.27, 0.47] | 1 study · 888 participants | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% or 30%), applied at any frequency vs No treatment or another non-invasive/minimally-invasive treatment (ART, sodium fluoride or silver-based varnish, or 12% SDF) Caries arrest · Children (age 1-10 years) with active cavitated dentin caries lesions in primary molars · Pooled across follow-up evaluations (1-36 months) Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Efficacy in Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions in Primary Molars: A Systematic… (2022) | ES 0.33 [0.26, 0.40] | 5 studies · 1386 participants | Ungraded |
38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs No treatment / other preventive agents (GIC, 5% NaF varnish) Caries arrest · Children with dentine carious lesions (ICDAS 4-5) in primary teeth · 18-30 months, 38% SDF vs 5% NaF varnish/water (Trieu et al. 2019 meta-analysis) Minimal intervention dentistry for managing carious lesions into dentine in primary teeth: an umbrella review. (2022) | OR (caries arrest) OR 2.44-3.63 (range); 2.44 = Chu estimate including 30% SDF | 3 studies | Ungraded |
38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs No treatment / other preventive agents (GIC, 5% NaF varnish) Caries arrest · Children with dentine carious lesions (ICDAS 4-5) in primary teeth · 6-48 months, Pooled caries-arrest proportion (Gao et al. 2016 meta-analysis) Minimal intervention dentistry for managing carious lesions into dentine in primary teeth: an umbrella review. (2022) | Proportion (caries arrest) 81 [68, 89] | 12 studies | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% or 30%) vs Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) Caries arrest · Children (age 1-10 years) with active cavitated dentin caries lesions in primary molars · Pooled across 3-12 month follow-ups, Comparator: SDF vs ART (moderator analysis by treatment type) Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Efficacy in Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions in Primary Molars: A Systematic… (2022) | ES 0.05 [-0.42, 0.51] | 2 studies · 146 participants | Ungraded |
SDF applied once (single application, no re-application) vs Other non/minimally-invasive treatment (ART or silver-fluoride varnish) Caries arrest · Children (age 1-10 years) with active cavitated dentin caries lesions in primary molars · Follow-up up to 12 months (single application), SDF application frequency: single (one-time) application Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Efficacy in Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions in Primary Molars: A Systematic… (2022) | ES -0.09 [-0.48, 0.29] | 2 studies · 117 participants | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF >=30%, i.e. 30% or 38%), applied annually or biannually vs No treatment or another non-invasive/minimally-invasive treatment (ART, sodium fluoride or silver-based varnish, or 12% SDF) Caries arrest rate (absolute proportion of lesions arrested) · Children (age 1-10 years) with active cavitated dentin caries lesions in primary molars · Follow-up >=12 months Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Efficacy in Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions in Primary Molars: A Systematic… (2022) | Proportion 0.5162 | 5 studies · 1205 participants | Ungraded |
38% SDF applied twice yearly (biannual) vs 38% SDF applied once yearly (annual) Caries arrest · Children with dentine carious lesions (ICDAS 4-5) in primary teeth · 24 months, Biannual vs annual application Minimal intervention dentistry for managing carious lesions into dentine in primary teeth: an umbrella review. (2022) | Caries arrest rate (%) 91% (twice-yearly) vs 79% (once-yearly) at 24 months | NR | Ungraded |
38% SDF solution (applied biannually) vs 12% SDF solution (applied biannually) Arrest of advanced cavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface · Preschool children with advanced cavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface (primary teeth) · 12 mo Nonrestorative Treatments for Caries: Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. (2019) | RR 1.3 [1.21, 1.41] | 1 study · 799 participants | High |
38% SDF solution (applied annually) vs 5% NaF varnish Arrest or reversal of noncavitated and cavitated root carious lesions · Adults (including institutionalized/older adults) with noncavitated and cavitated carious lesions on root surfaces… · 3-12 mo Nonrestorative Treatments for Caries: Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. (2019) | RR 0.64 [0.04, 9.66] | 7 studies · 1304 participants | Very low |
38% silver diamine fluoride vs Placebo Root carious lesions arrest · Older adults with root carious lesions (exposed root surfaces) Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. (2019) | One systematic review found that SDF can be efficacious to decrease progression of root carious lesions (no numeric results reported) [24]. | NR | Ungraded |
38% SDF solution (applied biannually) vs 38% SDF solution (applied annually) Arrest of advanced cavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface · Preschool children with advanced cavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface (primary teeth) · 12 mo Nonrestorative Treatments for Caries: Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. (2019) | RR 1.21 [1.12, 1.3] | 1 study · 799 participants | High |
38% silver diamine fluoride vs Placebo Coronal carious lesions arrest · Children with coronal carious lesions (permanent first molars) · Permanent first molars Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. (2019) | Prevented Fraction 100 | 1 study | Ungraded |
30% SDF solution (applied annually) vs 30% SDF solution (once weekly for 3 weeks) Arrest of advanced cavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface · Preschool children with advanced cavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface (primary teeth) · 18 mo Nonrestorative Treatments for Caries: Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. (2019) | RR 1.13 [0.95, 1.34] | 1 study · 309 participants | Moderate |
38% SDF solution (applied annually) vs No treatment Arrest or reversal of noncavitated and cavitated root carious lesions · Adults (including institutionalized/older adults) with noncavitated and cavitated carious lesions on root surfaces… · 3-12 mo Nonrestorative Treatments for Caries: Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. (2019) | RR 1.92 [0.52, 6.87] | 7 studies · 1304 participants | Very low |