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Search review questions
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.
124 questions in 13 reviews
current versionsNo studies 34 · 27.4%Ungraded 48 · 38.7%Very low 30 · 24.2%Low 6 · 4.8%Moderate 6 · 4.8%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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Restoration (restorative treatment) Secondary prevention of caries · 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 comparison | 0 studies | No studies |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% in most trials, 30% in three) vs Other methods (pooled: ART/glass ionomer cement, nano-silver fluoride, sodium fluoride varnish) Caries arrestment at the tooth level · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition) · 6 to 12 months, Overall (all comparators pooled) The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.74 [0.88, 3.46] | 5 studies · 743 participants | Moderate |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Restoration (restorative treatment) Dental pain or sensitivity · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 12 months, Children Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | OR 9.14 [0.49, 172.21] | 1 study · 69 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Silver nitrate plus fluoride varnish Secondary prevention of caries · 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 comparison | 0 studies | No studies |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% in most trials, 30% in three) vs Placebo (inactive control) Caries arrestment at the individual (patient) level · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition) · 3 weeks to 12 months, SDF vs placebo The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 18.10 [3.89, 84.15] | 2 studies · 102 participants | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Glass ionomer cement (GIC) plus fluoride varnish Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 6 months, Primary dentition (coronal) Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | OR 1.89 [0.61, 5.87] | 1 study · 69 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Fluoride varnish Secondary prevention of caries · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 30 months, Primary dentition Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | MD 0.04 [-0.30, 0.38] | 1 study · 309 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% in most trials, 30% in three) vs Other methods (pooled: nano-silver fluoride, sodium fluoride varnish) Caries arrestment at the surface level · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition) · 12 to 18 months, Overall (all comparators pooled) The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.03 [0.47, 2.27] | 3 studies · 5394 participants | Moderate |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Fluoride varnish Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · Permanent dentition (root) Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | No studies reported data in this dentition type | 0 studies | No studies |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Placebo, control, and/or other interventions Caries arrestment at the tooth level · Children and adults without systemic diseases affecting dental health · 6 months to 12 months The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.74 [0.88, 3.46] | 5 studies · 743 participants | Moderate |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Fluoride varnish Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · Permanent dentition (coronal) Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | No studies reported data in this dentition type | 0 studies | No studies |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Silver nitrate plus fluoride varnish Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 18 months, Primary dentition (coronal) Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | MD -0.10 [-0.51, 0.31] | 1 study · 1070 participants | Low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Placebo or no treatment Adverse effects · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 12 to 30 months, Adults Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | 1 study reported no adverse effects. 1 study reported a white discolouration of the gingiva adjacent to surfaces treated with SDF (116 surfaces) as well as redness (4 surfaces), and mild ulceration (2 surfaces). In… | 2 studies · 316 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) plus fluoride varnish vs Sealants plus fluoride varnish (with or without restorations) 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 outcome in this comparison | 0 studies | No studies |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% in most trials, 30% in three) vs Other methods (pooled: ART/glass ionomer cement, nano-silver fluoride, sodium fluoride varnish, placebo) Adverse effects (tooth staining; soft-tissue and systemic events) · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition) · up to 30 months The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | Black staining of arrested lesions reported in most studies; 4 studies reported mild transient events (gingival blenching/pain; diarrhea/stomachache; burning, bad taste, pain, mouth injury, dissatisfaction with… | NR | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Fluoride varnish Adverse effects · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 24 hours to 30 months, Children Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | In 1 study, black or brown staining on treated lesions was more common after SDF (OR 3.19, 95% CI 1.95 to 5.23), with no other adverse effects. 1 study reported complaints of a transient bitter taste with SDF use (with… | 3 studies · 980 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Chlorhexidine varnish Aesthetics · 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 comparison | 0 studies | No studies |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Chlorhexidine varnish 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 outcome in this comparison | 0 studies | No studies |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) with glass ionomer cement (GIC) or glass ionomer material Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · Permanent dentition Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | No studies reported this outcome in this dentition type | 0 studies | No studies |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Sealants or resin infiltration 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 outcome | 0 studies | No studies |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Fluoride varnish Primary caries prevention · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 24 months, Permanent dentition (coronal) Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | OR 0.95 [0.44, 2.05] | 1 study · 237 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Fluoride varnish Primary caries prevention · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 12 months, Primary dentition Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | MD 0.00 [-0.26, 0.26] | 1 study · 434 participants | Low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) plus fluoride varnish vs Sealants plus fluoride varnish (with or without restorations) Secondary prevention of caries · 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 comparison | 0 studies | No studies |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% in most trials, 30% in three) vs Nano-silver fluoride (NSF; with or without green tea extract) Caries arrestment at the tooth level · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition) · 6 to 12 months, SDF vs NSF The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.47 [0.93, 2.33] | 2 studies · 408 participants | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) plus fluoride varnish vs Sealants plus fluoride varnish (with or without restorations) 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 outcome in this comparison | 0 studies | No studies |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Placebo or no treatment Aesthetics · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 30 months, Adults Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | 1 study reported that "only 19 (7%) [older adult participants] raised a complaint about the interventions at the 30-mo [month] examination, and half of them complained of black stain on the treated root surfaces." No… | 1 study · 43 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Restoration (restorative treatment) 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 outcome in this comparison | 0 studies | No studies |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Placebo or no treatment Adverse effects · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 48 hours to 30 months, Children Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | 1 study reported 3 adverse effects in the first 48 hours. Of these, 1 effect in SDF group was possibly related to treatment (spot on corner of lip that looked like a burn), and 2 effects in placebo group were possibly… | 3 studies · 983 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Placebo or no treatment 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 measured this outcome | 0 studies | No studies |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Placebo or no treatment Primary caries prevention · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 36 months, Permanent dentition (coronal) Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | MD -0.69 [-0.97, -0.41] | 1 study · 373 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Silver nitrate plus fluoride varnish Aesthetics · 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 comparison | 0 studies | No studies |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Placebo or no treatment Secondary prevention of caries · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 18 months, Primary dentition Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | OR 1.08 [0.52, 2.23] | 1 study · 128 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Fluoride varnish Secondary prevention of caries · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · Permanent dentition (coronal) Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | No studies reported data in this dentition type | 0 studies | No studies |
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 comparison | 0 studies | No studies |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Fluoride varnish Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 30 months, Primary dentition Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | MD -0.13 [-0.87, 0.61] | 1 study · 309 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) with glass ionomer cement (GIC) or glass ionomer material Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 24 months, Primary dentition Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | OR 1.13 [0.52, 2.45] | 1 study · 143 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% in most trials, 30% in three) vs Atraumatic restorative treatment / glass ionomer cement (ART/GIC) Caries arrestment at the tooth level · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition) · 6 to 12 months, SDF vs ART(GIC) The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.22 [0.09, 16.34] | 2 studies · 273 participants | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) with glass ionomer cement (GIC) or glass ionomer material Aesthetics · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 24 months, Children Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | 1 study reported that 45% of parents were satisfied with appearance of their child's teeth; data not reported by study group. 1 study reported that 1 of 34 caregivers in SDF group were "annoyed with teeth appearance",… | 2 studies · 248 participants | Very low |
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 studies | No studies |
Prior application of silver diamine fluoride (SDF), with or without a rinsing step vs No prior SDF application (untreated dentin control) Immediate bond strength (MPa) · Dental adhesives/resin composite bonded to dentin (in vitro), sound or caries-affected · Immediate bond strength, Overall (all dentin conditions and rinsing protocols) Bonding of Glass-Ionomer Cement and Adhesives to Silver Diamine Fluoride-treated Dentin: An Updated… (2022) | MD 7.12 [1.38, 12.85] | 11 studies · 526 participants | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Placebo Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL; C-ECOHIS) · Children with dental caries (ages ~2-13 years in the pooled trials) · Post-treatment Silver diamine fluoride and oral health-related quality of life: A review and network meta-analysis. (2022) | MD 0.03 [-0.16, 0.22] | 2 studies · 440 participants | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL; B-ECOHIS) · Children with dental caries (ages ~2-13 years in the pooled trials) · Post-treatment Silver diamine fluoride and oral health-related quality of life: A review and network meta-analysis. (2022) | MD 0.02 [-0.32, 0.36] | 2 studies · 134 participants | Ungraded |
Prior application of silver diamine fluoride (SDF), with or without a rinsing step vs No prior SDF application (untreated dentin control) Immediate bond strength (MPa) · Glass-ionomer cement bonded to dentin (in vitro), sound or caries-affected · Immediate bond strength, Overall (all dentin conditions and rinsing protocols) Bonding of Glass-Ionomer Cement and Adhesives to Silver Diamine Fluoride-treated Dentin: An Updated… (2022) | MD -0.11 [-0.54, 0.31] | 11 studies · 583 participants | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride + fluoride varnish (SDF+FV) vs Atraumatic restorative treatment + fluoride varnish (ART+FV) Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL; COHIP-SF) · Children with dental caries (ages ~2-13 years in the pooled trials) · Post-treatment Silver diamine fluoride and oral health-related quality of life: A review and network meta-analysis. (2022) | MD 0.16 [-0.1, 0.42] | 1 study · 246 participants | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% or 30%), applied at any frequency vs No treatment or another non-invasive/minimally-invasive treatment (ART, sodium fluoride or silver-based varnish, or 12% SDF) Caries arrest · Children (age 1-10 years) with active cavitated dentin caries lesions in primary molars · Pooled across follow-up evaluations (1-36 months) Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Efficacy in Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions in Primary Molars: A Systematic… (2022) | ES 0.33 [0.26, 0.40] | 5 studies · 1386 participants | Ungraded |
38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs No treatment / other preventive agents (GIC, 5% NaF varnish) Caries arrest · Children with dentine carious lesions (ICDAS 4-5) in primary teeth · 18-30 months, 38% SDF vs 5% NaF varnish/water (Trieu et al. 2019 meta-analysis) Minimal intervention dentistry for managing carious lesions into dentine in primary teeth: an umbrella review. (2022) | OR (caries arrest) OR 2.44-3.63 (range); 2.44 = Chu estimate including 30% SDF | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (30% SDF) vs Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) Patient discomfort during treatment (anxiety scale) · Children (age 1-10 years) with active cavitated dentin caries lesions in primary molars · During/after the treatment procedure Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Efficacy in Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions in Primary Molars: A Systematic… (2022) | Only one study assessed patient discomfort during treatment (SDF vs ART) using the patient's anxiety scale, obtaining almost overlapping results (p = 0.15). | 1 study · 67 participants | Ungraded |
38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs No treatment / other preventive agents (GIC, 5% NaF varnish) Caries arrest · Children with dentine carious lesions (ICDAS 4-5) in primary teeth · 6-48 months, Pooled caries-arrest proportion (Gao et al. 2016 meta-analysis) Minimal intervention dentistry for managing carious lesions into dentine in primary teeth: an umbrella review. (2022) | Proportion (caries arrest) 81 [68, 89] | 12 studies | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% or 30%) vs Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) Caries arrest · Children (age 1-10 years) with active cavitated dentin caries lesions in primary molars · Pooled across 3-12 month follow-ups, Comparator: SDF vs ART (moderator analysis by treatment type) Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Efficacy in Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions in Primary Molars: A Systematic… (2022) | ES 0.05 [-0.42, 0.51] | 2 studies · 146 participants | Ungraded |
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 (OHRQoL; ECOHIS/COHIP) · Children with dental caries (ages ~2-13 years in the pooled trials) · Post-treatment (follow-up varied by trial) Silver diamine fluoride and oral health-related quality of life: A review and network meta-analysis. (2022) | SMD -0.06 [-0.20, 0.08] | 5 studies · 820 participants | Ungraded |