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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.
5,762 questions in 263 reviews · Dental caries
current versionsNo studies 321 · 5.6%Ungraded 4,450 · 77.2%Very low 455 · 7.9%Low 297 · 5.2%Moderate 200 · 3.5%High 39 · 0.7%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Fluoride varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride varnish alone Caries increment in deciduous teeth: d(e)fs (prevented fraction) · Children or adolescents aged 16 years or less · Nearest to 3 years Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride… (2004) · Cochrane | PF 0.19 | 1 study · 186 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride mouthrinse combined with fluoride gel vs Fluoride mouthrinse alone Caries increment in permanent teeth: D(M)FS (prevented fraction) · Children or adolescents aged 16 years or less · Nearest to 3 years Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride… (2004) · Cochrane | PF 0.02 [-0.20, 0.24] | 1 study · 252 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride toothpaste alone Caries increment in permanent teeth: D(M)FS (prevented fraction) · Children or adolescents aged 16 years or less · Nearest to 3 years Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride… (2004) · Cochrane | PF 0.48 [0.12, 0.84] | 1 study · 71 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride varnish vs Fluoride toothpaste Proportion of children developing new caries (deciduous) · Children or adolescents aged 16 or less at the start of the study One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing… (2004) · Cochrane | Petersson 1985 reported the proportion of children developing one or more new carious deciduous surfaces; exactly the same proportions were reported in both groups (no evidence of a difference). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride mouthrinse Caries increment (D(M)FS), permanent teeth · Children or adolescents aged 16 or less at the start of the study · 1 to 3 years (final follow-up) One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing… (2004) · Cochrane | PF 0.00 [-0.18, 0.19] | 6 studies · 2545 participants | Ungraded |
Direct resin composite veneer vs Porcelain (indirect) veneer Restoration failure (longevity) · Patients with permanent anterior teeth with intrinsic staining suitable for laminate veneer restorations · 2 years Direct versus indirect veneer restorations for intrinsic dental stains (2004) · Cochrane | Meijering 1998 (data by restoration, not pooled; no statistical analysis possible). Failures over 2-year follow-up: direct resin composite (n=69) 4 absolute and 14 relative failures; porcelain (n=56) 0 absolute and 3… | 1 study · 125 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride gel vs Fluoride mouthrinse Caries increment (D(M)FS), permanent teeth · Children or adolescents aged 16 or less at the start of the study · 1 to 3 years (final follow-up) One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing… (2004) · Cochrane | PF -0.14 [-0.40, 0.12] | 1 study · 257 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride varnish vs Fluoride gel Caries increment (D(M)FS), permanent teeth · Children or adolescents aged 16 or less at the start of the study · 1 to 3 years (final follow-up) One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing… (2004) · Cochrane | PF 0.14 [-0.12, 0.40] | 1 study · 254 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride gel combined with fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride gel alone Caries increment in permanent teeth: D(M)FS (prevented fraction) · Children or adolescents aged 16 years or less · Nearest to 3 years Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride… (2004) · Cochrane | PF 0.10 [-0.01, 0.21] | 3 studies · 759 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride mouthrinse, gel or varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste (any combined regimen) vs Fluoride toothpaste alone Unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) · Children or adolescents aged 16 years or less Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride… (2004) · Cochrane | RR 1.06 [0.93, 1.22] | 5 studies · 1998 participants | Ungraded |
Ozone applied to the carious lesion (10 or 40 seconds), with a fluoride reductant and oral hygiene/preventive advice vs No ozone, with a fluoride reductant and oral hygiene/preventive advice (as in the intervention group) Further conventional dental treatment (filling and drilling) (binary yes/no) · People of any age with caries (including demineralisation in non-cavitated carious lesions); the caries may affect any… Ozone therapy for the treatment of dental caries (2004) · Cochrane | Data were not provided by any study on the number of lesions requiring restorations to 6 months or later; no data on any further conventional treatment or other dental interventions. | NR | No studies |
Ozone applied to the carious lesion (10 or 40 seconds), with a fluoride reductant and oral hygiene/preventive advice vs No ozone, with a fluoride reductant and oral hygiene/preventive advice (as in the intervention group) Cost · People of any age with caries (including demineralisation in non-cavitated carious lesions); the caries may affect any… Ozone therapy for the treatment of dental caries (2004) · Cochrane | No data were provided in any of the included trials on costs. | NR | No studies |
Fluoride mouthrinse, gel or varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste (any combined regimen) vs Fluoride toothpaste alone Caries increment in permanent teeth: D(M)FS (prevented fraction) · Children or adolescents aged 16 years or less · Nearest to 3 years Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride… (2004) · Cochrane | PF 0.10 [0.02, 0.17] | 9 studies · 4026 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride toothpaste vs Any other topical fluoride (gel or mouthrinse) Unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs) · Children or adolescents aged 16 or less at the start of the study One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing… (2004) · Cochrane | RR 0.88 [0.78, 1.00] | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Fluoride mouthrinse combined with fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride toothpaste alone Caries increment in permanent teeth: D(M)FS (prevented fraction) · Children or adolescents aged 16 years or less · Nearest to 3 years Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride… (2004) · Cochrane | PF 0.07 [0.00, 0.13] | 5 studies · 2738 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride gel combined with fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride toothpaste alone Caries increment in permanent teeth: D(M)FS (prevented fraction) · Children or adolescents aged 16 years or less · Nearest to 3 years Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride… (2004) · Cochrane | PF 0.14 [-0.09, 0.38] | 3 studies · 1217 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride varnish vs Fluoride mouthrinse Caries increment (D(M)FS), permanent teeth · Children or adolescents aged 16 or less at the start of the study · 1 to 3 years (final follow-up) One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing… (2004) · Cochrane | PF 0.10 [-0.12, 0.32] | 4 studies · 952 participants | Ungraded |
Ozone applied to the carious lesion (10 or 40 seconds), with a fluoride reductant and oral hygiene/preventive advice vs No ozone, with a fluoride reductant and oral hygiene/preventive advice (as in the intervention group) Pain (assessed by the patient) · People of any age with caries (including demineralisation in non-cavitated carious lesions); the caries may affect any… Ozone therapy for the treatment of dental caries (2004) · Cochrane | No data were provided in any of the included trials on pain. | NR | No studies |
Ozone applied to the carious lesion (10 or 40 seconds), with a fluoride reductant and oral hygiene/preventive advice vs No ozone, with a fluoride reductant and oral hygiene/preventive advice (as in the intervention group) Caries progression/regression (clinical severity index, log(e) ECM and log(e) DIAGNOdent scores) · People of any age with caries (including demineralisation in non-cavitated carious lesions); the caries may affect any… · 6 and 12 months Ozone therapy for the treatment of dental caries (2004) · Cochrane | No consistent trend of benefit or harm following ozone was seen across the outcome measures in any of the three studies; analyses were conducted at the lesion level (not independent of the person), so data were not… | 3 studies · 137 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride toothpaste vs Any other topical fluoride (gel or mouthrinse) Caries increment (D(M)FS), permanent teeth · Children or adolescents aged 16 or less at the start of the study · 1 to 3 years (final follow-up) One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing… (2004) · Cochrane | PF 0.01 [-0.13, 0.14] | 9 studies · 3801 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride varnish vs Fluoride toothpaste Caries increment (dfs), deciduous teeth · Children or adolescents aged 16 or less at the start of the study · 1 to 3 years (final follow-up) One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing… (2004) · Cochrane | PF -0.05 | 1 study · 183 participants | Ungraded |
Ozone applied to the carious lesion (10 or 40 seconds), with a fluoride reductant and oral hygiene/preventive advice vs No ozone, with a fluoride reductant and oral hygiene/preventive advice (as in the intervention group) Time to intervention · People of any age with caries (including demineralisation in non-cavitated carious lesions); the caries may affect any… Ozone therapy for the treatment of dental caries (2004) · Cochrane | No data were provided in any of the included trials on time to intervention. | NR | No studies |
Fluoride mouthrinse combined with fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride toothpaste alone Unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) · Children or adolescents aged 16 years or less Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride… (2004) · Cochrane | RR 1.03 [0.84, 1.26] | 3 studies · 1704 participants | Ungraded |
Direct resin composite veneer vs Indirect resin composite veneer Colour match (aesthetic achievement) · Patients with permanent anterior teeth with intrinsic staining suitable for laminate veneer restorations Direct versus indirect veneer restorations for intrinsic dental stains (2004) · Cochrane | Planned outcome; colour match was not reported by the single included trial (Meijering 1998). | 0 studies | No studies |
Fluoride varnish combined with fluoride toothpaste vs Fluoride toothpaste alone Caries increment in deciduous teeth: d(e)fs (prevented fraction) · Children or adolescents aged 16 years or less · Nearest to 3 years Combinations of topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels, varnishes) versus single topical fluoride… (2004) · Cochrane | PF 0.15 | 1 study · 173 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride varnish vs Fluoride mouthrinse Unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs) · Children or adolescents aged 16 or less at the start of the study One topical fluoride (toothpastes, or mouthrinses, or gels, or varnishes) versus another for preventing… (2004) · Cochrane | RR 1.19 [0.86, 1.65] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Ceramic inlays (all types) vs Composite resin inlay Outcome NR · Adults who require restorative treatment in posterior teeth Ceramic inlays for restoring posterior teeth (2003) · Cochrane | One randomised controlled trial (Gladys 1995) compared ceramic and resin composite inlays over 3 years, but it was excluded because the study design (parallel-group or split-mouth) was not clearly described; no… | 0 studies | No studies |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on permanent tooth surfaces (D(M)FS), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) · Nearest to 3 years, Placebo-controlled trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.24 [0.22, 0.27] | 116 studies | Ungraded |
Ceramic inlays (all types) vs Amalgam Outcome NR · Adults who require restorative treatment in posterior teeth Ceramic inlays for restoring posterior teeth (2003) · Cochrane | No eligible randomised controlled trial comparing ceramic inlays with amalgam restorations was identified; this planned comparison could not be evaluated. | 0 studies | No studies |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on primary (deciduous) tooth surfaces (d(e/m)fs), prevented fraction · Children with primary (deciduous) teeth (younger children) · Nearest to 3 years, Fluoride gel trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.26 [-0.11, 0.63] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on permanent whole teeth (D(M)FT), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) · Nearest to 3 years Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.26 [0.21, 0.30] | 79 studies | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on permanent whole teeth (D(M)FT), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) · Nearest to 3 years, Fluoride varnish trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.53 [0.23, 0.82] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on permanent tooth surfaces (D(M)FS), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) · Nearest to 3 years Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.26 [0.23, 0.29] | 133 studies · 65169 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride toothpaste vs Placebo (non-fluoride) toothpaste Enamel fluorosis (adverse effect) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less · At least 1 year Fluoride toothpastes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents (2003) · Cochrane | Fluorosis data have not been reported in any of the trials. | 0 studies | No studies |
Fluoride toothpaste vs Placebo (non-fluoride) toothpaste Caries increment in permanent teeth: decayed, (missing) and filled tooth surfaces D(M)FS (prevented fraction) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less · At least 1 year Fluoride toothpastes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.24 [0.21, 0.28] | 70 studies · 42300 participants | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on permanent tooth surfaces (D(M)FS), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) · Nearest to 3 years, Fluoride mouthrinse trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.26 [0.23, 0.30] | 34 studies | Ungraded |
Ceramic inlays (all types) vs Gold inlay Aesthetic satisfaction (colour match) · Adults who require restorative treatment in posterior teeth Ceramic inlays for restoring posterior teeth (2003) · Cochrane | Information on aesthetic satisfaction could not be obtained from this study as it did not use the tooth-coloured restorations as the control group. | 0 studies | No studies |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on permanent tooth surfaces (D(M)FS), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) · Nearest to 3 years, Fluoride gel trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.28 [0.19, 0.37] | 22 studies | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on permanent whole teeth (D(M)FT), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) · Nearest to 3 years, Fluoride gel trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.32 [0.19, 0.46] | 10 studies | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on permanent tooth surfaces (D(M)FS), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) · Nearest to 3 years, No-treatment-controlled trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.40 [0.31, 0.49] | 17 studies | Ungraded |
Fluoride toothpaste vs Placebo (non-fluoride) toothpaste Proportion of children developing one or more new caries · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less · At least 1 year Fluoride toothpastes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents (2003) · Cochrane | RR 0.91 [0.80, 1.04] | 7 studies · 2878 participants | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on permanent tooth surfaces (D(M)FS), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) · Nearest to 3 years, Fluoride toothpaste trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.24 [0.21, 0.28] | 70 studies | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Adverse effects (tooth staining/discoloration, oral soft-tissue signs, adverse symptoms such as nausea/vomiting, enamel etching) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | Data on adverse effects (stain score, proportion of children with tooth staining, signs of sensitivity in oral soft tissue, adverse symptoms such as nausea/vomiting, etching of enamel) were reported in only a few… | NR | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on permanent whole teeth (D(M)FT), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) · Nearest to 3 years, No-treatment-controlled trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.45 [0.32, 0.58] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on permanent tooth surfaces (D(M)FS), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) · Nearest to 3 years, Fluoride varnish trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.46 [0.30, 0.63] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on primary (deciduous) tooth surfaces (d(e/m)fs), prevented fraction · Children with primary (deciduous) teeth (younger children) · Nearest to 3 years, No-treatment-controlled trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.41 [0.26, 0.55] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Ceramic inlays (all types) vs Gold inlay Postoperative sensitivity/pain · Adults who require restorative treatment in posterior teeth · 1 week Ceramic inlays for restoring posterior teeth (2003) · Cochrane | Postoperative sensitivity was evaluated 1 week after placement. No teeth with ceramic inlays were found to have postoperative sensitivity, while one tooth with gold inlay presented sensitivity, which lasted more than 2… | 1 study · 20 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride toothpaste vs Placebo (non-fluoride) toothpaste Acquiring extrinsic tooth staining (adverse effect; stannous fluoride toothpaste) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less · At least 1 year Fluoride toothpastes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents (2003) · Cochrane | RD 0.24 [0.19, 0.30] | 5 studies · 3948 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride toothpaste vs Placebo (non-fluoride) toothpaste Caries increment in deciduous teeth: df-rate, new decayed or filled teeth per 100 primary teeth (prevented fraction) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less · At least 1 year, Deciduous dentition Fluoride toothpastes for preventing dental caries in children and adolescents (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.37 | 1 study · 2008 participants | Ungraded |
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries increment on permanent whole teeth (D(M)FT), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition) · Nearest to 3 years, Fluoride mouthrinse trials Topical fluoride (toothpastes, mouthrinses, gels or varnishes) for preventing dental caries in children and… (2003) · Cochrane | PF 0.24 [0.18, 0.30] | 13 studies | Ungraded |