Caries incidence of first permanent molars (FPMs) · Generally healthy children aged 6 to 9 years with at least one fully erupted first permanent molar with deep fissures or early enamel…
After excluding the high-risk-of-bias study (Bravo 1996), fluoride varnish and fissure sealant did not differ in caries incidence of FPMs and heterogeneity fell to 0% (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.22; 5 RCTs; ungraded).
3 findings from 1 review
Caries incidence (proportion of enrolled children developing dentin caries, ICDAS 4-6) · Generally healthy children aged 6 to 9 years with at least one fully erupted first permanent molar with deep fissures or early enamel…
Fluoride varnish and fissure sealant did not differ significantly in the proportion of children developing caries at 2 to 3 years (RR 1.12, 95% CI 0.60 to 2.09; 2 RCTs; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Caries incidence of occlusal surfaces of first permanent molars · Generally healthy children aged 6 to 9 years with at least one fully erupted first permanent molar with deep fissures or early enamel…
After excluding Bravo 1996, occlusal caries incidence slightly favored fluoride varnish but was not significant, with heterogeneity falling to 0% (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.16; 3 RCTs; ungraded).
2 findings 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, surface index D(M)FS · Children or adolescents
The illustrative network meta-regression estimated an SMD for caries increment for fluoride in varnish versus fluoride in dentifrice across randomization year; the review did not state whether the difference was significant and certainty was not graded.
1 finding from 1 review
Caries increment, surface index D(M)FS · Children or adolescents
The illustrative network meta-regression estimated an SMD for caries increment for fluoride in varnish versus fluoride in gel across randomization year; the review did not state whether the difference was significant and certainty was not graded.
1 finding from 1 review
Caries increment, surface index D(M)FS · Children or adolescents
The illustrative network meta-regression estimated an SMD for caries increment for fluoride in varnish versus fluoride in rinse across randomization year; the review did not state whether the difference was significant and certainty was not graded.
1 finding from 1 review
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
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…
P11-4 plus fluoride varnish was significantly better than fluoride varnish alone (SMD -0.71, 95% CI -1.13 to -0.29); certainty of evidence not assessed (no GRADE).
1 finding from 1 review
Remineralisation of early enamel caries · Children with early enamel caries (permanent dentition)
One trial found 6% sodium fluoride plus 6% calcium fluoride varnish significantly reversed early enamel caries versus no treatment; ungraded and not meta-analysed.
1 finding from 1 review
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
Caries increment in permanent teeth · Children or adolescents
The NMR reported a difference between fluoride in varnish and placebo at randomisation years 1954 to 1980; 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 differed between fluoride in varnish and no treatment at randomization years 1954 to 1990; certainty was not graded.
1 finding from 1 review
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
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
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
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
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