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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Chlorhexidine varnish Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | No studies reported data for this outcome in this comparison | 0 studies | No studies |
Extraction of a maxillary permanent first molar vs Extraction of a mandibular permanent first molar Spontaneous space closure · Children and adolescents (<18 years) after extraction of a permanent first molar before eruption of the permanent… · Until eruption of the permanent second molar (median follow-up 4.0 years), Overall Spontaneous space closure after extraction of permanent first molars in children and adolescents: a… (2024) | OR 7.77 [4.99, 12.11] | 9 studies · 1349 participants | Low |
Oral cancer patients (cases) vs Healthy controls Periodontal pocket depth (PPD) in OC cases vs controls · Adults in case-control studies (oral cancer patients vs healthy controls) · Not specified, PPD (periodontal pocket depth) Periodontitis and the risk of oral cancer: a meta-analysis of case-control studies. (2024) | SMD 1.64 [-0.20, 3.47] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Partial pulpotomy, immature teeth Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.924 [0.851, 0.976] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Spontaneous space closure · Mandible: M2 Demirjian E-F vs G-H Spontaneous space closure after extraction of permanent first molars in children and adolescents: a… (2024) | OR 42.0 | 1 study | Ungraded |
CC genotype vs CA+AA genotypes Dental caries · Children (<18 years) with vs without dental caries · Recessive model (CC vs CA+AA) Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with caries risk in children: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 0.87 [0.70, 1.09] | 3 studies · 1327 participants | Ungraded |
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence) Early childhood caries experience (mean dmft) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years) · Region: Africa A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. (2024) | MEAN 3.47 [1.37, 5.56] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Slum setting vs Non-slum urban setting Determinants of oral diseases · Adults in LMIC urban and slum settings Systematic review of oral health in slums and non-slum urban settings of Low and Middle-Income Countries… (2024) | no estimate extracted | 14 studies | Ungraded |
Breastfeeding <24 months vs Breastfeeding ≥24 months Dental caries (ECC) · Preschool children under 6 years of age · First dental examination before age 6 years, Cohort studies; sensitivity analysis excluding Peres et al. (2017) Association of Breastfeeding and Early Childhood Caries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2024) | RR 0.49 [0.39, 0.62] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Fixed orthodontic treatment with fixed (multibracket) appliances (exposure) vs None (single-group prevalence/incidence estimate) Incidence of new ICLs (proportion of tooth surfaces developing new lesions) · Patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment with fixed (multibracket) appliances, followed for development of new… · During fixed orthodontic treatment (development of new lesions), Overall (random-effects model) Distribution of initial caries lesions in relation to fixed orthodontic therapy. A systematic review and… (2024) | Proportion 0.15 [0.08, 0.26] | 4 studies · 1890 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Sealants or resin infiltration Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · Primary and permanent dentition Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | No studies reported data in either dentition type | 0 studies | No studies |
Breastfeeding vs No breastfeeding Dental caries (ECC) · Preschool children under 6 years of age · First dental examination before age 6 years, Cohort studies; sensitivity analysis excluding studies 37, 41, 45, 53, and 56 Association of Breastfeeding and Early Childhood Caries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2024) | RR 0.82 [0.71, 0.95] | 5 studies | Ungraded |
Salivary Actinobacillus level vs Not specified Salivary S. mutans level · Patients with aggressive periodontitis · Overall Association between periodontitis and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 0.08 [0.01, 0.85] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Slum residence vs Non-slum urban residence Dental caries (odds), slum vs non-slum residence · Adult residents of slums and non-slum urban settings of LMICs · Cross-sectional, Slum vs non-slum urban (Osuh 2022, Nigeria) Systematic review of oral health in slums and non-slum urban settings of Low and Middle-Income Countries… (2024) | OR 1.21 [0.94, 1.56] | 1 study · 1357 participants | Ungraded |
Presence of oral Candida albicans vs Absence of oral Candida albicans Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children aged ≤6 years (early childhood) · Exposure and outcome assessed concurrently (observational); children aged ≤6 years, Region: Europe RETRACTED: Investigating the association between Candida albicans and early childhood dental caries: A… (2024) | OR 10.13 [6.01, 17.09] | 5 studies · 635 participants | Ungraded |
Adhesive precoated flash-free brackets vs Conventional ceramic brackets Enamel demineralization (DIAGNOdent score) · Patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment · Baseline, 1 month, and 6 months after bonding Can Orthodontic Adhesive Systems Inhibit the Formation and Development of White Spot Lesions During Fixed… (2024) | Intergroup evaluation showed that there were no statistically significant differences in demineralization measurements between all sides of the conventional and flash-free brackets at all the time intervals (p >0.05). | 1 study · 30 participants | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Immature teeth, irreversible pulpitis Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.790 [0.667, 0.892] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Xylitol (low-intensity sweetener/sugar alcohol) in food products (chewing gum, milk, candy, or tablets) vs Sorbitol (low-intensity sweetener) Change in Mutans streptococci (MS) count in saliva · Generally healthy individuals across all age groups (infants to elderly) · Post-consumption endpoint (varied durations across trials), Xylitol gum vs sorbitol gum (2 studies) Clinical Effects of Sugar Substitutes on Cariogenic Bacteria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2024) | SMD -0.16 [-0.44, 0.12] | 2 studies · 201 participants | Ungraded |
T allele vs G allele Dental caries · Children (<18 years) with vs without dental caries · Allelic model (T vs G) Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with caries risk in children: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.00 [0.81, 1.23] | 3 studies · 796 participants | Ungraded |
T allele vs C allele Dental caries · Children (<18 years) with vs without dental caries · Allelic model (T vs C), Permanent dentition Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with caries risk in children: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 0.90 [0.54, 1.49] | NR | Ungraded |
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence) Early childhood caries experience (mean dmft) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years) · GNI >$40000 A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. (2024) | MEAN 3.34 [1.79, 4.88] | 13 studies | Ungraded |
Dental caries (DT not equal to 0) vs No dental caries Periodontitis (prevalence) · Adults · Crude OR Association between periodontitis and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 2.35 [2.04, 2.70] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence) Regular toothbrushing usage (prevalence) · Children (<18 years) with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in India · Overall Oral health status of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in India: a systematic… (2024) | Prevalence 91 [80, 96] | 6 studies · 1036 participants | Ungraded |
Transbond XT with 1% chitosan and 1% TiO2 nanoparticles vs Transbond XT adhesive Streptococcus mutans count · Patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment · 1 day, 2 months, and 6 months after bonding Can Orthodontic Adhesive Systems Inhibit the Formation and Development of White Spot Lesions During Fixed… (2024) | Experimental group: significant decrease in S. mutans count was observed at the time points of 1 day, 2 months, and 6 months for both maxillary lateral incisor (p = 0.01) and maxillary second premolar teeth (p = 0.001). | 1 study · 24 participants | Ungraded |
Biodentine vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure · >=12 months Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | OR 6.03 [0.97, 37.6] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Used fluoride mouth rinse vs No fluoride mouth rinse Fluorosis (percentage prevalence in permanent teeth) · Children exposed to topical fluoride when under 6 years old; fluorosis assessed in permanent teeth at 6 to 18 years · Fluorosis assessed when most permanent teeth of interest had erupted (6 to 18 years) Topical fluoride as a cause of dental fluorosis in children (2024) · Cochrane | OR 1.44 [0.62, 3.38] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) with glass ionomer cement (GIC) or glass ionomer material Adverse effects · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 48 hours to 24 months, Children Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | In 1 study, 115 of 118 children had black stains on teeth treated with SDF; there were no other adverse effects or allergic reactions. In 1 study, the rate of adverse effects reported by caregiver and person who… | 3 studies · 482 participants | Very low |
High-dose vitamin D3 supplementation during pregnancy (2400 IU/day from pregnancy week 24 to 1 week postpartum, in addition to the recommended 400 IU/day) vs Low-dose (standard) vitamin D supplementation as recommended in national pregnancy guidelines Caries presence in primary teeth · For interventions, pregnant women, mothers or other caregivers of infants in the first year of life; for outcomes,… · Children assessed at 6 yrs Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood… (2024) · Cochrane | RR 0.99 [0.70, 1.41] | 1 study · 496 participants | Very low |
Moderate-severe active dental caries (exposure) vs Caries-free or mild dental caries (control) Salivary IL-6 level (pg/mL) · Children and young adults (3-25 years) Activity and levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 in saliva of children and young adults with dental caries: a… (2024) | SMD 11.60 [6.27, 16.94] | 11 studies · 879 participants | Ungraded |
Er:YAG laser irradiation of sound enamel before acid challenge vs No anticaries intervention (untreated enamel) Demineralised lesion depth · Human tooth enamel specimens, sound/intact (in vitro) · After cariogenic acid challenge / pH cycling Effect of Er:YAG Laser Irradiation on Preventing Enamel Caries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2024) | SMD -0.55 [-0.97, -0.12] | 3 studies · 252 participants | Ungraded |
Prophylaxis (teeth cleaning) and CHX or iodine-NaF solution application in the dentition of women (mothers) vs Placebo Adverse events for mother or child · For interventions, pregnant women and mothers of infants in the first year of life; for outcomes, children up to 6… Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood… (2024) · Cochrane | Two trials (Dasanayake 1993; Dasanayake 2002) reported adverse events related to topical application of the treatment solutions (other data). | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Breastfeeding for <12 months vs Breastfeeding for ≥12 months Dental caries (early childhood caries) · Preschool children (<6 years) · Cohort studies Association of Breastfeeding and Early Childhood Caries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2024) | RR 0.65 [0.50, 0.86] | 8 studies · 4365 participants | Ungraded |
Significant salivary microbial (Lactobacillus) load vs No/low significant microbial load Dental caries · Primary school children in Ethiopia Prevalence of dental caries and associated factors among primary school children in Ethiopia: systematic… (2024) | OR 3.82 [3.439, 4.192] | NR | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Silver nitrate plus fluoride varnish Primary caries prevention · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | No studies reported data for this outcome in this comparison | 0 studies | No studies |
Teledentistry diagnosis using DSLR or smartphone extra-oral photographs vs Visual or clinical examination Positive predictive value for dental caries diagnosis · Children and adults with primary or permanent dentition · Overall Teledentistry accuracy for caries diagnosis: a systematic review of in-vivo studies using extra-oral… (2024) | no estimate extracted | 10 studies | Ungraded |
Prophylaxis (teeth cleaning) and CHX or iodine-NaF solution application in the dentition of women (mothers) vs Placebo dmft index score · For interventions, pregnant women and mothers of infants in the first year of life; for outcomes, children up to 6… Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood… (2024) · Cochrane | dmft was listed in the SoF table but not assessed (no trial reported it). | 0 studies | No studies |
Extraction at patient age 11-12 years vs Extraction at patient age 8-10 years Spontaneous space closure · Children and adolescents after extraction of a mandibular permanent first molar (before eruption of the second molar) · Until eruption of the permanent second molar (median follow-up 4.0 years), Mandible Spontaneous space closure after extraction of permanent first molars in children and adolescents: a… (2024) | OR 0.82 [0.35, 1.88] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Maternal smoking during pregnancy vs No maternal smoking during pregnancy Dental caries in children · Children of mothers assessed for smoking status during pregnancy (early childhood dental caries) · Exposure during pregnancy; caries assessed in early childhood, Study region: Europe Maternal smoking during pregnancy and early childhood dental caries in children: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.67 [1.40, 1.99] | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Children with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) vs Caries-free children Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level · Preschool children ≤6 years, Asia · Asia The Association Between Vitamin D and Early Childhood Caries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2024) | MD -19.25 [-20.75, -17.76] | NR | Ungraded |
Periodontitis / periodontal disease (history or clinical diagnosis) vs No periodontitis (individuals without periodontal disease) Oral cancer (OC) · Adults in case-control studies of oral cancer; people assessed for periodontitis · Not specified, Overall (random-effects pooled estimate) Periodontitis and the risk of oral cancer: a meta-analysis of case-control studies. (2024) | OR 2.94 [2.13, 4.07] | 8 studies · 6927 participants | Low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Placebo or no treatment Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 36 months, Permanent dentition (coronal) Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | MD 0.20 [0.00, 0.40] | 1 study · 373 participants | Very low |
Extraction at patient age 11-12 years vs Extraction at patient age 8-10 years Spontaneous space closure · Children and adolescents after extraction of a mandibular permanent first molar (before eruption of the second molar) · Until eruption of the permanent second molar (median follow-up 4.0 years), Mandible Spontaneous space closure after extraction of permanent first molars in children and adolescents: a… (2024) | OR 0.29 [0.11, 0.81] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Second molar at Nolla developmental stage 6-7 at extraction vs Second molar at later Nolla stages at extraction Spontaneous space closure · Children and adolescents after extraction of a mandibular permanent first molar (before eruption of the second molar) · Until eruption of the permanent second molar (median follow-up 4.0 years), Mandible Spontaneous space closure after extraction of permanent first molars in children and adolescents: a… (2024) | OR 55.1 [3.0, at least 100.0] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Cesarean section delivery vs Vaginal delivery Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children aged <6 years · Study quality (NOS): Moderate RETRACTED: The association between mode of childbirth delivery and early childhood caries: A comprehensive… (2024) | OR 1.10 [0.75, 1.61] | 12 studies | Ungraded |
TiO2-modified composite (1 wt.%) vs Control composite in contralateral quadrant Streptococcus mutans population · Patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment · 1 to 6 months after bonding Can Orthodontic Adhesive Systems Inhibit the Formation and Development of White Spot Lesions During Fixed… (2024) | No statistically significant difference between the S. mutans populations on the control and test sides at any time point. | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
Dietary advice on how to achieve a healthy diet for infants (tailored advice focused on a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol intake) vs Standard care Mother self-reported oral health behaviours · For interventions, pregnant women, mothers or other caregivers of infants in the first year of life; for outcomes,… Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood… (2024) · Cochrane | Data from Lapinleimu 1995 on mother oral health behaviour (other data) showed some evidence of benefit in favour of the intervention. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Fixed orthodontic treatment with fixed (multibracket) appliances (exposure) vs None (single-group prevalence/incidence estimate) Association between orthodontic treatment duration and ICLs prevalence · Patients (permanent dentition) during or after fixed orthodontic treatment with fixed (multibracket) appliances · During or after fixed orthodontic treatment, By orthodontic treatment duration (subgroup meta-analysis; positive association, P=.01) Distribution of initial caries lesions in relation to fixed orthodontic therapy. A systematic review and… (2024) | Prevalence of ICLs positively associated with orthodontic treatment duration (meta-regression, P=.01); effect size/slope not available (Fig. 6a image not provided) | NR | Ungraded |
SDF (given at a particular frequency, concentration, or duration) vs SDF (given at a different frequency, concentration, or duration) Aesthetics · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 24 months, Children Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | 1 study (119 children) reported that 45% parents were satisfied with child's dental appearance (data not reported by study group) | 1 study · 119 participants | Very low |
Cesarean section delivery vs Vaginal delivery Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children aged <6 years · Sample size: <300 RETRACTED: The association between mode of childbirth delivery and early childhood caries: A comprehensive… (2024) | OR 1.09 [0.64, 1.86] | 13 studies | Ungraded |
Probiotics (any strain, dose, or presentation), minimum intake duration 0.2 months vs No treatment or placebo (control) Number of dental caries (carious pieces) · Adolescents (12-18 years) without background systemic disease · Population: adolescents (vs children; p-interaction=0.02) Efficacy of Probiotic Consumption on Oral Outcomes in Children and/or Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis. (2024) | MD -0.60 [-0.92, -0.28] | NR | Ungraded |