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.
191 questions in 40 reviews · cluster CL0369
current versionsNo studies 1 · 0.5%Ungraded 190 · 99.5%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
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Intervention NR Composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 8: disruption of occlusal integrity · Coverage: Not covering Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 0.40 [0.30, 0.55] | NR | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 7: non-stable (mobile) restoration · HDI: High Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 22.43 [12.83, 39.24] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Lacunar stroke · Mediation via IL-1α, IL-6, TNF, CRP (two-step MR) The contribution of oral infectious diseases in lacunar stroke based on meta-analysis and Mendelian… (2025) | Indirect effect No mediating effect | NR | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 2: loss of dental hard substance adjacent to the restoration · Continent: Europe Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 0.59 [0.39, 0.88] | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Osteoporosis · DMFS, bias-corrected (MR-RAPS/Debiased IVW) From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. (2025) | OR 1.171 [1.051, 1.304] | NR | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Caregiver-reported child brushing frequency · Gamified applications (nonexperimental studies) The Application of Gamification in Children's Oral Health Management: Systematic Review. (2025) | Proportion (caregiver report) 58.8% of caregivers reported their children brushed more often when using gamified applications | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 2: loss of dental hard substance adjacent to the restoration · Continent: Asia Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 0.80 [0.59, 1.07] | 11 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 7: non-stable (mobile) restoration · Continent: Africa Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 10.88 [4.01, 29.56] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 6: corrosion · Continent: South America Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 2.13 [0.84, 5.39] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 5: open margin · Coverage: Not covering Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 4.55 [2.78, 7.45] | NR | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 2: loss of dental hard substance adjacent to the restoration · Continent: Asia Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 4.81 [3.14, 7.37] | 11 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 1: partial loss or fracture of the restoration · Coverage: Not covering Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 0.73 [0.52, 1.03] | NR | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Periodontopathogenic microbiota composition · Narrative: Campylobacter/Fusobacterium/F. nucleatum/Prevotella intermedia-nigrescens/Parvimonas micra/Porphyromonas gingivalis in CLP Characterization of the oral microbiota and the relationship of the oral microbiota with the dental and… (2024) | no estimate extracted | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Mature teeth, irreversible pulpitis Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.798 [0.712, 0.873] | 10 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Pit-and-fissure caries progression (ICDAS), CO2 laser vs fluoride varnish alone · Rechmann 2013 (single RCT, n=20, 12-month follow-up) Clinical and ex-vivo effect of LASERs on prevention of early-enamel caries: systematic review & meta-analyses. (2024) | no estimate extracted | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Immature teeth, unspecified/mixed diagnosis Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.888 [0.816, 0.945] | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Partial pulpotomy, normal pulp/reversible pulpitis Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.920 [0.879, 0.954] | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Partial pulpotomy, immature teeth Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.924 [0.851, 0.976] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Spontaneous space closure · Mandible: M2 Demirjian E-F vs G-H Spontaneous space closure after extraction of permanent first molars in children and adolescents: a… (2024) | OR 42.0 | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Immature teeth, irreversible pulpitis Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.790 [0.667, 0.892] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Partial pulpotomy, mature teeth Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.842 [0.745, 0.921] | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Future caries prediction · Children without previous caries history A systematic review of Streptococcus Mutans and Veillonellae species interactions in dental caries… (2024) | S. mutans and other acid-producing species did not predict future caries (null; no estimate) | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Full pulpotomy, immature teeth Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.844 [0.748, 0.921] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Full pulpotomy, mature teeth Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.846 [0.739, 0.930] | 9 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Change in Lactobacillus spp. in dental plaque · Single study (Ly et al. 2008), xylitol or maltitol, not pooled Clinical Effects of Sugar Substitutes on Cariogenic Bacteria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2024) | Narrative (no effect size) No significant change in Lactobacillus spp. after xylitol or maltitol consumption | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Mature teeth, partial pulpotomy, irreversible pulpitis Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.808 [0.723, 0.881] | 5 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Spontaneous space closure · Maxilla: M2 Demirjian A-D vs G-H Spontaneous space closure after extraction of permanent first molars in children and adolescents: a… (2024) | OR >100.00 | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Full pulpotomy, irreversible pulpitis Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.837 [0.741, 0.916] | 12 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Decayed surfaces (DS) · Percentage of sites with CAL >=3 mm (tertiles); single study (Robert 2019); adjusted Association between periodontitis and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 1.12 [1.00, 1.25] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Immature teeth, normal pulp/reversible pulpitis Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.892 [0.834, 0.940] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Oral cancer (OC) · Sensitivity analysis: excluding Moraes et al. [34] Periodontitis and the risk of oral cancer: a meta-analysis of case-control studies. (2024) | OR 2.63 [1.92, 3.62] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Pathogenic bacteria / plaque composition around brackets (fewer pathogenic bacteria with flash-free vs APC; comparable plaque quantity) Can Orthodontic Adhesive Systems Inhibit the Formation and Development of White Spot Lesions During Fixed… (2024) | no estimate extracted | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Full pulpotomy, unspecified/mixed diagnosis Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.903 [0.801, 0.973] | 5 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Decayed surfaces (DS) · Periodontal disease severity (CDC-AAP); single study (Robert 2019); adjusted Association between periodontitis and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 1.18 [1.05, 1.32] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Mature teeth, full pulpotomy, irreversible pulpitis Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.817 [0.702, 0.909] | 8 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Fluoride ion release · nCaF2-containing orthodontic adhesive (Yi 2024 [35]); significant increase up to 56 days vs control Remineralization and anti-demineralization effect of orthodontic adhesives on enamel surrounding orthodontic… (2024) | no estimate extracted | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Spontaneous space closure · Maxilla: M2 Demirjian E-F vs G-H Spontaneous space closure after extraction of permanent first molars in children and adolescents: a… (2024) | OR 8.0 | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Prenatal vitamin D deficiency prevalence · Meta-regression adjusted estimate Association between prenatal vitamin D deficiency with dental caries in infants and children: a systematic… (2024) | Proportion 0.38 [0.30, 0.46] | NR | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Partial pulpotomy, irreversible pulpitis Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.826 [0.754, 0.889] | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Mixed root maturation (both mature and immature teeth) Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.950 [0.859, 0.998] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Oral health practices Strategies to integrate oral health into primary care: a systematic review. (2023) | 2 of 2 studies reported favourable outcomes | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Pulp necrosis · Reversible hydrocolloid impression material Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023) | Proportion 1.19 | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR New active carious lesions (permanent first molars) · Llodra 2005 (6-monthly SDF, Cuba) A systematic review on the effect of silver diamine fluoride for management of dental caries in permanent… (2023) | Mean new active carious lesions per child 0.4 vs 1.1 | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Pulp necrosis · Compound impression material Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023) | Proportion 3.27 | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Confidence Strategies to integrate oral health into primary care: a systematic review. (2023) | 3 of 3 studies reported favourable outcomes | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Food purchasing · Vote counting by direction of effect; unclear association of public health harm Association of Food and Nonalcoholic Beverage Marketing With Children and Adolescents' Eating Behaviors and… (2022) | Proportion 0.25 [0.013, 0.781] | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Pain during treatment · Hall Technique vs non-selective caries removal to hard dentine Minimal intervention dentistry for managing carious lesions into dentine in primary teeth: an umbrella review. (2022) | Proportion with no/mild pain 89% (HT) vs 78% (control) | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Alpha diversity (study-level, caries vs health) · Per-study across 15 studies (log2 fold change; Figure 7B) Meta-analysis of caries microbiome studies can improve upon disease prediction outcomes. (2022) | Chao1 and Observed significantly increased in caries in only 3 of 15 studies (and pooled); overall little significance across studies | 15 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Enamel acid resistance / initiation of new enamel caries lesions (in vivo, narrative) · nHA vs non-fluoridated comparator: nHA significantly superior [25] (Polyakova 2020) Efficacy of nano-hydroxyapatite on caries prevention-a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022) | no estimate extracted | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Food purchasing · Vote counting by direction of effect; clear association of public health harm Association of Food and Nonalcoholic Beverage Marketing With Children and Adolescents' Eating Behaviors and… (2022) | Proportion 0.25 [0.013, 0.781] | 4 studies | Ungraded |