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.

Limit to evidence status or GRADE (optional)

6 questions in 3 reviews · cluster CL0188

current versions
No studies 0 · 0%Ungraded 6 · 100%Very low 0 · 0%Low 0 · 0%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%

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
CO2 laser irradiation (0.4 to 5 W) vs Untreated control enamel
Enamel surface / cross-sectional microhardness · Human / bovine enamel specimens under cariogenic challenge (in situ / ex vivo)
Clinical and ex-vivo effect of LASERs on prevention of early-enamel caries: systematic review & meta-analyses. (2024)
MD 49.55 [37.74, 61.37]3 studies · 64 participantsUngraded
Er:YAG laser irradiation of sound enamel before acid challenge vs No anticaries intervention (untreated enamel)
Enamel surface microhardness · Human tooth enamel specimens, sound/intact (in vitro) · After cariogenic acid challenge / pH cycling, sound enamel
Effect of Er:YAG Laser Irradiation on Preventing Enamel Caries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2024)
SMD 2.41 [0.70, 4.12]3 studiesUngraded
Er:YAG laser irradiation vs Untreated / high-speed-handpiece control enamel
Enamel resistance to demineralization (microhardness / lesion depth) · Human enamel adjacent to restorations or in pits and fissures (in situ / ex vivo)
Clinical and ex-vivo effect of LASERs on prevention of early-enamel caries: systematic review & meta-analyses. (2024)
Narrative only (not meta-analyzed). Colucci: Er:YAG laser feasible for controlling caries progression adjacent to restorations but not able to prevent caries formation (optimum 2 Hz). Correa-Afonso: Er:YAG did not…2 studiesUngraded
Er:YAG laser irradiation of enamel after demineralisation vs No anticaries intervention (untreated enamel)
Enamel surface microhardness · Human tooth enamel specimens with early demineralised lesions (in vitro) · Laser applied after demineralisation (no further acid challenge), demineralised enamel
Effect of Er:YAG Laser Irradiation on Preventing Enamel Caries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2024)
SMD 0.66 [-1.12, 2.44]2 studiesUngraded
Nd:YAG laser irradiation vs Untreated control enamel
Enamel acid resistance (cross-sectional microhardness) · Human enamel in pits and fissures (in situ / ex vivo)
Clinical and ex-vivo effect of LASERs on prevention of early-enamel caries: systematic review & meta-analyses. (2024)
Narrative only (not meta-analyzed). Correa-Afonso: Nd:YAG (and CO2) laser increased enamel acid resistance in pits and fissures; microhardness of the Nd:YAG group was higher than the control group.1 studyUngraded
Laser/light-activated bleaching vs Conventional (non-laser) bleaching with hydrogen or carbamide peroxide
Enamel microhardness / caries susceptibility · Permanent teeth enamel (in vitro specimens)
Is Bleaching Effective in Managing Post-orthodontic White-spot Lesions? A Systematic Review. (2020)
In two studies having high risk of bias, laser-activated bleaching did not seem to affect enamel microhardness or caries risk when compared to conventional bleaching with hydrogen or carbamide peroxide.2 studiesUngraded