Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

224 questions · 272 findings · 31 reviews · Dental caries

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No studies found 23 · 8.5%GRADE not reported 170 · 62.5%Very low 64 · 23.5%Low 6 · 2.2%Moderate 9 · 3.3%High 0 · 0%

Fluoride varnish vs placebo or no treatment

Adverse effects / specific side effects (oral allergic reactions, mucosal irritation, adverse symptoms such as nausea, gagging, vomiting) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride varnishes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
At least 1 year
Three trials (Salazar 2008; Skold 2005; Weintraub 2006) provided data reporting no adverse effects. There was little information concerning possible adverse effects; no pooled estimate was possible.
3 studies
GRADE not reported

Fluoride varnish vs placebo or no treatment

Caries increment in primary/deciduous teeth: decayed, (extraction indicated/missing) and filled teeth d(e/m)ft (prevented fraction) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride varnishes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
At least 1 year · Primary/deciduous dentition
PF 0.65 [0.48, 0.82]
2 studies · 322 participants
GRADE not reported

Fluoride varnish vs placebo or no treatment

Proportion of children developing new caries (permanent) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

Fluoride varnish showed no clear difference in proportion of children developing one or more new caries (permanent… compared with placebo or no treatment; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride varnishes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
At least 1 year
RR 0.75 [0.53, 1.05]
5 studies · 3253 participants
GRADE not reported

Fluoride varnish vs placebo or no treatment

Caries increment on permanent whole teeth (D(M)FT), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride varnishes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
At least 1 year
PF 0.44 [0.11, 0.76]
5 studies
GRADE not reported

Fluoride varnish vs placebo or no treatment

Caries increment on permanent tooth surfaces (D(M)FS), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride varnishes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
At least 1 year
PF 0.43 [0.30, 0.57]
13 studies · 6478 participants
Moderate

Fluoride varnish vs placebo or no treatment

Caries increment on primary (deciduous) tooth surfaces (d(e/m)fs), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride varnishes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
At least 1 year · Primary/deciduous dentition
PF 0.37 [0.24, 0.51]
10 studies · 3804 participants
Moderate

Fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride mouthrinse

Unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

Fluoride toothpaste showed no clear difference in unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs) compared with fluoride mouthrinse; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing dental caries… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
RR 0.89 [0.78, 1.00]
5 studies
GRADE not reported

Fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride mouthrinse

Proportion of children developing new caries (permanent) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

Fluoride toothpaste showed no clear difference in proportion of children developing new caries (permanent) compared with fluoride mouthrinse; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing dental caries… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
RR 0.90 [0.60, 1.37]
1 study
GRADE not reported

Fluoride mouthrinse (0.05-0.32% sodium fluoride or amine fluoride) added to daily fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride mouthrinse

Caries increment on permanent tooth surfaces (D(M)FS), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

1 finding from 1 review

Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
Nearest to 3 years
PF 0.05 [-0.05, 0.15]
4 studies · 1678 participants
GRADE not reported

Fluoride mouthrinse (0.05-0.32% sodium fluoride or amine fluoride) added to daily fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride mouthrinse

Unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

Fluoride mouthrinse combined with fluoride toothpaste showed no clear difference in unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) compared with fluoride mouthrinse alone; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
RR 0.88 [0.67, 1.17]
3 studies · 1697 participants
GRADE not reported

Fluoride gel combined with fluoride mouthrinse vs Fluoride gel

Unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

Fluoride gel combined with fluoride mouthrinse showed no clear difference in unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) compared with fluoride gel alone; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
RR 1.00 [0.72, 1.40]
1 study · 344 participants
GRADE not reported

Fluoride mouthrinse, gel or varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste (any combined regimen) vs Fluoride toothpaste alone

Adverse effects (tooth staining and other side effects) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

1 finding from 1 review

Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
Adverse-effect data scarcely reported: a stain score in one trial and 'any side effects' in one trial without complete or useable data (stated 'no side effects observed in both groups'). No useful information on tooth…
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported

Fluoride varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride varnish

Unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

Fluoride varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste showed no clear difference in unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) compared with fluoride varnish alone; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
RR 0.75 [0.22, 2.59]
1 study · 196 participants
GRADE not reported

Fluoride gel combined with fluoride mouthrinse vs Fluoride gel

Caries increment on permanent tooth surfaces (D(M)FS), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

1 finding from 1 review

Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
Nearest to 3 years
PF 0.23 [0.04, 0.43]
2 studies · 497 participants
GRADE not reported

Fluoride varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride toothpaste alone

Unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

Fluoride varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste 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

Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
RR 1.29 [0.61, 2.71]
2 studies · 294 participants
GRADE not reported

Fluoride mouthrinse, gel or varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste (any combined regimen) vs Fluoride toothpaste alone

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

Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
Fluorosis data have not been reported in any of the trials.
0 studies
No studies found

Fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride gel

Caries increment in permanent teeth · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

1 finding from 1 review

One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing dental caries… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
1 to 3 years (final follow-up)
PF 0.00 [-0.21, 0.21]
3 studies · 1256 participants
GRADE not reported

Fluoride varnish vs Fluoride toothpaste alone

Unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

Fluoride varnish showed no clear difference in unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs) compared with fluoride toothpaste; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing dental caries… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
RR 1.28 [0.37, 4.41]
1 study
GRADE not reported

Fluoride varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride varnish

Caries increment in deciduous teeth: d(e)fs (prevented fraction) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

1 finding from 1 review

Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
Nearest to 3 years
PF 0.19
1 study · 186 participants
GRADE not reported

Fluoride gel combined with fluoride mouthrinse vs Fluoride mouthrinse

Caries increment on permanent tooth surfaces (D(M)FS), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

1 finding from 1 review

Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride for… 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
Nearest to 3 years
PF 0.02 [-0.20, 0.24]
1 study · 252 participants
GRADE not reported