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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)

321 questions in 77 reviews · Dental caries

current versions
No studies 321 · 100%Ungraded 0 · 0%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.

QuestionEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Chlorhexidine varnish
Adverse effects · 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 comparison0 studiesNo studies
High-dose vitamin D3 supplementation during pregnancy (2400 IU/day from pregnancy week 24 to 1 week postpartum, in addition to the recommended 400 IU/day) vs Low-dose (standard) vitamin D supplementation as recommended in national pregnancy guidelines
dmft index score · For interventions, pregnant women, mothers or other caregivers of infants in the first year of life; for outcomes,…
Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood… (2024) · Cochrane
dmft was listed in the SoF table but not assessed (not reported for this comparison).0 studiesNo studies
SDF (given at a particular frequency, concentration, or duration) vs SDF (given at a different frequency, concentration, or duration)
Primary caries prevention · 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 outcome0 studiesNo studies
High-dose vitamin D3 supplementation during pregnancy (2400 IU/day from pregnancy week 24 to 1 week postpartum, in addition to the recommended 400 IU/day) vs Low-dose (standard) vitamin D supplementation as recommended in national pregnancy guidelines
dmfs index score · For interventions, pregnant women, mothers or other caregivers of infants in the first year of life; for outcomes,…
Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood… (2024) · Cochrane
dmfs was listed in the SoF table but not assessed (not reported for this comparison).0 studiesNo studies
SDF (given at a particular frequency, concentration, or duration) vs SDF (given at a different frequency, concentration, or duration)
Dental pain or sensitivity · 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 outcome0 studiesNo studies
Original development of CAMBRA (Caries Management by Risk Assessment) or CAT (Caries-risk Assessment Tool) multivariable models vs Not applicable
Model development with reported performance measures (per CHARMS) · Individuals of any age at risk of caries increment · Model development studies
Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023)
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Surgery plus adjuvant radiotherapy vs Chemotherapy (chemoradiotherapy)
Disease-free survival · Adults with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer · oral cavity
Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane
Disease-free survival: not reported (Iyer 2015).0 studiesNo studies
Surgery plus radiotherapy vs Radiotherapy alone
Locoregional recurrence · Adults with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer
Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane
Locoregional recurrence: not reported.0 studiesNo studies
Surgery plus radiotherapy vs Radiotherapy alone
Disease-free survival · Adults with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer
Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane
Disease-free survival: not reported.0 studiesNo studies
Elective radical (comprehensive) neck dissection vs Elective selective neck dissection
Locoregional recurrence · Adults with oral cavity cancer
Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane
Locoregional recurrence: not reported.0 studiesNo studies
Surgery vs Radiotherapy alone
Locoregional recurrence · Adults with oropharyngeal cancer
Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane
Locoregional recurrence: not reported.0 studiesNo studies
Surgery plus radiotherapy vs Radiotherapy alone
Recurrence · Adults with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer
Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane
Recurrence: not reported.0 studiesNo studies
Surgery plus adjuvant radiotherapy vs Chemotherapy (chemoradiotherapy)
Adverse events associated with treatment · Adults with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer
Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane
Adverse events: not reported for any participants (Iyer 2015).0 studiesNo studies
Superselective neck dissection vs Selective neck dissection
Total mortality · Adults with oral cavity cancer (tongue or floor of mouth) and clinically negative neck nodes
Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane
Total mortality: not reported.0 studiesNo studies
Supraomohyoid neck dissection vs Modified radical neck dissection
Disease-free survival · Adults with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer
Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane
Disease-free survival: not reported (Guo 2014 reported disease-specific survival, not a review outcome).0 studiesNo studies
Surgery plus adjuvant radiotherapy vs Chemotherapy (chemoradiotherapy)
Recurrence · Adults with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer · oral cavity
Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane
Recurrence: not reported for the oral cancer subgroup (Iyer 2015).0 studiesNo studies
Surgery vs Radiotherapy alone
Recurrence · Adults with oropharyngeal cancer
Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane
Recurrence: not reported.0 studiesNo studies
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Any (current minimally invasive techniques)
Not applicable (no eligible studies) · Adults with coronal (crown) dental caries in permanent teeth
A systematic review on the effect of silver diamine fluoride for management of dental caries in permanent… (2023)
The review states there was a lack of studies on the effects of SDF on coronal caries in adults; included adult studies addressed only root caries.0 studiesNo studies
Superselective neck dissection vs Selective neck dissection
Recurrence · Adults with oral cavity cancer (tongue or floor of mouth) and clinically negative neck nodes
Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane
Recurrence: outcome not reported in a usable way in either study.0 studiesNo studies
Living with HIV and undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART/HAART) vs Healthy HIV-negative controls
Kaposi's sarcoma (WHO clinical stage 4) · Children and adolescents (<18 years) · Cross-sectional (case-control; single time point)
Oral Health Status of Children and Adolescents Living with HIV Undergoing Antiretroviral Therapy: A… (2022)
Planned WHO stage 4 outcome; no eligible studies (Table 2 lists 'None').0 studiesNo studies
Fluoride-releasing resin-based sealant vs Resin-based sealant
Adverse events · Children with caries-free second primary molars, aged 4-8 years (dental clinic, Turkey and Spain)
Sealants for preventing dental caries in primary teeth (2022) · Cochrane
No studies reported this outcome.0 studiesNo studies
Responsive complementary feeding (RCF) vs Other models of complementary feeding
Hypertension · Healthy children aged 6–24 months in Western industrialized countries
Complementary Feeding Caregivers' Practices and Growth, Risk of Overweight/Obesity, and Other… (2022)
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Glass ionomer-based sealant vs Resin-based sealant (fluoride-releasing or non-fluoride-releasing)
Progression of non-cavitated enamel caries · 'Healthy' children with caries-free second primary molars, aged 3-5 years (schools and kindergartens, India and China)
Sealants for preventing dental caries in primary teeth (2022) · Cochrane
No studies reported this outcome.0 studiesNo studies
Combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) vs Monotherapy or dual antiretroviral therapy
Angular cheilitis prevalence · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
Impact of Antiretroviral Therapy on Oral Health among Children Living with HIV: A Systematic Review and… (2022)
No eligible studies compared angular cheilitis between CLWH on different ART medications.0 studiesNo studies
Responsive complementary feeding (RCF) vs Other models of complementary feeding
Choking events · Healthy children aged 6–24 months in Western industrialized countries
Complementary Feeding Caregivers' Practices and Growth, Risk of Overweight/Obesity, and Other… (2022)
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Glass ionomer-based sealant vs No sealant
Adverse events · Children with caries-free primary first molars (with or without caries on other teeth), aged 1-5 years (paediatric…
Sealants for preventing dental caries in primary teeth (2022) · Cochrane
No studies reported this outcome.0 studiesNo studies
Responsive complementary feeding (RCF) / other caregivers' feeding practices vs Other models of complementary feeding (traditional/non-responsive CF)
Type 2 diabetes (later in life) · Healthy, term-born, normal-birth-weight infants aged 4-24 months (breastfed and/or formula-fed) in Western… · Later in life
Complementary Feeding Caregivers' Practices and Growth, Risk of Overweight/Obesity, and Other… (2022)
No studies on the influence of caregivers' feeding practices during complementary feeding on type 2 diabetes later in life were identified.0 studiesNo studies
Responsive complementary feeding (RCF) vs Other models of complementary feeding
Dental caries · Healthy children aged 6–24 months in Western industrialized countries
Complementary Feeding Caregivers' Practices and Growth, Risk of Overweight/Obesity, and Other… (2022)
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Fluoride-releasing resin-based sealant vs Resin-based sealant
Progression of non-cavitated enamel caries · Children with caries-free second primary molars, aged 4-8 years (dental clinic, Turkey and Spain)
Sealants for preventing dental caries in primary teeth (2022) · Cochrane
No studies reported this outcome.0 studiesNo studies
Autopolymerised sealant vs Light polymerised sealant
Adverse events · Children with sound primary molars, aged 2-4 years (municipal dental clinics or hospital paediatric clinics, Denmark)
Sealants for preventing dental caries in primary teeth (2022) · Cochrane
No studies reported this outcome.0 studiesNo studies
Flowable resin composite vs Fluoride-releasing resin-based sealant
Adverse events · Children who were regular dental attenders with caries-free first or second primary molars (public health service…
Sealants for preventing dental caries in primary teeth (2022) · Cochrane
No studies reported this outcome.0 studiesNo studies
Fluoride-releasing resin-based sealant vs No sealant (no treatment)
Adverse events · Children with caries-free or non-cavitated carious lesion primary molars, aged 3-7 years (paediatric department,…
Sealants for preventing dental caries in primary teeth (2022) · Cochrane
No studies reported this outcome.0 studiesNo studies
Flowable resin composite vs Fluoride-releasing resin-based sealant
Progression of non-cavitated enamel caries · Children who were regular dental attenders with caries-free first or second primary molars (public health service…
Sealants for preventing dental caries in primary teeth (2022) · Cochrane
No studies reported this outcome.0 studiesNo studies
Combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) vs Monotherapy or dual antiretroviral therapy
Dental development and maturation · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
Impact of Antiretroviral Therapy on Oral Health among Children Living with HIV: A Systematic Review and… (2022)
No eligible studies compared dental development and maturation between CLWH on different ART medications.0 studiesNo studies
Bio-active restorative materials vs Other restorative approaches
Clinical effectiveness · Children with carious primary teeth · At least 12 months
Clinical effectiveness of restorative materials for the restoration of carious primary teeth without pulp… (2022)
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Living with HIV and undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART/HAART) vs Healthy HIV-negative controls
Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis/periodontitis (WHO clinical stage 3) · Children and adolescents (<18 years) · Cross-sectional (case-control; single time point)
Oral Health Status of Children and Adolescents Living with HIV Undergoing Antiretroviral Therapy: A… (2022)
Planned WHO stage 3 outcome; no eligible studies (Table 2 lists 'None').0 studiesNo studies
Living with HIV and undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART/HAART) vs Healthy HIV-negative controls
Chronic herpes simplex infection (WHO clinical stage 4) · Children and adolescents (<18 years) · Cross-sectional (case-control; single time point)
Oral Health Status of Children and Adolescents Living with HIV Undergoing Antiretroviral Therapy: A… (2022)
Planned WHO stage 4 outcome; no eligible studies (Table 2 lists 'None').0 studiesNo studies
Bio-active restorative materials (containing bio-active compounds) vs Any conventional restorative material
Treatment failure (planned; no eligible studies) · Children with carious primary teeth after vital or non-vital pulp therapy
Clinical effectiveness of restorative materials for the restoration of carious lesions in pulp treated… (2022)
No studies were found that reported on the use of restorative materials containing bio-active compounds for the restoration of carious primary teeth after vital or non-vital pulp therapy.0 studiesNo studies
Fluoride-containing dental care products / fluoride intake vs Male vs female
Sex/gender differences in fluoride intake or dental-care-product contribution · Participants stratified by sex/gender (especially young children)
Fluoride Intake Through Dental Care Products: A Systematic Review. (2022)
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Responsive complementary feeding (RCF) / other caregivers' feeding practices vs Other models of complementary feeding (traditional/non-responsive CF)
Hypertension (later in life) · Healthy, term-born, normal-birth-weight infants aged 4-24 months (breastfed and/or formula-fed) in Western… · Later in life
Complementary Feeding Caregivers' Practices and Growth, Risk of Overweight/Obesity, and Other… (2022)
No studies on the influence of caregivers' feeding practices during complementary feeding on hypertension later in life were identified.0 studiesNo studies
Flowable resin composite vs Fluoride-releasing resin-based sealant
Development of >=1 new carious lesion (caries incidence) · Children who were regular dental attenders with caries-free first or second primary molars (public health service…
Sealants for preventing dental caries in primary teeth (2022) · Cochrane
No studies reported this outcome.0 studiesNo studies
New restorative materials with bio-active molecules (bio-active materials, BM) vs Any restorative material or technique
Not applicable (no eligible studies) · Children with carious primary teeth (no pulp therapy)
Clinical effectiveness of restorative materials for the restoration of carious primary teeth without pulp… (2022)
The search retrieved no randomized controlled trials on the clinical effectiveness of new bio-active restorative materials for carious primary teeth.0 studiesNo studies
Responsive / non-responsive complementary feeding (RCF/NRCF) vs Other models of complementary feeding
Choking · Healthy, term-born, normal-birth-weight infants aged 4-24 months (breastfed and/or formula-fed) in Western… · Infancy
Complementary Feeding Caregivers' Practices and Growth, Risk of Overweight/Obesity, and Other… (2022)
No SRs or studies relevant to the risk of choking were found that included NRCF or RCF approaches other than those specifically defined as BLW or BLISS.0 studiesNo studies
Autopolymerised sealant vs Light polymerised sealant
Progression of non-cavitated enamel caries · Children with sound primary molars, aged 2-4 years (municipal dental clinics or hospital paediatric clinics, Denmark)
Sealants for preventing dental caries in primary teeth (2022) · Cochrane
No studies reported on this outcome.0 studiesNo studies
Combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) vs Monotherapy or dual antiretroviral therapy
Oral hairy leukoplakia prevalence · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
Impact of Antiretroviral Therapy on Oral Health among Children Living with HIV: A Systematic Review and… (2022)
No eligible studies compared oral hairy leukoplakia between CLWH on different ART medications.0 studiesNo studies
Food and nonalcoholic beverage marketing (exposure) vs No, less, or less powerful food marketing
Diet-related noncommunicable diseases · Children and adolescents aged 0-19 years
Association of Food and Nonalcoholic Beverage Marketing With Children and Adolescents' Eating Behaviors and… (2022)
No studies were found with relevant data on diet-related noncommunicable diseases or validated surrogate indicators.0 studiesNo studies
Fluoride-containing dental care products (toothpaste) vs Dietary/other fluoride sources
Contribution of dental care products to total fluoride exposure · Pregnant and lactating women
Fluoride Intake Through Dental Care Products: A Systematic Review. (2022)
no estimate extracted0 studiesNo studies
Responsive complementary feeding (RCF) / other caregivers' feeding practices vs Other models of complementary feeding (traditional/non-responsive CF)
Dental caries (later in life) · Healthy, term-born, normal-birth-weight infants aged 4-24 months (breastfed and/or formula-fed) in Western… · Later in life
Complementary Feeding Caregivers' Practices and Growth, Risk of Overweight/Obesity, and Other… (2022)
No studies on the influence of caregivers' feeding practices during complementary feeding on dental caries later in life were identified.0 studiesNo studies
Glass ionomer-based sealant vs No sealant
Progression of non-cavitated enamel caries · Children with caries-free primary first molars (with or without caries on other teeth), aged 1-5 years (paediatric…
Sealants for preventing dental caries in primary teeth (2022) · Cochrane
No studies reported this outcome.0 studiesNo studies
Fluoride-releasing resin-based sealant vs No sealant (no treatment)
Progression of non-cavitated enamel caries · Children with caries-free or non-cavitated carious lesion primary molars, aged 3-7 years (paediatric department,…
Sealants for preventing dental caries in primary teeth (2022) · Cochrane
No studies reported this outcome.0 studiesNo studies