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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.
321 questions in 77 reviews · Dental caries
current versionsNo 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.
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Oral cytology (e.g. OralCDx brush biopsy, CytID) vs Reference standard: examination and clinical evaluation by a physician/clinician with specialist knowledge or training (long-term follow-up accepted for those screened negative) Outcome NR · Apparently healthy adults not reporting symptoms of OPMD or OSCC, attending an organised screening or surveillance… Clinical assessment for the detection of oral cavity cancer and potentially malignant disorders in… (2021) · Cochrane | Oral cytology (e.g. brush biopsy) was added to the list of eligible index tests in this update; no eligible studies evaluated it (evidence gap). | 0 studies | No studies |
COE with blood/salivary (biomarker) analysis vs Reference standard: examination and clinical evaluation by a physician/clinician with specialist knowledge or training (long-term follow-up accepted for those screened negative) Outcome NR · Apparently healthy adults not reporting symptoms of OPMD or OSCC, attending an organised screening or surveillance… Clinical assessment for the detection of oral cavity cancer and potentially malignant disorders in… (2021) · Cochrane | There were no eligible studies evaluating blood or salivary sample analysis (which tests for the presence of biomarkers for OPMD and OSCC). | 0 studies | No studies |
Chemotherapy (any regimen; added to, or compared with, locoregional treatment) vs Locoregional treatment and/or an alternative chemotherapy regimen Quality of life · People receiving curative-intent treatment for oral cavity and oropharyngeal (squamous cell) cancer Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: chemotherapy (2021) · Cochrane | Quality of life was a planned (protocol) outcome but no included trial provided usable quality-of-life data; the protocol was modified to report only survival/response outcomes. | 0 studies | No studies |
Electrical conductance devices (electronic caries monitor (ECM) and/or CarieScan Pro), used as an adjunct to clinical oral examination vs Reference standard: histology or enhanced visual examination (with or without radiographs) Outcome NR · Children/adolescents/adults or extracted teeth; target condition = non-cavitated enamel caries on SMOOTH tooth surfaces. · Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) Electrical conductance for the detection of dental caries (2021) · Cochrane | No eligible studies. All included studies assessed occlusal surfaces only; smooth surfaces were a planned surface subgroup with no data. | 0 studies | No studies |
Chemotherapy vs Placebo Outcome NR · People receiving curative-intent treatment for oral cavity and oropharyngeal (squamous cell) cancer Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer: chemotherapy (2021) · Cochrane | Types of studies: it was anticipated that there would be no studies comparing chemotherapy with placebo (none were identified). | 0 studies | No studies |
Rubber dam isolation and moisture control (alone or with saliva aspiration) vs Cotton rolls (with or without saliva aspiration) Costs: direct cost of treatment · Dental patients undergoing direct or indirect restorative treatment (no age or gender restriction) Rubber dam isolation for restorative treatment in dental patients (2021) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Any of the interventions (CR, SE, SW, sealing with sealant materials, Hall Technique, or NRCC) vs Each other, placebo, or no treatment Safety issues (adverse events) · Children and/or adults with permanent or primary teeth, vital (sensitive) pulps, and cavitated or dentine carious… Interventions for treating cavitated or dentine carious lesions (2021) · Cochrane | None of the studies reported adverse effects. | 0 studies | No studies |
COE with light-based detection (e.g. ViziLite Plus, Microlux/DL, VELscope, Identafi 3000) vs COE with vital rinsing (toluidine blue/tolonium chloride) Outcome NR · Apparently healthy adults not reporting symptoms of OPMD or OSCC, attending an organised screening or surveillance… Clinical assessment for the detection of oral cavity cancer and potentially malignant disorders in… (2021) · Cochrane | No eligible studies; planned comparative analysis (COE with vital rinse vs COE with light-based detection) not populated in this version. | 0 studies | No studies |
Any of the interventions (CR, SE, SW, sealing with sealant materials, Hall Technique, or NRCC) vs Each other, placebo, or no treatment Subjective evaluation of the treatments by participants · Children and/or adults with permanent or primary teeth, vital (sensitive) pulps, and cavitated or dentine carious… Interventions for treating cavitated or dentine carious lesions (2021) · Cochrane | We found no studies reporting subjective evaluation of the treatments by participants. | 0 studies | No studies |
COE with blood/salivary (biomarker) analysis vs COE with vital rinsing (toluidine blue/tolonium chloride) Outcome NR · Apparently healthy adults not reporting symptoms of OPMD or OSCC, attending an organised screening or surveillance… Clinical assessment for the detection of oral cavity cancer and potentially malignant disorders in… (2021) · Cochrane | No eligible studies; planned comparative analysis (COE with vital rinse vs COE with blood/salivary analysis) not populated in this version. | 0 studies | No studies |
Quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) vs Histological validation (in vitro) or cavity preparation/biopsy (in vivo) Diagnostic accuracy for occlusal caries detection (any threshold) · Human permanent posterior teeth (premolars and molars), occlusal (pit-and-fissure) surfaces Systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic methods for occlusal surface caries. (2021) | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
COE with blood/salivary (biomarker) analysis vs Conventional oral examination (COE) alone Outcome NR · Apparently healthy adults not reporting symptoms of OPMD or OSCC, attending an organised screening or surveillance… Clinical assessment for the detection of oral cavity cancer and potentially malignant disorders in… (2021) · Cochrane | No eligible studies; planned comparative analysis (COE vs COE with blood/salivary analysis) not populated in this version. | 0 studies | No studies |
Electrical conductance devices (electronic caries monitor (ECM) and/or CarieScan Pro), used as an adjunct to clinical oral examination vs Reference standard: histology or enhanced visual examination (with or without radiographs) Outcome NR · Teeth with previously applied restorations (secondary caries) or pit and fissure sealants; target condition =… · Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) Electrical conductance for the detection of dental caries (2021) · Cochrane | No eligible studies. 'No included studies reported inclusion criteria of previously applied restorations or pit and fissure sealants' (a planned subgroup). | 0 studies | No studies |
COE with light-based detection (e.g. ViziLite Plus, Microlux/DL, VELscope, Identafi 3000) vs Reference standard: examination and clinical evaluation by a physician/clinician with specialist knowledge or training (long-term follow-up accepted for those screened negative) Outcome NR · Apparently healthy adults not reporting symptoms of OPMD or OSCC, attending an organised screening or surveillance… Clinical assessment for the detection of oral cavity cancer and potentially malignant disorders in… (2021) · Cochrane | There were no eligible studies evaluating light-based detection. | 0 studies | No studies |
Direct composite resin restoration vs Amalgam restoration Harms: allergic reaction · People with permanent or adult posterior teeth requiring restoration (parallel-group trials involved children aged 6… Direct composite resin fillings versus amalgam fillings for permanent posterior teeth (2021) · Cochrane | We did not find any eligible studies that evaluated allergic reaction or injury (no studies reported on outcomes of relevance to allergic reaction). | 0 studies | No studies |
Transillumination/OCT device used as an adjunct to a conventional visual examination vs Reference standard: histology, or enhanced visual examination with or without radiographs (also operative excavation, tooth separation, or microcomputed tomography) Outcome NR · Children or adults presenting asymptomatically or suspected of having enamel caries (clinical/in vivo studies);… · Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo; in vitro no limit if stored appropriately) Transillumination and optical coherence tomography for the detection and diagnosis of enamel caries (2021) · Cochrane | No studies formally reported the use of the illumination devices as an adjunct to a conventional visual examination, and therefore it has not been possible to make an assessment. | 0 studies | No studies |
Radiographic imaging methods (any: analogue radiographs, digital radiographs, or CBCT) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination) Diagnostic accuracy on surfaces with pit and fissure sealants · Asymptomatic children, adolescents, or adults presenting for clinical examination (in vivo studies), or extracted… · Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies), Pit and fissure sealants Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries (2021) · Cochrane | Pre-specified heterogeneity investigation of surfaces with pit and fissure sealants: no study reported the inclusion of sealants that would allow evaluation of early caries lesions. | 0 studies | No studies |
Rubber dam isolation vs Isolite system Clinical evaluation of restoration's quality · Dental patients undergoing restorative treatment (no age or gender restriction) Rubber dam isolation for restorative treatment in dental patients (2021) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Rubber dam isolation vs Isolite system Adverse events · Dental patients undergoing restorative treatment (no age or gender restriction) · treatment phase Rubber dam isolation for restorative treatment in dental patients (2021) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Rubber dam isolation and moisture control (alone or with saliva aspiration) vs Cotton rolls (with or without saliva aspiration) Adverse events · Dental patients undergoing direct or indirect restorative treatment (no age or gender restriction) · treatment phase Rubber dam isolation for restorative treatment in dental patients (2021) · Cochrane | Adverse events | Outcome not reported | 0 studies | No studies |
Rubber dam isolation vs Isolite system Costs: direct cost of treatment · Dental patients undergoing restorative treatment (no age or gender restriction) Rubber dam isolation for restorative treatment in dental patients (2021) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
COE with light-based detection (e.g. ViziLite Plus, Microlux/DL, VELscope, Identafi 3000) vs Conventional oral examination (COE) alone Outcome NR · Apparently healthy adults not reporting symptoms of OPMD or OSCC, attending an organised screening or surveillance… Clinical assessment for the detection of oral cavity cancer and potentially malignant disorders in… (2021) · Cochrane | No eligible studies; planned comparative analysis (COE vs COE with light-based detection) not populated in this version. | 0 studies | No studies |
Visual or visual-tactile classification systems (any system: ICDAS, ERK, Nyvad, Downer, Lussi, UniViSS, or unspecified) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, radiographs/microCT, or tooth separation) Diagnostic accuracy on surfaces with pit and fissure sealants · Asymptomatic children or adults presenting for clinical examination (in vivo studies), or extracted teeth of children… · Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies), Pit and fissure sealants Visual or visual‐tactile examination to detect and inform the diagnosis of enamel caries (2021) · Cochrane | Pre-specified heterogeneity investigation of surfaces with previously applied pit and fissure sealants: no studies reported the inclusion of sealants. | 0 studies | No studies |
COE with vital rinsing (toluidine blue/tolonium chloride) vs Reference standard: examination and clinical evaluation by a physician/clinician with specialist knowledge or training (long-term follow-up accepted for those screened negative) Outcome NR · Apparently healthy adults not reporting symptoms of OPMD or OSCC, attending an organised screening or surveillance… Clinical assessment for the detection of oral cavity cancer and potentially malignant disorders in… (2021) · Cochrane | No eligible study evaluated COE with vital rinse as a stand-alone screen against the reference standard in this version. | 0 studies | No studies |
Electrical conductance devices (electronic caries monitor (ECM) and/or CarieScan Pro), used as an adjunct to clinical oral examination vs Reference standard: histology or enhanced visual examination (with or without radiographs) Outcome NR · Children/adolescents/adults or extracted teeth; target condition = non-cavitated enamel caries on PROXIMAL… · Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) Electrical conductance for the detection of dental caries (2021) · Cochrane | No eligible studies. All included studies assessed occlusal surfaces only ('All studies assessed the use of the electrical conductance devices on occlusal surfaces.'); proximal surfaces were a planned surface subgroup… | 0 studies | No studies |
COE with blood/salivary (biomarker) analysis vs COE with light-based detection (e.g. ViziLite Plus, Microlux/DL, VELscope, Identafi 3000) Outcome NR · Apparently healthy adults not reporting symptoms of OPMD or OSCC, attending an organised screening or surveillance… Clinical assessment for the detection of oral cavity cancer and potentially malignant disorders in… (2021) · Cochrane | No eligible studies; planned comparative analysis (COE with light-based detection vs COE with blood/salivary analysis) not populated in this version. | 0 studies | No studies |
Radiographic imaging methods (any: analogue radiographs, digital radiographs, or CBCT) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination) Diagnostic accuracy on restored teeth (secondary caries) · Asymptomatic children, adolescents, or adults presenting for clinical examination (in vivo studies), or extracted… · Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies), Restorations (secondary caries) Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries (2021) · Cochrane | Pre-specified heterogeneity investigation of teeth with previously applied restorations (secondary caries): no study intentionally included restored teeth in its sample. Studies evaluating secondary caries were… | 0 studies | No studies |
Direct composite resin restoration vs Amalgam restoration Harms: injury · People with permanent or adult posterior teeth requiring restoration (parallel-group trials involved children aged 6… Direct composite resin fillings versus amalgam fillings for permanent posterior teeth (2021) · Cochrane | We did not find any eligible studies that evaluated allergic reaction or injury (no studies reported on outcomes of relevance to injury). | 0 studies | No studies |
Electrical conductance devices (electronic caries monitor (ECM) and/or CarieScan Pro), used as an adjunct to clinical oral examination vs Reference standard: histology or enhanced visual examination (with or without radiographs) Outcome NR · Samples with a low (<15%) prevalence of caries into dentine (d3/D3); target condition = non-cavitated enamel caries. · Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) Electrical conductance for the detection of dental caries (2021) · Cochrane | No eligible studies. 'No studies reported the inclusion of a low prevalence (0% to 14%) of d3/D3 of tooth surfaces'; all included studies reported d3/D3 prevalence of 15% or above, so the planned low-prevalence… | 0 studies | No studies |
Fibre-optic transillumination (FOTI) vs Histological validation (in vitro) or direct visual examination after tooth separation / bioptical cavity preparation (in vivo) Diagnostic accuracy for proximal caries detection · Permanent posterior teeth, proximal surfaces (in vitro extracted teeth and in vivo patients) Systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic studies of proximal surface caries. (2021) | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Rubber dam isolation vs Isolite system Survival rate of the restorations · Dental patients undergoing restorative treatment (no age or gender restriction) Rubber dam isolation for restorative treatment in dental patients (2021) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Electrical conductance (e.g. electronic caries monitor, ECM) vs Reference standard: histology or enhanced visual-tactile examination Outcome NR · Adults presenting asymptomatically or suspected of having root caries (in vivo); extracted teeth of adults (in vitro) Tests to detect and inform the diagnosis of root caries (2020) · Cochrane | Electrical conductance was a pre-specified eligible index test but no diagnostic test accuracy study of electrical conductance was included. A study evaluating the electronic caries monitor (ECM) (Wicht 2002) was… | 0 studies | No studies |
Resin-based fissure sealant vs Fluoride varnish Time taken to apply pit and fissure sealant or fluoride varnish · Children and adolescents from the general population, younger than 20 years of age at the start of the study Pit and fissure sealants versus fluoride varnishes for preventing dental decay in the permanent teeth of… (2020) · Cochrane | None of the studies measured time taken to apply pit and fissure sealant or fluoride varnish (resin sealant versus fluoride varnish comparison). | 0 studies | No studies |
Intraglandular botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) injection vs No BoNT (placebo or pre-treatment baseline) Salivary osmolality (hydration level) · Patients with drooling (sialorrhea) due to neurological disease Oral health effects of botulinum toxin treatment for drooling: a systematic review. (2020) | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Resin-based fissure sealant plus fluoride varnish vs Fluoride varnish alone Number of visits to the dentist for repair of sealant or fluoride varnish application · Children and adolescents from the general population, younger than 20 years of age at the start of the study Pit and fissure sealants versus fluoride varnishes for preventing dental decay in the permanent teeth of… (2020) · Cochrane | The study (Splieth 2001) did not measure the number of visits to the dentist for repair of sealant or fluoride varnish application. | 0 studies | No studies |
Gastroesophageal or laryngopharyngeal reflux (GERD/LPR) vs Healthy individuals (controls) Oral/pharyngeal microbiota modifications · Adults with GERD/LPR reflux Laryngopharyngeal reflux, gastroesophageal reflux and dental disorders: A systematic review. (2020) | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Canary System (Quantum Dental Technologies; red fluorescence, scale 0-100) vs Reference standard: histology, enhanced visual examination with or without radiographs, or excavation Outcome NR · Children or adults presenting asymptomatically or suspected of having enamel caries (in vivo/clinical studies);… · Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) Fluorescence devices for the detection of dental caries (2020) · Cochrane | The Canary System was not used by any included study. | 0 studies | No studies |
Resin-based fissure sealant plus fluoride varnish vs Fluoride varnish alone Progression of dentinal carious lesions into enamel or dentine · Children and adolescents from the general population, younger than 20 years of age at the start of the study Pit and fissure sealants versus fluoride varnishes for preventing dental decay in the permanent teeth of… (2020) · Cochrane | The study (Splieth 2001) did not report progression of dentinal carious lesions into enamel or dentine. | 0 studies | No studies |
Fibre-optic transillumination (FOTI, including white light scattering and near infrared) vs Reference standard: histology or enhanced visual-tactile examination Outcome NR · Adults presenting asymptomatically or suspected of having root caries (in vivo); extracted teeth of adults (in vitro) Tests to detect and inform the diagnosis of root caries (2020) · Cochrane | Fibre-optic transillumination was a pre-specified eligible index test but no diagnostic test accuracy study of fibre-optic transillumination was included. | 0 studies | No studies |
Flossing plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Interproximal caries · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | No included study assessed caries as an outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
12,500 ppm F (NaF/olaflur/dectaflur) amine fluoride gel vs 0 ppm F placebo gel Number of participants with more severe DLs (severity of DLs) · Orthodontic patients of any age with fixed braces (new DLs assessed at debond) · At debond (end of orthodontic treatment) Fluorides for preventing early tooth decay (demineralised lesions) during fixed brace treatment (2019) · Cochrane | Additional SoF Table 1. Number of participants with more severe DLs: none of the trials reported this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing Periodontitis (probing pocket depth) · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | No included study assessed periodontitis. | 0 studies | No studies |
Wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Gingivitis (gingival index) · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | Gingivitis measured by gingival index: Not measured. | 0 studies | No studies |
Oral irrigation plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing Periodontitis (probing pocket depth) · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | No included study assessed periodontitis. | 0 studies | No studies |
Patient-used 5000 ppm F toothpaste, daily vs 1450 ppm F (conventional) toothpaste, daily Number of participants with more severe DLs (severity of DLs) · Orthodontic patients of any age with fixed braces (new DLs assessed at debond) · At debond (end of orthodontic treatment) Fluorides for preventing early tooth decay (demineralised lesions) during fixed brace treatment (2019) · Cochrane | SoF 3. Number of participants with more severe DLs: none of the trials reported this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
1400/250 ppm F (amine F/SnF2) toothpaste + mouthrinse, daily vs 1400/250 ppm F (NaF) toothpaste + mouthrinse, daily Number of participants with more severe DLs (severity of DLs) · Orthodontic patients of any age with fixed braces (new DLs assessed at debond) · At debond (end of orthodontic treatment) Fluorides for preventing early tooth decay (demineralised lesions) during fixed brace treatment (2019) · Cochrane | Additional SoF Table 2. Number of participants with more severe DLs: none of the trials reported this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
1400/250 ppm F (amine F/SnF2) toothpaste + mouthrinse, daily vs 1400/250 ppm F (NaF) toothpaste + mouthrinse, daily Adverse effects · Orthodontic patients of any age with fixed braces (new DLs assessed at debond) · At debond (end of orthodontic treatment) Fluorides for preventing early tooth decay (demineralised lesions) during fixed brace treatment (2019) · Cochrane | Additional SoF Table 2. Adverse effects: none of the trials reported this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
1450 ppm F toothpaste vs 440 ppm F toothpaste Adverse effects of toothpaste · Young children with primary (deciduous) dentition (aged 1 to 6 years at study start) Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries (2019) · Cochrane | Adverse effects of toothpaste: no studies reported this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Laser enamel preparation vs Enameloplasty Any planned outcome (sealant retention, caries, etc.) · Patients with premolars/molars requiring pit-and-fissure sealants The clinical effects of laser preparation of tooth surfaces for fissure sealants placement: a systematic… (2019) | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Intraoral fluoride-releasing glass bead device attached to the brace vs 250 ppm F (daily) fluoride mouthrinse Number of participants with more severe DLs (severity of DLs) · Orthodontic patients of any age with fixed braces (new DLs assessed at debond) · At debond (end of orthodontic treatment) Fluorides for preventing early tooth decay (demineralised lesions) during fixed brace treatment (2019) · Cochrane | Additional SoF Table 3. Number of participants with more severe DLs: none of the trials reported this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |