Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

336 questions · 427 findings · 28 reviews · Dental caries

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No studies found 48 · 11.2%GRADE not reported 284 · 66.5%Very low 46 · 10.8%Low 25 · 5.9%Moderate 24 · 5.6%High 0 · 0%

Behaviour change / oral health promotion interventions delivered by non-dental professionals and health workers (nurses, midwives, health visitors, community health workers) vs control (no intervention/usual care/isotonic exercise)

Caries experience · Children (mean age newborn to ~5.2 years) and their parents/carers

Behaviour change interventions delivered by non-dental health workers produced a small-to-moderate, statistically significant reduction in caries experience at the tooth level (dmft SMD -0.34, 95% CI -0.54 to -0.13; 6 studies); the review judged the overall evidence to be of low quality (not GRADE-rated).

1 finding from 1 review

The effectiveness of behaviour change interventions delivered by non-dental health workers in promoting children's… 2022 All outcomes
Primary care and community settings; interventions delivered by non-dental health workers (multiple countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, UK, USA, etc.)
SMD -0.34 [-0.54, -0.13]
6 studies
GRADE not reported

Primary school-based interventions (one or more of: school health policy, oral health education, healthy school environment, access to oral health services, community involvement) vs usual practice

Plaque index (PI) / oral hygiene · Primary school children (aged 3-16 years) attending primary school in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)

School-based interventions may reduce dental plaque scores (SMD -0.32, favouring intervention), but the certainty of evidence is very low.

1 finding from 1 review

Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and middle-income… 2022 All outcomes
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Primary schools in low- and middle-income countries (Southeast Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, eastern Mediterranean)
SMD -0.32 [-0.46, -0.18]
7 studies · 3339 participants
Very low

Primary school-based interventions (one or more of: school health policy, oral health education, healthy school environment, access to oral health services, community involvement) vs usual practice

Oral hygiene measured by mean gingival scores · Primary school children (aged 3-16 years) attending primary school in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)

The effect of school-based interventions on gingival scores is uncertain and not statistically significant (SMD 0.12; very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and middle-income… 2022 All outcomes
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Primary schools in low- and middle-income countries (Southeast Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, eastern Mediterranean)
SMD 0.12 [-0.32, 0.55]
3 studies · 1573 participants
Very low

Primary school-based interventions (one or more of: school health policy, oral health education, healthy school environment, access to oral health services, community involvement) vs usual practice

Dental caries · Primary school children (aged 3-16 years) attending primary school in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)

Among children aged 6-8 years, DMFT scores were significantly reduced (SMD -0.11); subgroup not separately GRADE-rated.

8 findings from 1 review

Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and middle-income… 2022 All outcomes
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Primary schools in low- and middle-income countries (Southeast Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, eastern Mediterranean) · Age 6-8 years
SMD -0.11 [-0.17, -0.04]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and middle-income… 2022 All outcomes
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Primary schools in low- and middle-income countries (Southeast Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, eastern Mediterranean) · <=3 intervention activities
SMD -0.58 [-1.62, 0.45]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and middle-income… 2022 All outcomes
<2 years · Primary schools in low- and middle-income countries (Southeast Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, eastern Mediterranean) · Intervention duration <2 years
SMD 0.01 [-0.16, 0.18]
3 studies
GRADE not reported

Show 5 more findings

Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and middle-income… 2022 All outcomes
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Primary schools in low- and middle-income countries (Southeast Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, eastern Mediterranean) · Age 8-15 years
SMD -0.41 [-0.50, -0.32]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and middle-income… 2022 All outcomes
>=2 years · Primary schools in low- and middle-income countries (Southeast Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, eastern Mediterranean) · Intervention duration >=2 years
SMD -0.49 [-0.79, -0.19]
4 studies
GRADE not reported
Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and middle-income… 2022 All outcomes
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Primary schools in low- and middle-income countries (Southeast Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, eastern Mediterranean)
SMD -0.33 [-0.56, -0.10]
7 studies · 6766 participants
Very low
Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and middle-income… 2022 All outcomes
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Primary schools in low- and middle-income countries (Southeast Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, eastern Mediterranean)
SMD -0.26 [-0.70, 0.18]
5 studies · 3506 participants
Very low
Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and middle-income… 2022 All outcomes
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Primary schools in low- and middle-income countries (Southeast Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, eastern Mediterranean) · >3 intervention activities
SMD 0.02 [-0.13, 0.17]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported

Primary school-based interventions (one or more of: school health policy, oral health education, healthy school environment, access to oral health services, community involvement) vs usual practice

Annual increment in DMFS (D3) · Primary school children (aged 3-16 years) attending primary school in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)

Oral-health-education interventions significantly reduced net increment in DMFS (SMD -1.05); no significant subgroup difference vs other interventions (P=0.74).

5 findings from 1 review

Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and middle-income… 2022 All outcomes
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Primary schools in low- and middle-income countries (Southeast Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, eastern Mediterranean) · Intervention type: oral health education
SMD -1.05 [-2.03, -0.08]
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and middle-income… 2022 All outcomes
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Primary schools in low- and middle-income countries (Southeast Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, eastern Mediterranean) · WHO health-promoting-schools framework
SMD -0.57 [-1.56, 0.42]
2 studies
GRADE not reported
Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and middle-income… 2022 All outcomes
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Primary schools in low- and middle-income countries (Southeast Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, eastern Mediterranean) · Non-WHO-framework interventions
SMD -1.88 [-3.15, -0.60]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported

Show 2 more findings

Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and middle-income… 2022 All outcomes
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Primary schools in low- and middle-income countries (Southeast Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, eastern Mediterranean) · Intervention type: other (daily tooth brushing)
SMD -1.23 [-1.46, -1.00]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and middle-income… 2022 All outcomes
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Primary schools in low- and middle-income countries (Southeast Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, eastern Mediterranean)
SMD -1.09 [-1.91, -0.27]
4 studies · 3755 participants
Very low

Primary school-based interventions (one or more of: school health policy, oral health education, healthy school environment, access to oral health services, community involvement) vs usual practice

Dental caries prevalence measured by dmft or DMFT/S score greater than one · Primary school children (aged 3-16 years) attending primary school in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)

School-based interventions may reduce the prevalence of dental caries (RR 0.70, favouring intervention), but the certainty of evidence is very low.

3 findings from 1 review

Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and middle-income… 2022 All outcomes
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Primary schools in low- and middle-income countries (Southeast Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, eastern Mediterranean)
RR 0.70 [0.53, 0.94]
4 studies · 2968 participants
Very low
Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and middle-income… 2022 All outcomes
<2 years · Primary schools in low- and middle-income countries (Southeast Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, eastern Mediterranean) · Intervention duration <2 years
RR 0.95 [0.75, 1.21]
2 studies
GRADE not reported
Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and middle-income… 2022 All outcomes
>=2 years · Primary schools in low- and middle-income countries (Southeast Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, eastern Mediterranean) · Intervention duration >=2 years
RR 0.58 [0.40, 0.84]
2 studies
GRADE not reported

Primary school-based interventions (one or more of: school health policy, oral health education, healthy school environment, access to oral health services, community involvement) vs usual practice

Caries increment, tooth index D(M)FT · Primary school children (aged 3-16 years) attending primary school in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)

Among children aged 5-8 years, net increment in DMFT was not significantly reduced (SMD -0.36); no significant subgroup difference by age.

3 findings from 1 review

Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and middle-income… 2022 All outcomes
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Primary schools in low- and middle-income countries (Southeast Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, eastern Mediterranean) · Age 5-8 years
SMD -0.36 [-0.76, 0.04]
5 studies
GRADE not reported
Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and middle-income… 2022 All outcomes
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Primary schools in low- and middle-income countries (Southeast Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, eastern Mediterranean)
SMD -0.34 [-0.69, 0.02]
5 studies · 5492 participants
Very low
Effectiveness of primary school-based interventions in improving oral health of children in low- and middle-income… 2022 All outcomes
Post-intervention; follow-up varied across studies (interventions ranged from <2 years to >=2 years and longer) · Primary schools in low- and middle-income countries (Southeast Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, eastern Mediterranean) · Age 9-12 years
SMD -0.20 [-0.44, 0.04]
1 study
GRADE not reported

Comprehensive oral health intervention (oral health education plus additional support: motivational interviewing, toothbrush/toothpaste provision, community engagement, and/or fluoride varnish/sealant application) delivered by non-dental health workers vs control (no intervention/usual care/isotonic exercise)

Caries experience at the surface level (dmfs/defs) · Children (mean age newborn to ~5.2 years) and their parents/carers

Comprehensive interventions produced a small, statistically significant reduction in surface-level caries (dmfs SMD -0.14, 95% CI -0.26 to -0.02; 10 studies; not GRADE-rated).

1 finding from 1 review

The effectiveness of behaviour change interventions delivered by non-dental health workers in promoting children's… 2022 All outcomes
Primary care and community settings; interventions delivered by non-dental health workers (multiple countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, UK, USA, etc.) · Comprehensive intervention (vs oral health education only)
SMD -0.14 [-0.26, -0.02]
10 studies
GRADE not reported

Comprehensive oral health intervention (oral health education plus additional support: motivational interviewing, toothbrush/toothpaste provision, community engagement, and/or fluoride varnish/sealant application) delivered by non-dental health workers vs control (no intervention/usual care/isotonic exercise)

Caries experience · Children (mean age newborn to ~5.2 years) and their parents/carers

Comprehensive interventions produced a statistically significant reduction in tooth-level caries (dmft SMD -0.47, 95% CI -0.84 to -0.10; 4 studies; not GRADE-rated), though heterogeneity was very high.

1 finding from 1 review

The effectiveness of behaviour change interventions delivered by non-dental health workers in promoting children's… 2022 All outcomes
Primary care and community settings; interventions delivered by non-dental health workers (multiple countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, UK, USA, etc.) · Comprehensive intervention (vs oral health education only)
SMD -0.47 [-0.84, -0.10]
4 studies
GRADE not reported

Gamified oral health interventions (mobile apps, serious games, augmented reality, game-based education) vs Non-digital gamified oral health interventions (card/board games, storytelling, printed aids)

Long-term behavior change and overall oral health outcomes · Children or adolescents

Digital gamified interventions appear more effective than non-digital alternatives for long-term behavior change and oral health outcomes, but the evidence is narrative and ungraded.

1 finding from 1 review

The Application of Gamification in Children's Oral Health Management: Systematic Review. 2025 All outcomes
Long-term follow-up (sustained behavior change) · Schools, dental clinics, and mobile-app user-testing environments
Digital-based interventions were more effective in fostering long-term behavior change compared with nondigital alternatives and consistently outperformed nondigital alternatives in improving oral health outcomes;…
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported

Gamified oral health interventions (mobile apps, serious games, augmented reality, game-based education) vs Conventional or traditional oral health education, or non-gamified interventions (comparator varied; several studies were single-arm/uncontrolled)

Adherence to oral hygiene routines by people with ID or their carers · Children or adolescents

Gamified interventions appear to increase children's engagement and adherence to oral hygiene routines, but the evidence is narrative and ungraded.

1 finding from 1 review

The Application of Gamification in Children's Oral Health Management: Systematic Review. 2025 All outcomes
Post-intervention (predominantly short-term; long-term follow-up in a minority of studies) · School-based settings, specialized dental clinics, and home-based environments
The regular use rate was significantly higher (72.4%) in the gamified mobile health app group than in the nongamified intervention group (48.3%) [Zolfaghari 2021]; quiz-based challenges in mobile apps encouraged higher…
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported

Gamified oral health interventions (mobile apps, serious games, augmented reality, game-based education) vs Conventional or traditional oral health education, or non-gamified interventions (comparator varied; several studies were single-arm/uncontrolled)

Plaque index (PI) / oral hygiene · Children or adolescents

Gamified interventions appear to improve plaque control and oral hygiene status in children versus conventional methods, but the evidence is narrative and ungraded (individual-study P values only).

1 finding from 1 review

The Application of Gamification in Children's Oral Health Management: Systematic Review. 2025 All outcomes
Post-intervention (predominantly short-term; long-term follow-up in a minority of studies) · School-based settings, specialized dental clinics, and home-based environments
In the gamified mobile health app group, plaque control was superior (P<.05) compared with the conventional method group [Zolfaghari 2021]; a gamified/reminder sticker-book group showed a significant improvement in…
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported

Gamified oral health interventions (mobile apps, serious games, augmented reality, game-based education) vs Conventional or traditional oral health education, or non-gamified interventions (comparator varied; several studies were single-arm/uncontrolled)

Oral health knowledge (1-9 scale) · Children or adolescents

Gamified interventions appear to improve children's oral health knowledge compared with conventional education, but the evidence is narrative and ungraded.

1 finding from 1 review

The Application of Gamification in Children's Oral Health Management: Systematic Review. 2025 All outcomes
Post-intervention (predominantly short-term; long-term follow-up in a minority of studies) · School-based settings, specialized dental clinics, and home-based environments
The effectiveness of digital-based interventions was generally positive, with 38% (9/24) of the experimental studies reporting improvements in oral health knowledge and behaviors; game-based teaching significantly…
9 studies
GRADE not reported

Gamified oral health interventions (mobile apps, serious games, augmented reality, game-based education) vs Conventional or traditional oral health education, or non-gamified interventions (comparator varied; several studies were single-arm/uncontrolled)

Oral hygiene behavior (brushing habits, preventive dental visits, dietary choices) · Children or adolescents

Gamified interventions appear to improve oral hygiene behaviors (brushing habits, preventive dental visits) in children, but the evidence is narrative and ungraded.

1 finding from 1 review

The Application of Gamification in Children's Oral Health Management: Systematic Review. 2025 All outcomes
Post-intervention (predominantly short-term; long-term follow-up in a minority of studies) · School-based settings, specialized dental clinics, and home-based environments
A gesture-based motion-capture game enhanced brushing independence and skill retention (P<.001) [Kang 2021]; 58.8% of caregivers reported their children brushed more often when using gamified applications [France…
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported

Any of the interventions (CR, SE, SW, sealing with sealant materials, Hall Technique, or NRCC) vs Each other, placebo, or no treatment

Adverse events (any type) and safety of sealant · Children and/or adults with permanent or primary teeth, vital (sensitive) pulps, and cavitated or dentine carious lesions conventionally…

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for treating cavitated or dentine carious lesions 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
None of the studies reported adverse effects.
0 studies
No studies found

Any of the interventions (CR, SE, SW, sealing with sealant materials, Hall Technique, or NRCC) vs Each other, placebo, or no treatment

Subjective evaluation of the treatments by participants · Children and/or adults with permanent or primary teeth, vital (sensitive) pulps, and cavitated or dentine carious lesions conventionally…

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for treating cavitated or dentine carious lesions 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes
We found no studies reporting subjective evaluation of the treatments by participants.
0 studies
No studies found

No intervention (single-arm cohort estimates) vs No comparator

First dentine caries incidence rate per person-year at risk (D3) · Caries-free children and adolescents with permanent dentition

Sánchez-Pérez et al. 2010 reported an incidence rate of 0.07 per person-year at risk.

16 findings from 1 review

Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Follow-up of at least 3 years · Western or comparable populations
Incidence rate per person-year at risk 0.07 [0.06, 0.08]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Follow-up of at least 3 years · Western or comparable populations
Incidence rate per person-year at risk 0.05 [0.05, 0.05]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Follow-up of at least 3 years · Western or comparable populations
Incidence rate per person-year at risk 0.11 [0.09, 0.13]
15 studies · 10768 participants
GRADE not reported

Show 13 more findings

Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Follow-up of at least 3 years · Western or comparable populations
Incidence rate per person-year at risk 0.14 [0.13, 0.15]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Follow-up of at least 3 years · Western or comparable populations
Incidence rate per person-year at risk 0.14 [0.12, 0.16]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Follow-up of at least 3 years · Western or comparable populations
Incidence rate per person-year at risk 0.16 [0.15, 0.17]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Follow-up of at least 3 years · Western or comparable populations
Incidence rate per person-year at risk 0.12 [0.12, 0.12]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Follow-up of at least 3 years · Western or comparable populations
Incidence rate per person-year at risk 0.14 [0.13, 0.16]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Follow-up of at least 3 years · Western or comparable populations
Incidence rate per person-year at risk 0.20 [0.18, 0.23]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Follow-up of at least 3 years · Western or comparable populations
Incidence rate per person-year at risk 0.06 [0.06, 0.06]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Follow-up of at least 3 years · Western or comparable populations
Incidence rate per person-year at risk 0.11 [0.10, 0.12]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Follow-up of at least 3 years · Western or comparable populations
Incidence rate per person-year at risk 0.21 [0.18, 0.25]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Follow-up of at least 3 years · Western or comparable populations
Incidence rate per person-year at risk 0.12 [0.11, 0.13]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Follow-up of at least 3 years · Western or comparable populations
Incidence rate per person-year at risk 0.09 [0.09, 0.10]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Follow-up of at least 3 years · Western or comparable populations
Incidence rate per person-year at risk 0.06 [0.06, 0.07]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Follow-up of at least 3 years · Western or comparable populations
Incidence rate per person-year at risk 0.09 [0.09, 0.09]
1 study
GRADE not reported

Longitudinal follow-up over time (natural caries progression; no assigned intervention) vs Within-cohort change from baseline to follow-up (>=3 y)

Annual decline in percentage of caries-free participants (permanent dentition, D3) · Children and adolescents (permanent dentition, D3, up to 21 y), Western or comparable populations

For low baseline caries experience, the annual decline in caries-free participants ranged 4.3% to 10.2% (9 studies; ungraded).

4 findings from 1 review

Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Annual (studies with >=3 y follow-up) · Western Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand (or comparable Western populations) · Baseline caries experience: low
4.3% to 10.2%
9 studies · 4811 participants
GRADE not reported
Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Annual (studies with >=3 y follow-up) · Western Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand (or comparable Western populations)
0.8% to 10.2%
18 studies · 12017 participants
GRADE not reported
Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Annual (studies with >=3 y follow-up) · Western Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand (or comparable Western populations) · Baseline caries experience: high
0.8% to 2.2%
2 studies · 5029 participants
GRADE not reported

Show 1 more finding

Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Annual (studies with >=3 y follow-up) · Western Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand (or comparable Western populations) · Baseline caries experience: moderate
3.7% to 8.3%
4 studies · 928 participants
GRADE not reported

Longitudinal follow-up over time (natural caries progression; no assigned intervention) vs Within-cohort change from baseline to follow-up (>=3 y)

Annual increment in DMFT (permanent dentition) · Children and adolescents (permanent dentition, D3, up to 21 y), Western or comparable populations

In the permanent dentition, the annual DMFT increment ranged from 0.06 to 0.73 across 14 studies, and was higher where baseline caries experience was higher (descriptive range; ungraded).

4 findings from 1 review

Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Per year of follow-up · Western Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand (or comparable Western populations)
0.06 to 0.73
14 studies · 25206 participants
GRADE not reported
Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Per year of follow-up · Western Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand (or comparable Western populations) · Baseline caries experience: high
0.39
1 study · 4380 participants
GRADE not reported
Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Per year of follow-up · Western Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand (or comparable Western populations) · Baseline caries experience: low
0.06 to 0.34
7 studies · 4121 participants
GRADE not reported

Show 1 more finding

Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Per year of follow-up · Western Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand (or comparable Western populations) · Baseline caries experience: moderate
0.24 to 0.73
6 studies · 16705 participants
GRADE not reported

Longitudinal follow-up over time (natural caries progression; no assigned intervention) vs Within-cohort change from baseline to follow-up (>=3 y)

Caries development in permanent teeth · Children and adolescents (permanent dentition, D3, up to 21 y), Western or comparable populations

In the permanent dentition, the annual DMFS increment ranged from 0.07 to 1.77 across 26 studies, and was higher where baseline caries experience was higher (descriptive range; ungraded).

4 findings from 1 review

Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Per year of follow-up · Western Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand (or comparable Western populations)
0.07 to 1.77
26 studies · 22803 participants
GRADE not reported
Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Per year of follow-up · Western Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand (or comparable Western populations) · Baseline caries experience: moderate
0.23 to 1.23
13 studies · 16473 participants
GRADE not reported
Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Per year of follow-up · Western Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand (or comparable Western populations) · Baseline caries experience: high
0.44 to 1.77
5 studies · 2595 participants
GRADE not reported

Show 1 more finding

Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. 2019 All outcomes
Per year of follow-up · Western Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand (or comparable Western populations) · Baseline caries experience: low
0.07 to 0.53
8 studies · 3735 participants
GRADE not reported