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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.
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 >=30%, i.e. 30% or 38%), applied annually or biannually vs No treatment or another non-invasive/minimally-invasive treatment (ART, sodium fluoride or silver-based varnish, or 12% SDF) Caries arrest rate (absolute proportion of lesions arrested) · Children (age 1-10 years) with active cavitated dentin caries lesions in primary molars · Follow-up >=12 months Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Efficacy in Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions in Primary Molars: A Systematic… (2022) | Proportion 0.5162 | 5 studies · 1205 participants | Ungraded |
38% silver diamine fluoride vs Placebo Root carious lesions arrest · Older adults with root carious lesions (exposed root surfaces) Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. (2019) | One systematic review found that SDF can be efficacious to decrease progression of root carious lesions (no numeric results reported) [24]. | NR | Ungraded |
38% silver diamine fluoride vs Placebo Coronal carious lesions arrest · Children with coronal carious lesions (permanent first molars) · Permanent first molars Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. (2019) | Prevented Fraction 100 | 1 study | Ungraded |
38% silver diamine fluoride vs Placebo Root carious lesions prevention · Older adults with root carious lesions (exposed root surfaces) Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. (2019) | MD -0.33 [-0.39, -0.28] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 30% or 38%) vs 5% sodium fluoride (NaF) varnish Arrested dentine caries (arrested caries surfaces) · Preschool children with active dentine caries in primary teeth (mean age 3.4-4.0 years) · 18 months Silver diamine fluoride versus sodium fluoride for arresting dentine caries in children: a systematic review… (2019) | OR 2.51 [1.25, 5.10] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
38% silver diamine fluoride vs Fluoride varnish or placebo Coronal carious lesions arrest · Children with coronal carious lesions (primary dentition) · Primary dentition Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. (2019) | Prevented Fraction 55–96 | 2 studies | Ungraded |
38% silver diamine fluoride vs Placebo or no treatment Coronal carious lesions arrest · Children with coronal carious lesions (primary dentition) · Primary dentition Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. (2019) | RR 2.54 | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride vs Not applicable (single-arm safety outcome) Serious adverse events · Children and older adults treated with SDF for carious lesions Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. (2019) | No serious adverse events, such as allergic reactions or toxicity, were reported. A metallic taste or burning sensation was not reported in any of the studies. | NR | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride vs Not applicable (single-arm safety outcome) Adverse events: black staining of arrested lesions · Children and older adults treated with SDF for carious lesions Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. (2019) | Eight systematic reviews reported adverse events; seven reported black staining of arrested carious lesions. Older adults rarely complained; discoloration was acceptable in children, concerning 7% of participants in… | NR | Ungraded |
38% silver diamine fluoride vs Placebo Root carious lesions arrest · Older adults with root carious lesions (exposed root surfaces) Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. (2019) | Prevented Fraction 100–725 | 2 studies | Ungraded |
38% silver diamine fluoride vs Placebo Root carious lesions prevention · Older adults with root carious lesions (exposed root surfaces) Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. (2019) | Relative success-rate difference (% higher, SDF vs placebo) 72 | 1 study | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 30% or 38%) vs 5% sodium fluoride (NaF) varnish Arrested dentine caries (arrested caries surfaces) · Preschool children with active dentine caries in primary teeth (mean age 3.4-4.0 years) · 30 months Silver diamine fluoride versus sodium fluoride for arresting dentine caries in children: a systematic review… (2019) | OR 2.03 [1.51, 2.77] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
38% silver diamine fluoride vs Fluoride varnish or atraumatic restorative treatment Coronal carious lesions arrest · Children with coronal carious lesions (primary dentition) · Primary dentition Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. (2019) | RR 1.66 | 2 studies | Ungraded |
38% silver diamine fluoride vs Placebo Root carious lesions arrest · Older adults with root carious lesions (exposed root surfaces) Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. (2019) | One low risk of bias systematic review reported that 38% SDF was significantly more effective than placebo in arresting root carious lesions (pooled results were not calculated) [31]. | NR | Ungraded |
38% silver diamine fluoride vs Placebo Root carious lesions prevention · Older adults with root carious lesions (exposed root surfaces) Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. (2019) | Prevented Fraction 25–71 | 4 studies | Ungraded |
38% silver diamine fluoride vs Fluoride varnish, glass ionomer cement, or placebo Coronal carious lesions arrest (arrest rate) · Children with coronal carious lesions (primary dentition) · Primary dentition Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. (2019) | Arrest rate 65–91 | 6 studies | Ungraded |
30% silver diamine fluoride vs Glass ionomer cement Coronal carious lesions prevention · Children with coronal carious lesions (primary dentition) · 12 months, Primary dentition Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. (2019) | Prevented Fraction -6 | NR | Ungraded |
38% silver diamine fluoride vs Placebo Coronal carious lesions prevention · Children with coronal carious lesions (primary dentition) · Primary dentition Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. (2019) | Prevented Fraction 70–78 | 2 studies | Ungraded |
38% silver diamine fluoride vs Placebo Coronal carious lesions prevention · Children with coronal carious lesions (permanent first molars) · Permanent first molars Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. (2019) | Prevented Fraction 64 | 1 study | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride twice annually vs Other network treatments Caries lesion arrestment · Primary teeth with dentin caries lesions on occlusal and smooth surfaces · Various follow-up times, Occlusal and smooth surfaces Scientific evidence for the management of dentin caries lesions in pediatric dentistry: A systematic review… (2018) | RANK 1 | 3 studies | Moderate |
Professionally applied 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Active dentine caries at baseline (single-arm before vs after proportion) Arrest of dentine caries (proportion of surfaces arrested) · Children with active dentine caries (primary and permanent teeth) Caries remineralisation and arresting effect in children by professionally applied fluoride treatment - a… (2016) | Proportion 0.659 [0.412, 0.907] | 5 studies | Ungraded |
30% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Not specified Arrest of dentine caries · Children with active dentine caries in primary teeth Caries remineralisation and arresting effect in children by professionally applied fluoride treatment - a… (2016) | 30% SDF was reported as an effective intervention to arrest dentine caries on primary teeth. | 1 study | Ungraded |
12% silver diamine fluoride (SDF), single (one-off) application vs Not specified Arrest of dentine caries · Children with active dentine caries Caries remineralisation and arresting effect in children by professionally applied fluoride treatment - a… (2016) | A one-off application of 12% SDF was found ineffective to arrest caries (Yee 2009). | 1 study | Ungraded |
10% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Glass ionomer restoration and tooth-brushing Remineralisation of early enamel caries · Children with early enamel caries in erupting permanent first molars Caries remineralisation and arresting effect in children by professionally applied fluoride treatment - a… (2016) | A pilot study found 10% silver diamine fluoride therapy, glass ionomer restoration, and tooth-brushing had a similar effect in remineralising early enamel caries. | 1 study | Ungraded |