Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

558 questions · 704 findings · 64 reviews · Dental caries

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No studies found 91 · 12.9%GRADE not reported 441 · 62.6%Very low 76 · 10.8%Low 73 · 10.4%Moderate 21 · 3%High 2 · 0.3%

Radiographic imaging methods (any: analogue radiographs, digital radiographs, or CBCT) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination)

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

Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Permanent dentition (non-CBCT)
Specificity 0.90 [0.85, 0.93]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Sensitivity analysis: low risk of bias for index test
Specificity 0.88 [0.82, 0.92]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Dentine-caries (D3) prevalence high >=35% or unreported (non-CBCT)
Specificity 0.89 [0.82, 0.93]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported

Show 14 more findings

Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
Up 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 outcomes
Up 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 outcomes
Up 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 outcomes
Up 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 outcomes
Up 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 outcomes
Up 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 outcomes
Up 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 outcomes
Up 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 outcomes
Up 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 outcomes
Up 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 outcomes
Up 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 outcomes
Up 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 outcomes
Up 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 outcomes
Up 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

Analogue (conventional) radiographs vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination)

1 finding from 1 review

Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies)
Specificity 0.90 [0.86, 0.93]
51 studies
GRADE not reported

Cerebral palsy vs Healthy controls

Dental caries prevalence · Children with cerebral palsy in Dubai

Dental caries prevalence was 53% among children with cerebral palsy.

1 finding from 1 review

Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. 2021 All outcomes
Overall
Prevalence 53
1 study
GRADE not reported

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination)

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…

3 findings from 1 review

Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies)
Sensitivity 0.60 [0.51, 0.68]
7 studies
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Proximal surfaces (CBCT)
Sensitivity 0.68 [0.42, 0.86]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Occlusal surfaces (CBCT)
Sensitivity 0.76 [0.55, 0.89]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported

Down syndrome vs Healthy controls

Dental caries prevalence · Children with Down syndrome in Dubai

Dental caries prevalence was 57.6% in children with Down syndrome and controls.

1 finding from 1 review

Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. 2021 All outcomes
Children with Down syndrome
Prevalence 57.6
1 study
GRADE not reported

Digital radiographs vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination)

1 finding from 1 review

Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies)
Sensitivity 0.49 [0.42, 0.56]
40 studies
GRADE not reported

Radiographic imaging methods (any: analogue radiographs, digital radiographs, or CBCT) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination)

Diagnostic accuracy on surfaces with pit and fissure sealants · Asymptomatic children, adolescents, or adults presenting for clinical examination (in vivo studies), or extracted teeth of children or…

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Pit and fissure sealants
Pre-specified heterogeneity investigation of surfaces with pit and fissure sealants: no study reported the inclusion of sealants that would allow evaluation of early caries lesions.
0 studies
No studies found

Digital radiographs vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination)

1 finding from 1 review

Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies)
Specificity 0.87 [0.82, 0.91]
40 studies
GRADE not reported

Radiographic imaging methods (any: analogue radiographs, digital radiographs, or CBCT) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination)

Diagnostic accuracy in previously restored teeth (secondary caries) · Asymptomatic children, adolescents, or adults presenting for clinical examination (in vivo studies), or extracted teeth of children or…

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Restorations (secondary caries)
Pre-specified heterogeneity investigation of teeth with previously applied restorations (secondary caries): no study intentionally included restored teeth in its sample. Studies evaluating secondary caries were…
0 studies
No studies found

Special health care needs vs Not applicable

Dental caries prevalence · Arab children with special health care needs in Ras Al Khaimah

Dental caries prevalence was 85.2%.

1 finding from 1 review

Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. 2021 All outcomes
Overall
Prevalence 85.2
1 study
GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

Dental caries prevalence

1 finding from 1 review

Prevalence of dental caries in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2019 All outcomes
Sensitivity analysis: one-study-removed (leave-one-out)
Prevalence 0.65 to 0.70 (range)
10 studies
GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

Mean DMFT/dmft (caries severity) · Children (<12 years) and adolescents (12-18 years) with type 1 diabetes

The pooled mean DMFT/dmft (caries severity) was 5.7 (SD 3.6) across 5 studies; certainty not graded.

1 finding from 1 review

Prevalence of dental caries in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2019 All outcomes
Children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes; 10 studies from Asia, Europe, North America and South America (published 1997-2017)
MEAN 5.7
5 studies
GRADE not reported

Electronic caries monitor (ECM) device (ECM II / ECM III / ECM IV) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination)

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 outcomes
Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies)
ECM (4 studies, 475 tooth surfaces): sensitivity ranged from 0.61 to 0.98 (0.61-0.65 in three studies; 0.98 in the most recent ECM IV study). No evidence of a difference in accuracy by device type (Chi2=0.05, df=1,…
4 studies
GRADE not reported

Electronic caries monitor (ECM) device (ECM II / ECM III / ECM IV) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination)

Specificity · 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 outcomes
Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies)
ECM (4 studies, 475 tooth surfaces): specificity ranged from 0.73 to 0.96.
4 studies
GRADE not reported

Electrical conductance devices (electronic caries monitor (ECM) and/or CarieScan Pro), used as an adjunct to clinical oral examination vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination)

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 outcomes
Up 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 outcomes
Up 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

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

Electrical conductance for the detection of dental caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies)
No eligible studies. All included studies assessed occlusal surfaces only; smooth surfaces were a planned surface subgroup with no data.
0 studies
No studies found

Electrical conductance devices (electronic caries monitor (ECM) and/or CarieScan Pro), used as an adjunct to clinical oral examination vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination)

Specificity · 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 outcomes
Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Permanent dentition
Permanent dentition (4 studies): specificity ranged from 0.73 to 1.00.
4 studies
GRADE not reported
Electrical conductance for the detection of dental caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Primary dentition
Primary dentition (3 studies): specificity ranged from 0 to 0.92.
3 studies
GRADE not reported

Electrical conductance devices (electronic caries monitor (ECM) and/or CarieScan Pro), used as an adjunct to clinical oral examination vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination)

Diagnostic odds ratio (overall test accuracy) · 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 outcomes
Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies)
Diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) 15.65 [1.43, 171.15]
7 studies
Very low

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 PROXIMAL (approximal) tooth surfaces.

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Electrical conductance for the detection of dental caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies)
No eligible studies. All included studies assessed occlusal surfaces only ('All studies assessed the use of the electrical conductance devices on occlusal surfaces.'); proximal surfaces were a planned surface subgroup…
0 studies
No studies found

Package of oral health education/promotion including oral hygiene advice for pregnant women, mothers, infants and young children, plus dietary and feeding practice advice for infants and young children vs usual care

Child dental attendance · For interventions, pregnant women, mothers or other caregivers of infants in the first year of life; for outcomes, children up to 6 years…

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood caries 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes
Birth to 6 yrs
Plutzer 2008 reported dental attendance as cumulative child-visit categories (other data): intervention children more likely to have 1-2 visits, no difference for 3-4 visits, less likely for >=5 visits.
1 study
GRADE not reported