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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Mesoporous silica (SiO2) vs Calcium phosphate agent (e.g., CPP-ACP, Ca/P-PILP, niobophosphate) Immediate (24 h) resin-dentin bond strength (MPa) · Artificial caries-affected dentin (ACAD) in extracted permanent human teeth (in vitro) · 24 h (immediate), Self-Etch + chemical ACAD Biomimetic Remineralization Strategies for Dentin Bond Stability-Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. (2025) | MD -0.699 [-7.633, 6.234] | 0 studies | Moderate |
Intervention NR Composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 4: marginal discoloration · HDI: Low Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 1.17 [0.35, 3.87] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Anticaries vaccine or antibody (DNA, recombinant protein, nanoparticle-adjuvanted, live-vector, plant-based, or passive IgY immunization) targeting S. mutans vs Control (unvaccinated / empty vector / PBS / placebo animals) Dental caries development · Animal caries models (mice, rats, hamsters) challenged/colonized with Streptococcus mutans; one transgenic-plant… Assessing the Efficacy and Immunogenicity of Anticaries Vaccine-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2025) | RR 0.53 [0.46, 0.62] | NR | Ungraded |
Genetically predicted dental caries (DMFS index) vs Reference (1-SD lower genetically predicted DMFS) Osteoporosis · European-ancestry adults · Lifelong genetic liability, SVMR (IVW), total causal effect From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. (2025) | OR 1.156 [0.994, 1.343] | 483725 participants | Ungraded |
Higher drinking-water fluoride exposure vs Null / lowest drinking-water fluoride exposure (reference) Risk of fractures (any site) · General population (both sexes, all ages) · Long-term / lifetime fluoride exposure, Drinking-water fluoride 2.0 mg/L vs null The association of fluoride exposure with bone density and fracture risk: a dose-response meta-analysis. (2025) | RR 1.06 [0.80, 1.41] | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Partial pulpotomy (PP) with calcium hydroxide vs Direct pulp capping (DPC) with calcium hydroxide Clinical and radiographic success rate · Adults (>=18 y) with mature permanent teeth, carious exposure and normal/reversibly inflamed pulp · 5 years Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2025) | Success rate (%) 11.1 vs 5.9 | 1 study · 44 participants | Ungraded |
Partial pulpotomy vs Full (complete) pulpotomy Postoperative pain (VAS) · Mature permanent (molar) teeth with deep caries and symptoms indicative of irreversible pulpitis (spontaneous pain) · 24 h to 7 days The effectiveness of partial pulpotomy compared with full pulpotomy in managing deep caries in vital… (2025) | Jassal: no significant difference in postoperative pain between PP and FP at 24 h, 48 h and 7 days (preoperative PP 7.44+/-0.96 vs FP 7.52+/-1.08, p>.879). Ramani: no difference in pain incidence at 24 h (p=.496) but… | 2 studies · 156 participants | Ungraded |
Replacement of the defective restoration vs Repair of the defective restoration Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 1: partial loss or fracture of the restoration · Dentists managing a defective direct amalgam restoration (posterior occlusal Class I; standardized vignette of a… · Not applicable (single time-point survey, June to October 2023), HDI: Medium Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 7.13 [4.90, 10.35] | 2 studies · 353 participants | Ungraded |
Children with dental caries vs Children without dental caries (caries-free) Haemoglobin level · Children and adolescents (0-18 years; most included reviews focused on <6 years) Association Between Iron Deficiency Anemia and Dental Caries in Children: A Systematic Umbrella Meta-Analysis. (2025) | MD -2.20 [-4.59, 0.19] | 3 studies | Very low |
Intervention NR Sensitivity · Imaging modality: Periapical radiographs Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of… (2025) | Sensitivity 0.86 [0.83, 0.90] | 12 studies | Ungraded |
Dental caries (ECC/severe ECC) as exposure/grouping vs Caries-free controls Relative abundance of Veillonella spp. · Individuals assessed for dental caries, predominantly children with early childhood caries (ECC) or severe ECC (age… A systematic review of Streptococcus Mutans and Veillonellae species interactions in dental caries… (2025) | No meta-analysis was performed (too few studies). Across 7 studies the direction was inconsistent: Veillonella spp. relative abundance was higher in caries than in caries-free subjects in some studies (Setiawan 2020:… | 3 studies · 146 participants | Ungraded |
Orofacial cleft (cleft lip and/or palate) as exposure vs Healthy controls without cleft Plaque Index (PI) · Individuals assessed for periodontal health (mainly children and adolescents, age >2 years) Oral health in patients with cleft lip and palate: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of… (2025) | MD 0.29 [0.24, 0.34] | 6 studies · 1618 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Inhibition of mixed-species S. mutans-C. albicans biofilm and C. albicans virulence-gene (HWP1/ALS1/ALS3) downregulation · In vitro (interkingdom) Postbiotics and Dental Caries: A Systematic Review. (2025) | no estimate extracted | 1 study | Ungraded |
Quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) vs Reference standard (histology; some ICDAS/radiography) Occlusal caries detection: sensitivity · Extracted human teeth (in vitro); permanent and primary teeth, occlusal surfaces · Permanent dentition Diagnostic accuracy of quantitative light-induced fluorescence in detecting caries of various types and… (2025) | Sensitivity 0.91 | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 4: marginal discoloration · Coverage: Not covering Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 1.95 [1.50, 2.54] | NR | Ungraded |
Calcium phosphate agent (e.g., CPP-ACP, Ca/P-PILP, niobophosphate) vs No biomimetic remineralization (control) Immediate (24 h) resin-dentin bond strength (MPa) · Artificial caries-affected dentin (ACAD) in extracted permanent human teeth (in vitro) · 24 h (immediate), Self-Etch + chemical ACAD Biomimetic Remineralization Strategies for Dentin Bond Stability-Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. (2025) | MD 1.539 [-1.738, 4.817] | 1 study | Moderate |
Simple childhood caries prediction models with at least two predictors vs No competing model Dental caries discrimination (area under the curve) · Children and adolescents (≤18 years) · Validation assessment; prediction horizon not reported, Kim (2018) Risk prediction models for dental caries in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2025) | AUC 0.782 [0.681, 0.884] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Calcium phosphate agent (e.g., CPP-ACP, Ca/P-PILP, niobophosphate) vs Fluoride agent (e.g., NaF/SDF/KF/CaF2) Immediate (24 h) resin-dentin bond strength (MPa) · Artificial caries-affected dentin (ACAD) in extracted permanent human teeth (in vitro) · 24 h (immediate), Etch-and-Rinse + biological ACAD Biomimetic Remineralization Strategies for Dentin Bond Stability-Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. (2025) | MD 17.012 [11.920, 22.103] | 2 studies | Moderate |
Simple childhood caries prediction models with at least two predictors vs No competing model Dental caries discrimination (area under the curve) · Children and adolescents (≤18 years) · Validation assessment; prediction horizon not reported Risk prediction models for dental caries in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2025) | AUC 0.91 [0.87, 0.94] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Partial pulpotomy with tri-calcium silicate material (MTA or Biodentine) vs Partial pulpotomy with calcium hydroxide (CH) Clinical and radiographic success rate · Adults (>=18 y) with mature permanent teeth and carious pulp exposure (irreversible pulpitis or normal/reversible) · >=1 year (subgroups at 1, 2, 5 years), Capping material (tri-calcium silicate vs calcium hydroxide) Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2025) | MD 52.5 | NR | Ungraded |
Genetically predicted DMFS (dental caries) vs Lower genetically predicted DMFS Osteoporosis · European GWAS participants · SVMR MR-Egger From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. (2025) | OR 1.329 [0.991, 1.782] | 483725 participants | Ungraded |
Ion-releasing restorations (IRR): RMGIC, HVGIC, GIC, compomer/PMRC, giomer vs Composite resin (CR), including bulk-fill composite Proper surface staining · Children receiving dental restorations (aged 4-11 years; primary teeth; Class I/II/V cavities) · 1.5 to 2 years Clinical effectiveness of ion-releasing restorations compared to composite restorations in pediatric dental… (2025) | RR 1.07 [0.87, 1.31] | 2 studies · 131 participants | Moderate |
Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability Postmenopausal osteoporosis with pathological fracture · European GWAS participants · SVMR MR-Egger From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. (2025) | OR 0.934 [0.786, 1.111] | 281786 participants | Ungraded |
Anorexia nervosa (as exposure; diagnosed by DSM-III/III-R/IV/V) vs Healthy individuals without anorexia nervosa (age- and sex-matched controls) Salivary alpha-amylase · Patients with anorexia nervosa aged >=12 years (mean age ~18.4; entirely female in reported data), general… The influence of anorexia nervosa on oral health and related parameters potentially relevant to orthodontic… (2025) | MD 6.32 [-6.14, 18.79] | 4 studies · 226 participants | Low |
Partial pulpotomy with immediate (same-visit) permanent restoration vs Partial pulpotomy with delayed permanent restoration (7-14 days or >14 days) Clinical and radiographic success rate · Adults (>=18 y) with mature permanent teeth and deep carious pulp exposure · >=1 year, Timing of permanent restoration: immediate vs >14 days Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2025) | MD 66.7 | NR | Ungraded |
E-cigarette aerosol / e-liquid exposure (flavored and unflavored; nicotine and non-nicotine) vs Unexposed controls / unflavored e-liquid / conventional cigarette smoke Cariogenic and commensal oral bacteria (S. mutans and commensal streptococci growth, adhesion, biofilm) · Oral bacteria (streptococci), dental hard tissue (enamel/dentin) and e-liquids studied in vitro/ex vivo (with a few… The effects of electronic smoking on dental caries and proinflammatory markers: a systematic review and… (2025) | Narrative synthesis of 9 studies (Table 2). E-cigarette aerosol/e-liquid at higher concentrations (>=5%) and flavored liquids inhibited commensal oral streptococci and allowed S. mutans to proliferate, with increased… | 9 studies | Ungraded |
Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Reference (lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability) Fracture of forearm · European-ancestry adults · Lifelong genetic liability, SVMR (IVW), total causal effect From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. (2025) | OR 0.990 [0.951, 1.031] | 490889 participants | Ungraded |
Genetically predicted dental caries (DMFS index) vs Reference (1-SD lower genetically predicted DMFS) Postmenopausal osteoporosis with pathological fracture · Postmenopausal women (European ancestry) · Lifelong genetic liability, SVMR (IVW), total causal effect From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. (2025) | OR 1.343 [0.948, 1.901] | 281786 participants | Ungraded |
Flavonoids (e.g., quercetin, proanthocyanidin) vs Fluoride agent (e.g., NaF/SDF/KF/CaF2) Immediate (24 h) resin-dentin bond strength (MPa) · Artificial caries-affected dentin (ACAD) in extracted permanent human teeth (in vitro) · 24 h (immediate), Self-Etch + chemical ACAD Biomimetic Remineralization Strategies for Dentin Bond Stability-Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. (2025) | MD 5.205 [-1.809, 12.219] | 0 studies | Moderate |
HIV infection with antiretroviral therapy (ART/HAART) vs HIV-negative individuals Dental caries severity (dmft index, primary dentition) · Children and adolescents under 18 years with HIV · Not specified (case-control), Case-control studies; dmft index Association between antiretroviral therapy and dental caries in children and adolescents with HIV: a… (2025) | MD 1.53 [1.39, 1.67] | 2 studies · 185 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Placebo Treatment success (caries lesion arrest or restoration survival) · Children (aged 3-11 y) with cavitated caries lesions in primary teeth · 6 months, 6-month follow-up Comparative success of minimally invasive treatments for cavitated caries in primary teeth: a network… (2025) | OR 33.62 [3.01, 375.92] | 44 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 7: non-stable (mobile) restoration · HDI: High Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 22.43 [12.83, 39.24] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Higher drinking-water fluoride exposure vs Null / lowest drinking-water fluoride exposure (reference) Risk of femoral fractures · General population (both sexes, all ages) · Long-term / lifetime fluoride exposure, Drinking-water fluoride 0.5 mg/L vs null The association of fluoride exposure with bone density and fracture risk: a dose-response meta-analysis. (2025) | RR 0.86 [0.71, 1.05] | NR | Ungraded |
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence) Early childhood caries (ECC), prevalence · Children aged 0-5 years in North Africa · Sampling: simple random Prevalence and risk factors for early childhood caries in North Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2025) | Prevalence 67 | 5 studies | Ungraded |
Electronic cigarette use vs Non-smokers IL-1β level · People who use electronic cigarettes · GCF The effects of electronic smoking on dental caries and proinflammatory markers: a systematic review and… (2025) | Cohen's d 1.58 [-0.79, 3.94] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Anorexia nervosa (as exposure; diagnosed by DSM-III/III-R/IV/V) vs Healthy individuals without anorexia nervosa (age- and sex-matched controls) Unstimulated salivary flow rate · Patients with anorexia nervosa aged >=12 years (mean age ~18.4; entirely female in reported data), general… The influence of anorexia nervosa on oral health and related parameters potentially relevant to orthodontic… (2025) | MD -0.27 [-0.31, -0.24] | 4 studies · 316 participants | Moderate |
Partial pulpotomy with tri-calcium silicate material vs Partial pulpotomy with calcium hydroxide Clinical and radiographic success rate · Adults aged 18 years or older with mature permanent teeth and carious pulp exposure · Meta-regression Partial pulpotomy for carious pulp exposure in adult mature permanent teeth: a systematic review and… (2025) | Meta-regression effect (%) 37 | NR | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Brushing independence and skill retention · Gesture-based motion capture game The Application of Gamification in Children's Oral Health Management: Systematic Review. (2025) | Narrative (P value) Enhanced brushing independence and skill retention after gesture-based motion capture game (P<.001) | 1 study | Ungraded |
Partial pulpotomy vs Full (complete) pulpotomy Clinical and radiographic success (composite) · Mature permanent (molar) teeth with deep caries and symptoms indicative of irreversible pulpitis (spontaneous pain) · 1 year (12 months) The effectiveness of partial pulpotomy compared with full pulpotomy in managing deep caries in vital… (2025) | FP 90%, PP 83% (pooled unadjusted 1-year success; no significant difference; no meta-analysis) | 2 studies · 135 participants | High |
AI systems for caries detection/segmentation on dental X-ray images (predominantly convolutional neural networks; also ANNs, DNNs, DCNN, FCNN, SVMs, decision trees, random forests; e.g. EfficientNet, ResNet, AlexNet) vs Human dentists / trained dental professionals or traditional radiographic interpretation (reference standard / reference models) Diagnostic accuracy (prevalence of accuracy) · Patients undergoing dental X-ray (radiographic) imaging for caries detection · Digital panoramic X-rays (Fig 4b) Accuracy of artificial intelligence in caries detection: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2025) | ~70 | 1 study | Ungraded |
Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability Osteoporosis · European GWAS participants · SVMR IVW From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. (2025) | OR 0.998 [0.933, 1.067] | 483725 participants | Ungraded |
HEMA/EGDMA-based desensitizer vs Fluoride agent (e.g., NaF/SDF/KF/CaF2) Immediate (24 h) resin-dentin bond strength (MPa) · Artificial caries-affected dentin (ACAD) in extracted permanent human teeth (in vitro) · 24 h (immediate), Self-Etch + chemical ACAD Biomimetic Remineralization Strategies for Dentin Bond Stability-Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. (2025) | MD 2.500 [-2.603, 7.603] | 1 study | Low |
AI algorithms (predominantly CNN/deep learning) as index test vs Dental expert / visual-tactile clinical assessment (reference standard) Negative likelihood ratio · Patients undergoing dental caries detection on dental images (teeth/surfaces across imaging modalities) · Cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy (index test vs reference standard), Overall (all imaging modalities pooled) Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of… (2025) | LR- 0.168 [0.138, 0.205] | 20 studies · 29423 participants | Ungraded |
Dental caries vs Without dental caries Lacunar stroke · Adults The contribution of oral infectious diseases in lacunar stroke based on meta-analysis and Mendelian… (2025) | No studies addressing the association between dental caries and LS were identified. | 0 studies | No studies |
Co-presence of Veillonella spp. with Streptococcus mutans vs Streptococcus mutans acidogenesis without Veillonella spp. modulation (conceptual) Streptococcus mutans acid (lactic acid) production and cariogenic potential · Oral biofilm of children/individuals at risk of dental caries A systematic review of Streptococcus Mutans and Veillonellae species interactions in dental caries… (2025) | Narrative synthesis (no effect estimate): Veillonella spp. can inhibit acid production by S. mutans and compete for substrate by utilizing lactic acid, a by-product of S. mutans metabolism, as a carbon source,… | NR | Ungraded |
Replacement of the defective restoration vs Repair of the defective restoration Composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 6: superficial discoloration · Dentists managing a defective direct resin composite restoration (posterior occlusal Class I; standardized vignette of… · Not applicable (single time-point survey, June to October 2023), Overall (all 21 countries pooled) Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 0.28 [0.20, 0.38] | 21 studies · 3680 participants | Ungraded |
Frequent sugary food intake at night vs No nighttime sugary intake Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children aged 0-5 years in North Africa · At night only Prevalence and risk factors for early childhood caries in North Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2025) | OR 1.104 [1.167, 2.826] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Country-level dental caries prevalence (Global Burden of Disease) vs Low vs high dental caries prevalence Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL sum score, transformed 0-100) · Community-dwelling elderly persons aged ≥60 years · Low dental caries prevalence Association between oral health-related quality of life and structural determinants of health among elderly… (2025) | MEAN 81.5 [76.5, 86.6] | NR | Ungraded |
Partial pulpotomy vs Full (complete) pulpotomy Patient- and clinical-reported outcomes (tooth survival, clinical/radiographic success, pain) · Permanent teeth with deep caries and reversible pulpitis (non-spontaneous pain) The effectiveness of partial pulpotomy compared with full pulpotomy in managing deep caries in vital… (2025) | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Very high Human Development Index (HDI >=0.800) vs High Human Development Index (HDI 0.700-0.799) Caries experience (mean DMFT) · 12-year-old children across European countries (national/regional epidemiological surveys, 2011-2022) · Cross-sectional (survey data 2011-2022), Very high HDI (>=0.800) Caries status in 12-year-old children, geographical location and socioeconomic conditions across European… (2025) | MEAN 1.73 | NR | Ungraded |