Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

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Evidence found and GRADE certainty

78 questions · 99 findings · 18 reviews

No studies found 8 · 8.1%GRADE not reported 80 · 80.8%Very low 3 · 3%Low 6 · 6.1%Moderate 2 · 2%High 0 · 0%

Resin-based fissure sealant plus fluoride varnish vs Fluoride varnish

Changes in decayed, missing and filled (DMF) figures at whole-mouth level · Children and adolescents (general population, aged under 20 years)
1 finding from 1 review

Resin-based fissure sealant plus fluoride varnish vs Fluoride varnish

Dentine caries in permanent molars (24 months) · Children and adolescents (general population, aged under 20 years)

It is very uncertain whether resin-based fissure sealant plus fluoride varnish changes dentine caries in permanent molars (yes/no) compared with fluoride varnish alone (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride varnish

Unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

Fluoride varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste showed no clear difference in unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) compared with fluoride varnish alone; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) plus fluoride varnish vs Sealants plus fluoride varnish (with or without restorations)

Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) plus fluoride varnish showed no clear difference in caries arrest compared with sealants plus fluoride varnish (with or without restorations) (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) plus fluoride varnish vs Sealants plus fluoride varnish (with or without restorations)

Adverse effects · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
1 finding from 1 review

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) plus fluoride varnish vs Atraumatic restorative treatment + fluoride varnish (ART+FV)

Oral health-related quality of life · Children with dental caries

SDF plus fluoride varnish did not significantly differ from ART plus fluoride varnish for oral health-related quality of life (MD 0.16, 95% CI -0.1 to 0.42; ungraded).

1 finding from 1 review

Atraumatic restorative treatment plus fluoride varnish vs Silver diamine fluoride plus fluoride varnish

Oral health-related quality of life · Children with dental caries

The direct estimate found no statistically significant difference in oral health-related quality of life between atraumatic restorative treatment plus fluoride varnish and silver diamine fluoride plus fluoride varnish.

2 findings from 1 review

Fluoride varnish vs CPP-ACP

Remineralization / reduction in lesion severity (change in QLF, laser fluorescence, or lesion area) · Patients with white spot lesions / early caries lesions (WSLs/ECLs), including orthodontic and non-orthodontic lesions, active caries…

Fluoride varnish did not differ significantly from CPP-ACP (SMD -0.07, 95% CI -0.44 to 0.29); certainty of evidence not assessed (no GRADE).

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride varnish vs CPP-ACFP

Remineralization / reduction in lesion severity (change in QLF, laser fluorescence, or lesion area) · Patients with white spot lesions / early caries lesions (WSLs/ECLs), including orthodontic and non-orthodontic lesions, active caries…

Fluoride varnish did not differ significantly from CPP-ACFP (SMD 0.18, 95% CI -0.29 to 0.64); certainty of evidence not assessed (no GRADE).

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride varnish vs Placebo or no active treatment

Remineralization / reduction in lesion severity (change in QLF, laser fluorescence, or lesion area) · Patients with white spot lesions / early caries lesions (WSLs/ECLs), including orthodontic and non-orthodontic lesions, active caries…

Fluoride varnish (gold standard) did not differ significantly from control (SMD -0.25, 95% CI -0.51 to 0.02); certainty of evidence not assessed (no GRADE).

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride varnish applied before 4 years of age vs Non-fluoride (placebo) varnish

Fluorosis (percentage prevalence in permanent teeth) · Children exposed to topical fluoride when under 6 years old; fluorosis assessed in permanent teeth at 6 to 18 years

Fluoride varnish applied before 4 years of age (biannual) showed no clear difference in fluorosis (percentage prevalence in permanent teeth) compared with placebo varnish (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF, including SDF + fluoride varnish) vs Other standard-of-care caries treatments pooled (placebo, ART, or ART + fluoride varnish)

Oral health-related quality of life · Children with dental caries

SDF had no significant effect on oral health-related quality of life versus pooled standard-of-care caries treatments (SMD -0.06, 95% CI -0.20 to 0.08; ungraded).

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride toothpaste alone

Unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

Fluoride varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste showed no clear difference in unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) compared with fluoride toothpaste alone; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review