Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

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Evidence found and GRADE certainty

516 questions · 950 findings · 74 reviews · Dental caries

No studies found 35 · 3.7%GRADE not reported 831 · 87.5%Very low 38 · 4%Low 26 · 2.7%Moderate 13 · 1.4%High 7 · 0.7%

Chlorhexidine oral product (one formulation/concentration) vs Another chlorhexidine formulation, concentration or application frequency

Outcome not reported · Children and adolescents below 18 years at study start (included studies: children from birth to 15 years), with mixed, permanent or…

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Higher drinking-water fluoride exposure vs Lower water fluoride concentration (concurrent control)

Dental fluorosis of aesthetic concern (Dean's Index, TFI, TSIF) · Populations of all ages (mostly children) exposed to drinking water with differing fluoride concentrations

Higher water fluoride concentration (fluoridated water; natural or… may leads to higher dental fluorosis of aesthetic concern (Dean's Index, TFI, TSIF) compared with lower water fluoride concentration (concurrent control) (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Initiation of water fluoridation (artificial or natural) vs Low/non-fluoridated water (0.4 ppm fluoride or less)

Caries development in permanent teeth · People of all ages in a community setting; the included caries studies were all in children aged 3 to 16 years

Initiation of water fluoridation (artificial or natural) may leads to lower caries in permanent teeth (change in DMFT) compared with low/non-fluoridated water (0.4 ppm fluoride or less) (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Xylitol syrup (high dose, 8 g/day) vs Control (low-dose xylitol, 2.67 g/day) syrup

Adverse effects (loose stools, diarrhoea) · Infants (primary teeth; baseline about 9 to 15 months)
1 finding from 1 review

Cessation of water fluoridation (fluoride removed from the water supply) vs Continued fluoridated water

Change in proportion of caries-free children (deciduous or permanent teeth) · People of all ages in a previously fluoridated community (Maupome 2001: children with generally low caries experience)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Chlorhexidine varnish vs placebo or no treatment

Adverse events (e.g. ulcers, tooth staining) · Children and adolescents below 18 years at study start (included studies: children from birth to 15 years), with mixed, permanent or…
1 finding from 1 review

Chlorhexidine mouthrinse vs Placebo or no intervention (including routine care)

Outcome not reported · Children and adolescents below 18 years at study start (included studies: children from birth to 15 years), with mixed, permanent or…

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Initiation of water fluoridation (artificial or natural) vs Low/non-fluoridated water (0.4 ppm fluoride or less)

Disparities in caries across socioeconomic status (SES) · People of all ages in a community setting; the included caries studies were all in children aged 3 to 16 years
1 finding from 1 review
  • There is insufficient information to determine whether initiation of a water fluoridation programme results in a change in disparities in caries levels across SES. Data from 3 observational studies (participants not…
    3 studies · 35399 participants
    Low

Initiation of water fluoridation (artificial or natural) vs Low/non-fluoridated water (0.4 ppm fluoride or less)

Change in proportion of caries-free children (permanent teeth) · People of all ages in a community setting; the included caries studies were all in children aged 3 to 16 years

Initiation of water fluoridation (artificial or natural) may leads to higher change in proportion of caries-free children (permanent teeth) compared with low/non-fluoridated water (0.4 ppm fluoride or less) (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Chlorhexidine gel (0.12%) vs no treatment

Pain, quality of life, patient satisfaction or costs · Children and adolescents below 18 years at study start (included studies: children from birth to 15 years), with mixed, permanent or…

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Chlorhexidine varnish (10% and 40%) vs placebo or no treatment

Caries increment in permanent teeth · Children and adolescents below 18 years at study start (included studies: children from birth to 15 years), with mixed, permanent or…

It is very uncertain whether chlorhexidine varnish (10% and 40%) changes caries increment in permanent dentition (DMFS; higher values… compared with placebo or no treatment (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Cessation of water fluoridation (fluoride removed from the water supply) vs Continued fluoridated water

Early childhood caries experience (mean dmft) · People of all ages in a previously fluoridated community (Maupome 2001: children with generally low caries experience)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review
  • No evidence to determine the effect of the cessation of water fluoridation on caries in deciduous teeth. No included study reported change in dmft following cessation.
    0 studies
    No studies found

Higher drinking-water fluoride exposure vs Lower water fluoride concentration (concurrent control)

Adverse effects: dental fluorosis · Populations of all ages (mostly children) exposed to drinking water with differing fluoride concentrations

Higher water fluoride concentration (fluoridated water; natural or… may leads to higher dental fluorosis of any level (all severities) compared with lower water fluoride concentration (concurrent control) (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Chlorhexidine spray vs Placebo or no intervention (including routine care)

Outcome not reported · Children and adolescents below 18 years at study start (included studies: children from birth to 15 years), with mixed, permanent or…

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Chlorhexidine toothpaste vs Placebo or no intervention (including routine care)

Outcome not reported · Children and adolescents below 18 years at study start (included studies: children from birth to 15 years), with mixed, permanent or…

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Cessation of water fluoridation (fluoride removed from the water supply) vs Continued fluoridated water

Dental caries in permanent teeth · People of all ages in a previously fluoridated community (Maupome 2001: children with generally low caries experience)
1 finding from 1 review
  • Water fluoridation for the prevention of dental caries 2015 · Cochrane All outcomes
    Follow-up 3 years
    Insufficient evidence to determine the effect of the cessation of water fluoridation on caries. One study (Maupome 2001), at high risk of bias, over 3 years found no increase in caries in the fluoride-ended group…
    1 study · 9249 participants
    Very low

Chlorhexidine gel (0.12%) vs no treatment

Presence of new caries in the primary teeth · Children and adolescents below 18 years at study start (included studies: children from birth to 15 years), with mixed, permanent or…

It is very uncertain whether chlorhexidine gel (0.12%) changes presence of new caries in the primary teeth compared with no treatment (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Chlorhexidine varnish vs placebo or no treatment

Pain, quality of life, patient satisfaction or costs · Children and adolescents below 18 years at study start (included studies: children from birth to 15 years), with mixed, permanent or…

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review