Serious adverse events · Children and older adults treated with SDF for carious lesions
No serious adverse events (e.g., allergic reactions or toxicity) were reported for SDF across the reviews (ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Arrest or reversal of noncavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface · Children and adults with noncavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface (primary and permanent teeth)
1.23% APF gel was probably more effective than no treatment for arrest or reversal of any-coronal carious lesions (RR 2.25, 95% CI 2 to 2.53; moderate certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Dental caries in permanent teeth · Children aged 1-18 years
Across all learning disabilities, meta-analysis found no evidence of a difference in permanent-tooth caries experience (DMFT) between children with and without learning disabilities (SMD -0.43, 95% CI -0.91 to 0.05; 16 studies; certainty not graded).
4 findings from 1 review
Show 1 more finding
Adverse events: black staining of arrested lesions · Children and older adults treated with SDF for carious lesions
Black staining of arrested lesions was the main adverse event of SDF (reported by seven reviews); it was generally acceptable to patients (ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Intervention not reported
Dental caries prevalence
1 finding from 1 review
Arrest or reversal of noncavitated occlusal carious lesions · Children and adults with noncavitated carious lesions on occlusal surfaces (primary and permanent teeth)
1.23% APF gel may not differ from Sealant for arrest or reversal of occlusal carious lesions (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.41; low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Intervention not reported
Calcific metamorphosis (adverse event)
1 finding from 1 review
no estimate extracted
1 study
GRADE not reported
Arrest or reversal of noncavitated and cavitated root carious lesions · Adults (including institutionalized/older adults) with noncavitated and cavitated carious lesions on root surfaces (permanent teeth)
5,000-ppm F (1.1% NaF) toothpaste or gel may be more effective than no treatment for arrest or reversal of root carious lesions (RR 2.62, 95% CI 1.49 to 4.63; low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Arrest or reversal of noncavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface · Children and adults with noncavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface (primary and permanent teeth)
1.23% APF gel may not differ from 5% NaF varnish for arrest or reversal of any-coronal carious lesions (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.29; low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Arrest or reversal of noncavitated and cavitated root carious lesions · Adults (including institutionalized/older adults) with noncavitated and cavitated carious lesions on root surfaces (permanent teeth)
38% SDF solution (applied annually) may not differ from 38% SDF + potassium iodide solution (applied annually) for arrest or reversal of root carious lesions (RR 0.8, 95% CI 0.25 to 2.61; low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Streptococcus mutans count · Medically healthy individuals (adults and children, 6-60 years)
Salvadora persica rinse reduced Streptococcus mutans counts more than placebo (favours Salvadora persica); not GRADE-rated.
1 finding from 1 review
Arrest of advanced cavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface · Preschool children with advanced cavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface (primary teeth)
30% SDF solution (once weekly for 3 weeks) probably did not differ from 5% NaF varnish (once weekly for 3 weeks) for arrest or reversal of cavitated coronal carious lesions (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.8 to 1.18; moderate certainty).
3 findings from 1 review
Arrest or reversal of noncavitated approximal carious lesions · Children and adults with noncavitated carious lesions on approximal surfaces (primary and permanent teeth)
Resin infiltration may be more effective than no treatment for arrest or reversal of approximal carious lesions (RR 2.11, 95% CI 1.08 to 4.13; low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Medically healthy individuals (adults and children, 6-60 years)
Salvadora persica rinse reduced plaque more than placebo (favours Salvadora persica); certainty not GRADE-rated (Shekelle grade Ia).
1 finding from 1 review
Intervention not reported
Care index, primary teeth
1 finding from 1 review
no estimate extracted
2 studies
GRADE not reported
Arrest or reversal of noncavitated occlusal carious lesions · Children and adults with noncavitated carious lesions on occlusal surfaces (primary and permanent teeth)
Resin infiltration + 5% NaF varnish was probably more effective than no treatment for arrest or reversal of occlusal carious lesions (RR 3.2, 95% CI 2.24 to 4.56; moderate certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Arrest or reversal of noncavitated occlusal carious lesions · Children and adults with noncavitated carious lesions on occlusal surfaces (primary and permanent teeth)
5% NaF varnish may not differ from Sealant for arrest or reversal of occlusal carious lesions (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.15; low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Soft tissue pathology · Children with carious vital pulp exposure in primary incisors
No statistically significant difference in soft tissue pathology between pulpotomy and pulpectomy (RR 3.11, 95% CI 0.54 to 17.7; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
RR 3.11 [0.54, 17.7]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Arrest or reversal of noncavitated approximal carious lesions · Children and adults with noncavitated carious lesions on approximal surfaces (primary and permanent teeth)
Resin infiltration + 5% NaF varnish may not differ from Sealant for arrest or reversal of approximal carious lesions (RR 1.91, 95% CI 0.48 to 7.52; very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Prevalence and severity of oral and TMJ diseases/conditions (periodontal status and dental caries) · Children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)
Some studies suggested greater JIA disease activity/severity (and certain medications) was associated with worse periodontal and caries outcomes, but small samples meant no solid conclusion could be drawn (ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review