Caries increment in permanent teeth · Children or adolescents
The NMR reported a difference between fluoride in varnish and no treatment at randomisation years 1954 to 1990; no GRADE assessment was reported.
1 finding from 1 review
no estimate extracted
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Caries increment, surface index D(M)FS · Children or adolescents
In the illustrative network meta-regression the SMD for caries increment showed a treatment-by-year interaction and differed between fluoride in varnish and placebo at randomization years 1954 to 1980; certainty was not graded.
1 finding from 1 review
Adverse effects (tooth staining and other side effects) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
1 finding from 1 review
Adverse effects: dental fluorosis · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
Fluoride mouthrinse, gel or varnish combined with fluoride… 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
Caries increment on permanent tooth surfaces (D(M)FS), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
1 finding from 1 review
Caries experience at the surface level (dmfs/defs) · Children (mean age newborn to ~5.2 years) and their parents/carers
Comprehensive interventions produced a small, statistically significant reduction in surface-level caries (dmfs SMD -0.14, 95% CI -0.26 to -0.02; 10 studies; not GRADE-rated).
1 finding from 1 review
Caries experience · Children (mean age newborn to ~5.2 years) and their parents/carers
Comprehensive interventions produced a statistically significant reduction in tooth-level caries (dmft SMD -0.47, 95% CI -0.84 to -0.10; 4 studies; not GRADE-rated), though heterogeneity was very high.
1 finding from 1 review
Dimensional change (size) of early enamel caries lesions · Patients (mainly children) with white spot lesions (WSL)
In one trial, professionally applied sodium fluoride varnish significantly reduced the size of early enamel caries lesions compared with no fluoride treatment; ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
Caries increment on permanent tooth surfaces (D(M)FS), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition)
7 findings from 1 review
Show 4 more findings
PF 0.28 [0.19, 0.37]
22 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.40 [0.31, 0.49]
17 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.24 [0.21, 0.28]
70 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.46 [0.30, 0.63]
7 studies
GRADE not reported
Caries increment on primary (deciduous) tooth surfaces (d(e/m)fs), prevented fraction · Children with primary (deciduous) teeth (younger children)
5 findings from 1 review
PF 0.26 [-0.11, 0.63]
2 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.41 [0.26, 0.55]
2 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.27 [0.08, 0.48]
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Show 2 more findings
PF 0.33 [0.22, 0.44]
5 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.33 [0.19, 0.48]
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Caries increment on permanent whole teeth (D(M)FT), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition)
7 findings from 1 review
PF 0.26 [0.21, 0.30]
79 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.53 [0.23, 0.82]
3 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.32 [0.19, 0.46]
10 studies
GRADE not reported
Show 4 more findings
PF 0.45 [0.32, 0.58]
7 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.24 [0.18, 0.30]
13 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.24 [0.20, 0.28]
72 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.23 [0.19, 0.28]
53 studies
GRADE not reported
Adverse effects (tooth staining/discoloration, oral soft-tissue signs, adverse symptoms such as nausea/vomiting, enamel etching) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
1 finding from 1 review
Data on adverse effects (stain score, proportion of children with tooth staining, signs of sensitivity in oral soft tissue, adverse symptoms such as nausea/vomiting, etching of enamel) were reported in only a few…
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Adverse effects: dental fluorosis · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Unacceptability of treatment (dropouts/exclusions during the trial) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish;… showed no clear difference in unacceptability of treatment (dropouts/exclusions during the trial) compared with placebo or no treatment; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
RR 1.20 [0.85, 1.70]
10 studies
GRADE not reported
Proportion developing new caries · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition)
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish;… led to lower proportion of children developing one or more new caries compared with placebo or no treatment; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
RR 0.88 [0.82, 0.95]
13 studies
GRADE not reported
Remineralisation of early enamel caries · Patients (mainly children) with white spot lesions (WSL)
Professionally applied 5% sodium fluoride varnish remineralised about two-thirds of early enamel caries lesions in children (pooled proportion 63.6%, 95% CI 36.0% to 91.2%; 4 studies); certainty was not GRADE-rated and heterogeneity was very high (I2=96%).
1 finding from 1 review
Root carious lesions prevention · Older adults with root caries (community-dwelling or residential elders)
In elders, sodium fluoride varnish gave a 64% prevented fraction for root caries vs water, lower than SDF (71%) (p<0.01; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review