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Evidence found and GRADE certainty

2,745 questions · 4,389 findings · 203 reviews · Oral Health

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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%

Early extraction of a compromised mandibular first permanent molar vs Contralateral non-extraction side (same patient)

Development and eruption of the third molar · Children aged 5 to 15 years with a compromised first permanent molar

Development and eruption of the third molar appeared accelerated after early first permanent molar extraction in two studies (e.g., eruption OR 2.86, 95% CI 1.37 to 5.96); ungraded.

1 finding from 1 review

Dental caries during pregnancy vs Pregnant women without dental caries

Gestational age (preterm birth < 37 weeks) · pregnant women

Pregnant women with dental caries did not have a significantly increased risk of preterm birth (pooled OR 1.16, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.49; 5 studies; I2=35%); certainty of evidence not graded.

1 finding from 1 review
  • Dental caries and preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2018 All outcomes
    Pregnant women assessed around delivery in observational studies across multiple countries (Mexico, Malawi, India, France, Jordan, Finland, Tanzania); mostly retrospective cohort and case-control designs
    OR 1.16 [0.90, 1.49]
    5 studies · 4246 participants
    GRADE not reported

Fluoride gel (topically applied; operator- or self-applied; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs Fluoride in dentifrice

Caries increment, surface index D(M)FS · Children or adolescents

The illustrative network meta-regression estimated an SMD for caries increment for fluoride in gel versus fluoride in dentifrice across randomization year; the review did not state whether the difference was significant and certainty was not graded.

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride in rinse vs Fluoride in dentifrice

Caries increment, surface index D(M)FS · Children or adolescents

The illustrative network meta-regression estimated an SMD for caries increment for fluoride in rinse versus fluoride in dentifrice across randomization year; the review did not state whether the difference was significant and certainty was not graded.

1 finding from 1 review

Radiographic caries detection vs Reference standard (often histological; also invasive opening)

All proximal carious lesions · Permanent molar surfaces in diagnostic accuracy studies (mostly in vitro; clinical)

Pooled specificity for radiographic detection of all proximal lesions was 0.900 (95% CI 0.87 to 0.92).

1 finding 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)

Sensitivity 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 sensitivity of visual detection for advanced occlusal caries was 43.7% (95% CI 37 to 51) (ungraded).

3 findings from 1 review

38% SDF solution (applied biannually) vs 12% SDF solution (applied biannually)

Arrest of advanced cavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface · Primary teeth with advanced cavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface

38% SDF solution biannually compared with 12% SDF solution biannually: RR 1.29 (95% CI 1.21 to 1.38); High certainty.

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride varnish vs Fluoride gel

Caries increment, surface index D(M)FS · Children or adolescents

The illustrative network meta-regression estimated an SMD for caries increment for fluoride in varnish versus fluoride in gel across randomization year; the review did not state whether the difference was significant and certainty was not graded.

1 finding from 1 review

Low level of schooling (>33.60% of the population) vs Not applicable

Dental caries · Adult participants in 25 meta-regression studies

The unadjusted meta-regression coefficient for low schooling was -2.301079.

2 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, surface index D(M)FS · Children or adolescents

In the illustrative network meta-regression the SMD for caries increment differed between fluoride in gel and no treatment at every displayed randomization year; certainty was not graded.

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride varnish vs no treatment

Caries increment, surface index D(M)FS · Children or adolescents

In the illustrative network meta-regression the SMD for caries increment differed between fluoride in varnish and no treatment at randomization years 1954 to 1990; certainty was not graded.

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride in rinse vs placebo

Caries increment, surface index D(M)FS · Children or adolescents

In the illustrative network meta-regression the SMD for caries increment differed between fluoride in rinse and placebo at randomization years 1954 to 1990; certainty was not graded.

1 finding from 1 review

Early extraction of a compromised first permanent molar vs Teeth in the same arch/patient with the first permanent molar present

Caries and/or fillings in adjacent teeth · Children aged 5 to 15 years with a compromised first permanent molar

One study found fewer decayed or filled proximal surfaces but more decayed or filled occlusal surfaces in arches with an extracted first permanent molar; ungraded.

1 finding from 1 review