What do systematic reviews say?

Machine-learning algorithms for dental caries detection vs Different machine-learning algorithms for caries prediction

The review reported 70% accuracy for dental caries detection in Mayank et al. (Ungraded).

• Uses of Different Machine Learning Algorithms for Diagnosis of Dental Caries. 2022 All outcomes

  USA · Mayank et al., 2017; F-CNN
  Accuracy 70
  1 study · 3000 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Uses of Different Machine Learning Algorithms for Diagnosis of Dental Caries. 2022 All outcomes

  Mexico · Zanella-Calzada et al., 2018; ANN
  Accuracy 69
  1 study · 189 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Uses of Different Machine Learning Algorithms for Diagnosis of Dental Caries. 2022 All outcomes

  India · Geetha et al., 2020; backpropagation
  Accuracy 97.1
  1 study · 105 participants
  GRADE not reported

Presence of dental plaque vs Absence of dental plaque

The presence of dental plaque was not significantly associated with dental caries (OR 5.14, 95% CI 0.67 to 39.39); certainty not graded.

• Dental caries and associated factors in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis. 2021 All outcomes

  Community-, school-, and hospital/clinic-based populations across regions of Ethiopia
  OR 5.14 [0.67, 39.39]
  3 studies
  GRADE not reported

Dental caries assessment (WHO/clinical diagnostic criteria; caries = DMFT>0) vs None (descriptive prevalence meta-analysis)

In permanent dentition, the pooled prevalence of dental caries was 57.2% (95% CI 26.3 to 85.3); ungraded.

• Prevalence of dental caries in Pakistan: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2021 All outcomes

  Pakistan (school-, community-, and hospital/clinic-based cross-sectional surveys) · Dentition: permanent
  Prevalence 57.184 [26.288, 85.251]
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported
• Prevalence of dental caries in Pakistan: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2021 All outcomes

  Pakistan (school-, community-, and hospital/clinic-based cross-sectional surveys) · Dentition: mixed
  Prevalence 61.183 [43.796, 73.274]
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported
• Prevalence of dental caries in Pakistan: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2021 All outcomes

  Pakistan (school-, community-, and hospital/clinic-based cross-sectional surveys) · City: Islamabad and Rawalpindi (combined)
  Prevalence 57.377 [32.642, 80.287]
  4 studies
  GRADE not reported

Oral-health promotion programs (OHPPs): community-based oral-health education/training, supervised toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste and topical fluoride, dental screening, and dietary advice vs No oral-health promotion program, or a differing (usual-care) action under similar conditions

Oral-health promotion programs were associated with markedly lower odds of DMFT/S in children (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.39; ungraded, very high heterogeneity I2=98.5%).

• Clinical Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Oral-Health Promotion in Dental Caries Prevention among Children:… 2019 All outcomes

  Community settings: home visits, telephone contacts, healthcare centers, and primary schools
  OR 0.19 [0.10, 0.39]
  8 studies
  GRADE not reported

Oral-health promotion programs (OHPPs): community-based oral-health education/training, supervised toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste and topical fluoride, dental screening, and dietary advice vs No oral-health promotion program, or a differing (usual-care) action under similar conditions

In children aged 6 years and older, OHPPs showed no significant effect on DMFT/S (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.08 to 1.01; ungraded).

• Clinical Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Oral-Health Promotion in Dental Caries Prevention among Children:… 2019 All outcomes

  Community settings: home visits, telephone contacts, healthcare centers, and primary schools · Age >= 6 years
  OR 0.29 [0.08, 1.01]
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

Oral-health promotion programs (OHPPs): community-based oral-health education/training, supervised toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste and topical fluoride, dental screening, and dietary advice vs No oral-health promotion program, or a differing (usual-care) action under similar conditions

In children younger than 6 years, OHPPs were associated with lower odds of DMFT/S (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.39; ungraded).

• Clinical Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Oral-Health Promotion in Dental Caries Prevention among Children:… 2019 All outcomes

  Community settings: home visits, telephone contacts, healthcare centers, and primary schools · Age < 6 years
  OR 0.14 [0.05, 0.39]
  6 studies
  GRADE not reported

Multiple LTF gene variants (joint / gene-based) vs Caries-free controls

A gene-based analysis indicated that multiple LTF variants were jointly associated with dental caries risk (weighted TPM P = 0.0007; no pooled effect estimate; ungraded).

• The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based analysis. 2020 All outcomes

  Brazil; United States; European countries; China · Gene-based joint association (LTF)
  P-value (gene-based, weighted TPM) 0.0007
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Dental caries assessment (WHO/clinical diagnostic criteria; caries = DMFT>0) vs None (descriptive prevalence review; subgroup analyses by urban/rural status, country and year)

Dental caries is highly prevalent among children and adolescents in the UAE, ranging from 22% to 99.4% across cross-sectional studies (narrative synthesis; not GRADE-rated).

• Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. 2021 All outcomes

  UAE (Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah); nurseries, preschools, schools and dental clinics
  Dental caries prevalence ranged from 22% in public day cares in Sharjah to 99.4% in children attending a pediatric dentistry department in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi across cross-sectional studies; most studies used WHO…
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Individually designed, patient-centred preventive programme: dietary counselling (snacking timing, regular meals, fermentable carbohydrates) plus toothbrushing counselling, delivered by trained dental hygienists (a multi-intervention) vs Basic prevention offered as standard in public dental clinics

• One‐to‐one dietary interventions undertaken in a dental setting to change dietary behaviour 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 years
  Mean (95% CI) DMFS increment after 4 years: intervention 2.56 (2.07 to 3.05) versus control 4.60 (3.99 to 5.21); significant difference favouring the intervention (P<0.0001; non-overlapping CIs). No between-group point…
  1 study · 497 participants
  GRADE not reported
• One‐to‐one dietary interventions undertaken in a dental setting to change dietary behaviour 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes

  2 years
  Mean (95% CI) DMFS increment after 2 years: intervention 1.86 (1.50 to 2.21) versus control 2.44 (2.12 to 2.77); significant difference favouring the intervention (P<0.05, comparing intervention and control). No…
  1 study · 497 participants
  GRADE not reported

rs1126478 genotype distribution vs Caries-free control genotype distribution

rs1126478 was inversely associated with low-level dental caries in a single study (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.90; ungraded).

• The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based analysis. 2020 All outcomes

  European countries · Low caries (DMFT 1); Volckova et al. 2014
  OR 0.65 [0.47, 0.90]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported
• The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based analysis. 2020 All outcomes

  European countries · Severe/high caries (DMFT 4 or more); Volckova et al. 2014
  OR 1.20 [0.94, 1.54]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported
• The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based analysis. 2020 All outcomes

  European countries · Moderate caries (DMFT 2 to 3); Volckova et al. 2014
  OR 1.04 [0.80, 1.34]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Problem-driven / less regular dental visiting vs More frequent / regular dental visits

A higher frequency of dental visits was associated with lower caries, while problem-driven visiting was associated with higher severe early childhood caries (narrative synthesis; not GRADE-rated).

• Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. 2021 All outcomes

  UAE; nurseries/schools
  Both Kowash et al. and Hashim et al. found a higher frequency of dental visits protective against caries. Hashim et al. reported higher odds of severe early childhood caries among children who visited a dentist because…
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

rs1126478, co-dominant model (GA genotype) vs GG or AA genotype

rs1126478 showed no significant association with dental caries under a co-dominant model (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.32; ungraded).

• The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based analysis. 2020 All outcomes

  Brazil; United States; European countries; China · Co-dominant model (GA vs. GG + AA)
  OR 0.97 [0.72, 1.32]
  4 studies · 1802 participants
  GRADE not reported

LTF rs11716497 variant vs Reference allele/genotype

LTF rs11716497 showed no significant association with dental caries in a single study (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.21; ungraded).

• The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based analysis. 2020 All outcomes

  Brazil · Single study (Doetzer et al. 2015)
  OR 1.04 [0.90, 1.21]
  1 study · 677 participants
  GRADE not reported

LTF rs1126477 variant vs Reference allele/genotype

LTF rs11216477 was significantly associated with dental caries in a single study (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.29; ungraded).

• The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based analysis. 2020 All outcomes

  China · Single study (Wang et al. 2018)
  OR 1.17 [1.06, 1.29]
  1 study · 910 participants
  GRADE not reported

rs1126478, additive (per-allele) model vs A allele

The additive-model association remained non-significant after excluding the adult-data study (OR 1.47, 95% CI 0.92 to 2.35; ungraded).

• The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based analysis. 2020 All outcomes

  Brazil; European countries; China · Sensitivity analysis excluding the study using adult data (Fine 2013)
  OR 1.47 [0.92, 2.35]
  3 studies · 1752 participants
  GRADE not reported
• The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based analysis. 2020 All outcomes

  Brazil; United States; European countries; China
  OR 1.41 [0.98, 2.02]
  4 studies · 1802 participants
  GRADE not reported

G allele of LTF rs1126478 vs A allele

rs1126478 showed no significant association with dental caries under an allelic model (OR 1.41, 95% CI 0.48 to 4.13; ungraded).

• The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based analysis. 2020 All outcomes

  Brazil; United States; European countries; China · Allelic model (G vs. A)
  OR 1.41 [0.48, 4.13]
  4 studies · 1802 participants
  GRADE not reported

GG genotype of LTF rs1126478 vs GA+AA genotypes

rs1126478 showed no significant association with dental caries under a recessive model (OR 1.55, 95% CI 0.44 to 5.38; ungraded).

• The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based analysis. 2020 All outcomes

  Brazil; United States; European countries; China · Recessive model (GG vs. GA + AA)
  OR 1.55 [0.44, 5.38]
  4 studies · 1802 participants
  GRADE not reported

AG + GG genotype (G-allele carriers) of LTF rs1126478 vs AA genotype

rs1126478 showed no significant association with dental caries under a dominant model (OR 1.32, 95% CI 0.43 to 4.03; ungraded).

• The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based analysis. 2020 All outcomes

  Brazil; United States; European countries; China · Dominant model (GG + GA vs. AA)
  OR 1.32 [0.43, 4.03]
  4 studies · 1802 participants
  GRADE not reported

LTF rs6441989 variant vs Reference allele/genotype

LTF rs6441989 showed no significant association with dental caries in a single study (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.14; ungraded).

• The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based analysis. 2020 All outcomes

  Brazil · Single study (Doetzer et al. 2015)
  OR 1.02 [0.92, 1.14]
  1 study · 677 participants
  GRADE not reported

LTF rs2073495 variant vs Reference allele/genotype

LTF rs2073495 showed no significant association with dental caries in a single study (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.15; ungraded).

• The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based analysis. 2020 All outcomes

  Brazil · Single study (Doetzer et al. 2015)
  OR 0.99 [0.86, 1.15]
  1 study · 677 participants
  GRADE not reported