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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.

Limit to evidence status or GRADE (optional)

15 questions in 5 reviews · cluster CL0173

current versions
No studies 0 · 0%Ungraded 10 · 66.7%Very low 1 · 6.7%Low 3 · 20%Moderate 0 · 0%High 1 · 6.7%

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

QuestionEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Cavity liner (calcium hydroxide, glass-ionomer cement, resin-modified calcium silicate/TheraCal LC, hydraulic calcium silicate/MTA or Biodentine, flowable composite, or other liner material) vs No cavity liner or a different liner material
Postoperative hypersensitivity · Patients with deep caries lesions in mature or immature permanent (posterior) teeth, with no symptoms or reversible… · 7 days to 3 months
Efficacy of different cavity liners compared to no cavity lining in managing deep caries in vital permanent… (2025)
No significant difference; minimal pain reported9 studies · 1000 participantsVery low
Ion-releasing restorations (IRR): RMGIC, HVGIC, GIC, compomer/PMRC, giomer vs Composite resin (CR), including bulk-fill composite
Absence of sensibility (post-operative sensitivity) · Children receiving dental restorations (aged 4-11 years; primary teeth; Class I/II/V cavities) · 1 to 2 years
Clinical effectiveness of ion-releasing restorations compared to composite restorations in pediatric dental… (2025)
RR 1.02 [0.95, 1.11]3 studies · 197 participantsHigh
Atraumatic restorative treatment with GIC vs Conventional treatment
Pain during procedure · Children (3-13 years) with dentine caries in primary teeth, no pulpal involvement · During procedure
Minimal intervention dentistry for managing carious lesions into dentine in primary teeth: an umbrella review. (2022)
MD -0.65 [-1.38, 0.07]6 studies · 1107 participantsUngraded
Atraumatic restorative treatment vs Conventional treatment with local anaesthesia
Discomfort during procedure · Children (6-8 years) with caries in primary teeth · During procedure, Children 6-8 years; ART vs conventional treatment with local anaesthetic
Minimal intervention dentistry for managing carious lesions into dentine in primary teeth: an umbrella review. (2022)
OR 0.95 [0.51, 1.79]6 studies · 1107 participantsUngraded
Dental cavity liner (e.g. calcium hydroxide, glass ionomer, resin-modified glass ionomer, or flowable composite) placed under the restoration vs No liner (resin-based composite bonded directly to the tooth)
Postoperative hypersensitivity (POH), patient-reported (dichotomous yes/no) · Adults or children with a Class I or Class II resin-based composite restoration in a permanent posterior tooth · 1 week
Dental cavity liners for Class I and Class II resin‐based composite restorations (2019) · Cochrane
RR 0.56 [0.26, 1.17]3 studiesLow
Dental cavity liner (e.g. calcium hydroxide, glass ionomer, resin-modified glass ionomer, or flowable composite) placed under the restoration vs No liner (resin-based composite bonded directly to the tooth)
Postoperative hypersensitivity (POH), cold response measurement (time in seconds) · Adults or children with a Class I or Class II resin-based composite restoration in a permanent posterior tooth · 1 week
Dental cavity liners for Class I and Class II resin‐based composite restorations (2019) · Cochrane
MD 6 [1.36, 10.64]1 studyLow
Dental cavity liner (e.g. calcium hydroxide, glass ionomer, resin-modified glass ionomer, or flowable composite) placed under the restoration vs No liner (resin-based composite bonded directly to the tooth)
Postoperative hypersensitivity (POH), patient-reported (dichotomous yes/no) · Adults or children with a Class I or Class II resin-based composite restoration in a permanent posterior tooth · 24 hours
Dental cavity liners for Class I and Class II resin‐based composite restorations (2019) · Cochrane
RR 0.26 [0.11, 0.64]1 studyUngraded
Dental cavity liner (e.g. calcium hydroxide, glass ionomer, resin-modified glass ionomer, or flowable composite) placed under the restoration vs No liner (resin-based composite bonded directly to the tooth)
Postoperative hypersensitivity (POH), cold response measurement (VAS score) · Adults or children with a Class I or Class II resin-based composite restoration in a permanent posterior tooth · 1 week
Dental cavity liners for Class I and Class II resin‐based composite restorations (2019) · Cochrane
MD -0.20 [-0.67, 0.26]2 studiesUngraded
Dental cavity liner (e.g. calcium hydroxide, glass ionomer, resin-modified glass ionomer, or flowable composite) placed under the restoration vs No liner (resin-based composite bonded directly to the tooth)
Postoperative hypersensitivity (POH), patient-reported (VAS score) · Adults or children with a Class I or Class II resin-based composite restoration in a permanent posterior tooth · 1 week
Dental cavity liners for Class I and Class II resin‐based composite restorations (2019) · Cochrane
MD -0.33 [-0.43, -0.23]1 studyUngraded
Dental cavity liner (e.g. calcium hydroxide, glass ionomer, resin-modified glass ionomer, or flowable composite) placed under the restoration vs No liner (resin-based composite bonded directly to the tooth)
Postoperative hypersensitivity (POH), patient-reported (VAS score) · Adults or children with a Class I or Class II resin-based composite restoration in a permanent posterior tooth · 1 month
Dental cavity liners for Class I and Class II resin‐based composite restorations (2019) · Cochrane
MD -0.20 [-0.31, -0.09]1 studyUngraded
Dental cavity liner (e.g. calcium hydroxide, glass ionomer, resin-modified glass ionomer, or flowable composite) placed under the restoration vs No liner (resin-based composite bonded directly to the tooth)
Postoperative hypersensitivity (POH), patient-reported (dichotomous yes/no) · Adults or children with a Class I or Class II resin-based composite restoration in a permanent posterior tooth · 1 month
Dental cavity liners for Class I and Class II resin‐based composite restorations (2019) · Cochrane
RR 0.44 [0.15, 1.34]3 studiesUngraded
Dental cavity liner (e.g. calcium hydroxide, glass ionomer, resin-modified glass ionomer, or flowable composite) placed under the restoration vs No liner (resin-based composite bonded directly to the tooth)
Postoperative hypersensitivity (POH), cold response measurement (VAS score) · Adults or children with a Class I or Class II resin-based composite restoration in a permanent posterior tooth · 1 month
Dental cavity liners for Class I and Class II resin‐based composite restorations (2019) · Cochrane
MD -0.33 [-0.76, 0.11]2 studiesUngraded
ART using high-viscosity glass ionomer cement (H-GIC), hand instruments vs Conventional treatment using H-GIC (rotary instruments)
Participant experience (discomfort during procedure) · People with dental caries in primary teeth (mainly children) · Multiple lesions, children 6 to 8 years
Atraumatic restorative treatment versus conventional restorative treatment for managing dental caries (2017) · Cochrane
OR 0.95 [0.51, 1.79]1 study · 220 participantsUngraded
ART using high-viscosity glass ionomer cement (H-GIC), hand instruments vs Conventional treatment using H-GIC (rotary instruments)
Pain (during procedure, primary dentition) · People with dental caries in primary teeth (mainly children) · During procedure
Atraumatic restorative treatment versus conventional restorative treatment for managing dental caries (2017) · Cochrane
MD -0.65 [-1.38, 0.07]1 study · 40 participantsLow
ART using glass ionomer cement (GIC) vs Conventional treatment using amalgam
Participant experience (co-operation during procedure) · Children and adolescents with dental caries (primary teeth and permanent immature teeth)
Atraumatic restorative treatment versus conventional restorative treatment for managing dental caries (2017) · Cochrane
Ling 2003 assessed participant co-operation during procedures, showing a co-operation rate in the ART group significantly higher than in the control group (no summary statistic reported).1 studyUngraded