Proximal caries detection: specificity · Extracted human teeth (in vitro); permanent teeth, proximal (approximal) surfaces
In vitro, QLF pooled specificity for proximal caries detection was 0.74 (3 permanent-teeth studies; no primary-dentition data; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Specificity 0.74
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Positive likelihood ratio · Patients undergoing dental caries detection on dental images (teeth/surfaces across imaging modalities)
A positive AI test raises caries probability substantially (LR+ 10.44; positive post-test probability 79%); ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
Log diagnostic odds ratio · Patients undergoing dental caries detection on dental images (teeth/surfaces across imaging modalities)
AI algorithms show strong pooled discriminative accuracy for dental caries (log DOR 4.37; DOR 70.9); ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
Proximal caries detection: sensitivity · Patients (in vivo); permanent and primary teeth, proximal (approximal) surfaces
In vivo, QLF pooled sensitivity for proximal caries detection was 0.74 (4 studies; ungraded).
2 findings from 1 review
Sensitivity 0.74
4 studies
GRADE not reported
Sensitivity 0.76
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Negative likelihood ratio · Patients undergoing dental caries detection on dental images (teeth/surfaces across imaging modalities)
A negative AI test lowers caries probability substantially (LR- 0.17; negative post-test probability 6%); ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
Mineral loss (transversal microradiography) · Enamel/dentin specimens with initial caries lesions (or sound surfaces) in intraoral (in situ) appliances worn by patients
Under remineralizing conditions, nHA produced significantly more remineralization than the negative control (MD 350, 95% CI 179 to 521; very low certainty).
2 findings from 1 review
Treatment failure (annual failure rate) · Children (aged 3-5.5 years) with early childhood caries in anterior primary teeth (>=2 carious surfaces), no pulp therapy
Zirconia crowns failed less than composite strip crowns (3.3% vs 15% annual failure) in one RCT; low quality of evidence (ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Mineral loss (transversal microradiography) · Enamel/dentin specimens with initial caries lesions (or sound surfaces) in intraoral (in situ) appliances worn by patients
Under demineralizing conditions, nHA allowed significantly more enamel demineralization than NaF (MD 1625, 95% CI 553 to 2697; very low certainty).
2 findings from 1 review
Treatment failure (annual failure rate) · Children (aged 3-8 years) with 2-surface occluso-proximal dentine caries in primary molars, no pulp therapy
Preformed metal (Hall) crowns had a low reported annual failure rate (3.1%) versus compomer (14.7%) in one RCT; low quality of evidence (ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Caries incidence of first permanent molars (FPMs) · Schoolchildren aged 6-12 years with sound occlusal surfaces of the first permanent molars
Pit and fissure sealant and fluoride varnish showed no statistically significant difference in caries incidence of first permanent molars at 24 months (RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.31 to 1.38; I2=89%; not GRADE-rated).
1 finding from 1 review
Sensitivity for detection and diagnosis of early (enamel) caries · Asymptomatic children, adolescents, or adults presenting for clinical examination (in vivo studies), or extracted teeth of children or…
1 finding from 1 review
Sensitivity for detection and diagnosis of early (enamel) caries · Asymptomatic children, adolescents, or adults presenting for clinical examination (in vivo studies), or extracted teeth of children or…
17 findings from 1 review
Show 14 more findings
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Dentine-caries (D3) prevalence low <15% (non-CBCT)
Sensitivity 0.36 [0.25, 0.47]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Reference standard: excavation (non-CBCT)
Sensitivity 0.51 [0.27, 0.74]
5 studies
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Analogue and digital combined (non-CBCT); 97 datasets
Sensitivity 0.46 [0.40, 0.51]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Dentine-caries (D3) prevalence high >=35% or unreported (non-CBCT)
Sensitivity 0.50 [0.40, 0.59]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Sensitivity analysis: low risk of bias for index test
Sensitivity 0.51 [0.43, 0.61]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Sensitivity analysis: excluding high/unclear risk of bias reference standard
Sensitivity 0.51 [0.45, 0.57]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Setting: in vivo / clinical (non-CBCT)
Sensitivity 0.56 [0.43, 0.69]
17 studies
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Setting: in vitro (non-CBCT)
Sensitivity 0.44 [0.37, 0.50]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Sensitivity analysis: low dentine-caries prevalence <15%
Sensitivity 0.34 [0.25, 0.45]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Reference standard: histology (non-CBCT)
Sensitivity 0.46 [0.39, 0.53]
64 studies
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies)
Sensitivity 0.47 [0.40, 0.53]
77 studies
Low
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Occlusal surfaces (non-CBCT)
Sensitivity 0.45 [0.35, 0.54]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Primary dentition (non-CBCT)
Sensitivity 0.52 [0.40, 0.63]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Proximal surfaces (non-CBCT)
Sensitivity 0.47 [0.39, 0.55]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Specificity for detection and diagnosis of early (enamel) caries · Asymptomatic children, adolescents, or adults presenting for clinical examination (in vivo studies), or extracted teeth of children or…
3 findings from 1 review
Sensitivity · Children, adolescents, or adults presenting asymptomatically or suspected of early enamel caries (in vivo), or extracted teeth of…
2 findings from 1 review
Electrical conductance for the detection of dental caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Permanent dentition
Permanent dentition (4 studies): sensitivity ranged from 0.55 to 0.65.
4 studies
GRADE not reported
Electrical conductance for the detection of dental caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Primary dentition
Primary dentition (3 studies): sensitivity ranged from 0.91 to 0.93. No evidence of a difference in accuracy by dentition (removing accuracy covariate: Chi2=3.15, df=1, P=0.08).
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Specificity for detection and diagnosis of early (enamel) caries · Asymptomatic children, adolescents, or adults presenting for clinical examination (in vivo studies), or extracted teeth of children or…
17 findings from 1 review
Show 14 more findings
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Setting: in vitro (non-CBCT)
Specificity 0.89 [0.84, 0.92]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Proximal surfaces (non-CBCT)
Specificity 0.89 [0.84, 0.93]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Primary dentition (non-CBCT)
Specificity 0.87 [0.77, 0.93]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Occlusal surfaces (non-CBCT)
Specificity 0.88 [0.80, 0.93]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Sensitivity analysis: excluding high/unclear risk of bias reference standard
Specificity 0.87 [0.83, 0.90]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Reference standard: excavation (non-CBCT)
Specificity 0.96 [0.80, 0.99]
5 studies
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Dentine-caries (D3) prevalence medium 15-34% (non-CBCT)
Specificity 0.87 [0.78, 0.92]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies)
Specificity 0.88 [0.84, 0.92]
77 studies
Low
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Analogue and digital combined (non-CBCT); 97 datasets
Specificity 0.89 [0.86, 0.92]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Sensitivity analysis: low dentine-caries prevalence <15%
Specificity 0.91 [0.87, 0.94]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Dentine-caries (D3) prevalence low <15% (non-CBCT)
Specificity 0.91 [0.85, 0.95]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Setting: in vivo / clinical (non-CBCT)
Specificity 0.89 [0.78, 0.95]
17 studies
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Reference standard: enhanced visual (non-CBCT)
Specificity 0.91 [0.77, 0.97]
8 studies
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Reference standard: histology (non-CBCT)
Specificity 0.88 [0.83, 0.92]
64 studies
GRADE not reported
Sensitivity · Children, adolescents, or adults presenting asymptomatically or suspected of early enamel caries (in vivo), or extracted teeth of…
1 finding from 1 review
Electrical conductance for the detection of dental caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies)
CarieScan Pro (3 studies, 244 tooth surfaces): sensitivity ranged from 0.55 to 0.91. No evidence of a difference in accuracy by device type (Chi2=0.05, df=1, P=0.82).
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Specificity for detection and diagnosis of early (enamel) caries · Asymptomatic children, adolescents, or adults presenting for clinical examination (in vivo studies), or extracted teeth of children or…
2 findings from 1 review
Specificity for detection and diagnosis of early (enamel) caries · Asymptomatic children, adolescents, or adults presenting for clinical examination (in vivo studies), or extracted teeth of children or…
1 finding from 1 review
Electrical conductance devices (electronic caries monitor (ECM) and/or CarieScan Pro), used as an adjunct to clinical oral examination vs Reference standard: histology or enhanced visual examination (with or without radiographs)
Outcome not reported · Children/adolescents/adults or extracted teeth; target condition = non-cavitated enamel caries on SMOOTH tooth surfaces.
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Specificity · Children, adolescents, or adults presenting asymptomatically or suspected of early enamel caries (in vivo), or extracted teeth of…
2 findings from 1 review