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Evidence found and GRADE certainty

2,745 questions · 4,389 findings · 203 reviews · Dental caries

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No studies found 39 · 0.9%GRADE not reported 3,844 · 87.6%Very low 198 · 4.5%Low 137 · 3.1%Moderate 134 · 3.1%High 37 · 0.8%

Post-secondary education vs University education

Prevalence of untreated decay (% DT > 0) · Adults aged 25 years and older in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States

In Canada, post-secondary versus university education differed by 7.8 percentage points in prevalence of untreated decay.

4 findings from 1 review
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Placebo vs no treatment

Caries increment in permanent teeth · Children or adolescents

The NMR reported an SMD by randomisation year; no GRADE assessment was reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Radiographic caries detection (bitewing radiography) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted)

Positive LR for detecting all (initial and advanced) occlusal caries · Occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly in vitro)

In the conventional (all-studies) meta-analysis, the positive lr of radiographic detection for all (initial and advanced) occlusal caries was 1.74 (95% CI 1.3 to 2.4) (ungraded).

3 findings from 1 review

Radiographic caries detection (bitewing radiography) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted)

Negative LR for detecting all (initial and advanced) occlusal caries · Occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly in vitro)

In the conventional (all-studies) meta-analysis, the negative lr of radiographic detection for all (initial and advanced) occlusal caries was 0.79 (95% CI 0.65 to 0.96) (ungraded).

3 findings from 1 review

Fluoride gel (topically applied; operator- or self-applied; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs no treatment

Caries increment in permanent teeth · Children or adolescents

The NMR reported a difference between fluoride in gel and no treatment at every displayed randomisation year; no GRADE assessment was reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Radiographic caries detection (bitewing radiography) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted)

Sensitivity for detecting advanced proximal caries · Proximal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly in vitro)

In the meta-analysis tailored to Egypt, pooled sensitivity of radiographic detection for advanced proximal caries was 44.4% (95% CI 38 to 51) (ungraded).

3 findings from 1 review

Visual caries detection (ICDAS visual/visual-tactile inspection) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted)

Positive LR for detecting advanced occlusal caries · Occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly in vitro)

In the conventional (all-studies) meta-analysis, the positive lr of visual detection for advanced occlusal caries was 7.09 (95% CI 5.6 to 8.9) (ungraded).

3 findings from 1 review

HDI (quantitative) vs Populations in countries with a higher Human Development Index (very high, HDI >=0.800)

Caries experience (mean DMFT) · Adults aged 19-60 years

Pooled caries experience (DMFT) was similar in very-high-HDI and high-HDI countries, and meta-regression found no significant association between national HDI and DMFT; ungraded observational evidence with very high heterogeneity.

3 findings from 1 review

Silver diamine fluoride twice annually vs Other network treatments

Caries lesion arrestment · Primary teeth with dentin caries lesions on occlusal and smooth surfaces

Silver diamine fluoride twice annually ranked first for caries lesion arrestment in the occlusal- and smooth-surface network (moderate certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Extraction of a maxillary first permanent molar vs Extraction of a mandibular first permanent molar

Spontaneous space closure · Children aged 5 to 15 years undergoing first permanent molar extraction

Spontaneous post-extraction space closure did not differ significantly between the maxilla and mandible (pooled OR 2.06, 95% CI 0.46 to 9.28; 3 studies; I2 = 72%); ungraded.

1 finding from 1 review

Radiographic caries detection (bitewing radiography) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted)

Specificity for detecting advanced occlusal caries · Occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly in vitro)

In the meta-analysis tailored to Germany, pooled specificity of radiographic detection for advanced occlusal caries was 91.4% (95% CI 88 to 94) (ungraded).

3 findings from 1 review

Post-secondary education vs University education

Prevalence of fair/poor self-rated oral health · Adults aged 25 years and older in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States

In Canada, post-secondary versus university education differed by 2.4 percentage points in prevalence of fair/poor self-rated oral health.

4 findings from 1 review
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Medium income vs High income

Mean number of decayed teeth (mean DT) · Adults aged 25 years and older in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States

In United States, medium versus high income differed by 0.1 decayed teeth in mean number of decayed teeth.

4 findings from 1 review
Show 1 more finding

Visual caries detection (ICDAS visual/visual-tactile inspection) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted)

Negative LR for detecting advanced occlusal caries · Occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly in vitro)

In the meta-analysis tailored to Germany, the negative lr of visual detection for advanced occlusal caries was 0.58 (95% CI 0.5 to 0.7) (ungraded).

3 findings from 1 review

Artemether vs Quinine

Death · Patients with severe malaria

The fixed-effect NMR reported a difference between artemether and quinine at ages 15 years or more; no GRADE assessment was reported.

2 findings from 1 review

Bilateral extraction of compromised mandibular first permanent molars vs Age- and gender-matched non-extraction controls

Skeletal development (occlusal plane rotation, facial height) · Children (approximately 11 years or older) with compromised mandibular first permanent molars

Bilateral lower first permanent molar extraction was associated with counter-clockwise rotation of the occlusal plane and a mild decrease in lower anterior face height in one case-control study; ungraded.

1 finding from 1 review

Low income vs High income

Prevalence of fair/poor self-rated oral health · Adults aged 25 years and older in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States

Across four countries, low versus high income differed by 15.77 percentage points in prevalence of fair/poor self-rated oral health (random-effects meta-analysis; I2=13.4%).

5 findings from 1 review
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Primary education vs University education

Mean number of decayed teeth (mean DT) · Adults aged 25 years and older in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States

In Canada, primary versus university education differed by 0.69 decayed teeth in mean number of decayed teeth.

5 findings from 1 review
Show 2 more findings