What do systematic reviews say?

Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence)

Poor oral hygiene affects about 38% of children with IDD in India (pooled prevalence 0.38, 95% CI 0.21-0.59; high heterogeneity; ungraded).

• Oral health status of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in India: a systematic review and… 2024 All outcomes

  India (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra); schools/institutions and community · Overall
  Prevalence 38 [21, 59]
  5 studies · 1333 participants
  GRADE not reported

Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence)

Non-carious cervical lesions affected a pooled proportion of about 0.4% of teeth in ancient skulls (4 studies; ungraded, very high heterogeneity I2=97.6%).

• Investigation of the presence of Non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) in ancient adult skulls: analyzing data from… 2024 All outcomes

  Archaeological/museum skeletal (skull) collections; multiple countries and pre-industrial historical periods · Overall (all included studies)
  Proportion 0.004 [0.001, 0.006]
  4 studies · 11578 participants
  GRADE not reported

Single full-coverage metal-ceramic crown over composite core and post vs Direct adhesive composite restoration with post (conventional filling, no crown)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Single crowns versus conventional fillings for the restoration of root‐filled teeth 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No data were reported nor measured by the study. The abstract confirms no evidence was available for any secondary outcome.
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Single full-coverage metal-ceramic crown over composite core and post vs Direct adhesive composite restoration with post (conventional filling, no crown)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Single crowns versus conventional fillings for the restoration of root‐filled teeth 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
  This outcome was not reported nor measured by the study. The abstract confirms no evidence was available for any secondary outcome.
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Single full-coverage metal-ceramic crown over composite core and post vs Direct adhesive composite restoration with post (conventional filling, no crown)

• Single crowns versus conventional fillings for the restoration of root‐filled teeth 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 years
  SoF 'Catastrophic failure of restoration': assumed risk (conventional filling) 0, corresponding risk (single crown) 0; no events in either group so a relative effect was not estimable; 117 participants (1 study); GRADE…
  1 study · 117 participants
  Very low

Single full-coverage metal-ceramic crown over composite core and post vs Direct adhesive composite restoration with post (conventional filling, no crown)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Single crowns versus conventional fillings for the restoration of root‐filled teeth 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No data were reported nor measured by the study. The abstract confirms no evidence was available for any secondary outcome.
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Single full-coverage metal-ceramic crown over composite core and post vs Direct adhesive composite restoration with post (conventional filling, no crown)

It is very uncertain whether single full-coverage metal-ceramic crown over composite core and post changes non-catastrophic failure of the post compared with direct adhesive composite restoration with post (conventional… (very low certainty).

• Single crowns versus conventional fillings for the restoration of root‐filled teeth 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 years
  RR 1.96 [0.18, 21.01]
  1 study · 117 participants
  Very low

Single full-coverage metal-ceramic crown over composite core and post vs Direct adhesive composite restoration with post (conventional filling, no crown)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Single crowns versus conventional fillings for the restoration of root‐filled teeth 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No data were reported nor measured by the study. The abstract confirms no evidence was available for any secondary outcome.
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Single full-coverage metal-ceramic crown over composite core and post vs Direct adhesive composite restoration with post (conventional filling, no crown)

It is very uncertain whether single full-coverage metal-ceramic crown over composite core and post changes non-catastrophic failure of the restoration (requiring further… compared with direct adhesive composite restoration with post (conventional… (very low certainty).

• Single crowns versus conventional fillings for the restoration of root‐filled teeth 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 years
  RR 0.33 [0.04, 3.05]
  1 study · 117 participants
  Very low

Single-surface ART restoration using high-viscosity glass ionomer vs Multi-surface ART with high-viscosity GIC

Single-surface ART restorations had a low reported mean annual failure rate (about 5%; ungraded).

• Minimal intervention dentistry for managing carious lesions into dentine in primary teeth: an umbrella review. 2022 All outcomes

  First 3 years · Single-surface
  Mean annual failure rate (%) 4.7% (van 't Hof 2006) to 5% (de Amorim 2018)
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

Single-surface ART restoration using high-viscosity glass ionomer vs Multi-surface ART with high-viscosity GIC

Single-surface ART/HVGIC restorations had high reported survival (86% at 3 years), significantly higher than multi-surface restorations (ungraded).

• Minimal intervention dentistry for managing carious lesions into dentine in primary teeth: an umbrella review. 2022 All outcomes

  3 years · Single-surface
  Survival rate (%) 86
  9 studies
  GRADE not reported

Class-I (single-surface) cavity restoration vs Class-II (proximal/multi-surface) cavity restoration

Class-II restorations failed more than Class-I (annual failure 5-28.9% vs 1.2-14.7% in ART studies); low quality of evidence (ungraded).

• Clinical effectiveness of restorative materials for the restoration of carious primary teeth without pulp therapy: a… 2022 All outcomes

  12-48 months · Mixed (mainly ART school/university studies) · Cavity class (Class-I vs Class-II)
  Annual failure rate (%) Class II 5-28.9%; Class I 1.2-14.7% (ART)
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported

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

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

• 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

SDF applied once (single application, no re-application) vs Other non/minimally-invasive treatment (ART or silver-fluoride varnish)

A single (one-time) SDF application did not significantly arrest caries (pooled ES -0.09, 95% CI -0.48 to 0.29; ungraded).

• Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Efficacy in Arresting Cavitated Caries Lesions in Primary Molars: A Systematic Review… 2022 All outcomes

  Follow-up up to 12 months (single application) · Pediatric dental care in hospital, community/school and outpatient settings (Saudi Arabia, China, India, Brazil, Spain) · SDF application frequency: single (one-time) application
  ES -0.09 [-0.48, 0.29]
  2 studies · 117 participants
  GRADE not reported

12% silver diamine fluoride (SDF), single (one-off) application vs Not specified

One trial found a single application of 12% silver diamine fluoride did not arrest dentine caries; ungraded.

• Caries remineralisation and arresting effect in children by professionally applied fluoride treatment - a systematic… 2016 All outcomes

  Children in clinical dental settings
  A one-off application of 12% SDF was found ineffective to arrest caries (Yee 2009).
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Partial caries removal (single stage; residual dentinal caries sealed into the tooth definitively) vs Complete caries removal

Partial caries removal (single stage; residual dentinal caries… probably leads to lower pulp exposure during caries removal compared with complete caries removal (moderate certainty).

• Operative caries management in adults and children 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  During caries removal
  RR 0.23 [0.08, 0.69]
  2 studies · 141 participants
  Moderate

Partial caries removal (single stage; residual dentinal caries sealed into the tooth definitively) vs Complete caries removal

It is very uncertain whether partial caries removal (single stage; residual dentinal caries… changes failure of restorations compared with complete caries removal (very low certainty).

• Operative caries management in adults and children 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 year
  RR 0.33 [0.01, 7.62]
  1 study · 32 participants
  Very low

Partial caries removal (single stage; residual dentinal caries sealed into the tooth definitively) vs Complete caries removal

Partial caries removal (single stage; residual dentinal caries… showed no clear difference in signs or symptoms of pulpal disease compared with complete caries removal (low certainty).

• Operative caries management in adults and children 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 year
  RR 0.27 [0.05, 1.60]
  3 studies · 172 participants
  Low

Sociodemographic / socioeconomic factors (single-parent family, low parental education, family income, socioeconomic status) vs Absence of the factor / reference socioeconomic category

Evidence on the association between sociodemographic/socioeconomic factors and permanent-teeth caries is weak and inconsistent (3 studies; could not be pooled; not GRADE-rated).

• Does Early Childhood Caries Increase Caries Development among School Children and Adolescents? A Systematic Review and… 2022 All outcomes

  Cohort studies (Norway, China, Brazil)
  Inconsistent findings across studies; meta-analysis could not be performed as data could not be extracted. Single-parent family and low parental education were significant in one study (Saethre-Sundli 2020); higher…
  3 studies
  GRADE not reported

All fluorescence-based devices (red, blue, and green fluorescence combined) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, or enhanced visual examination)

• Fluorescence devices for the detection of dental caries 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Single site per tooth
  DOR 15.96 [12.26, 20.77]
  Studies not reported
  GRADE not reported