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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Obesity vs Normal weight (eutrophic) Dental caries experience (dmft), continuous · Brazilian children in primary dentition (BMI classified by CDC 2000 growth charts) Overweight/obesity and dental caries in Brazilian children and adolescents: a systematic review and… (2024) | MD -0.34 [-0.96, 0.27] | 2 studies · 710 participants | Very low |
Consumption of xylitol chewing gum by women (mothers) vs Consumption of CHX/xylitol gum by women, or CHX varnish applied to women's dentition dmfs 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 | dmfs was listed in the SoF table but not assessed (not reported for this comparison). | 0 studies | No studies |
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, Children's age: <=3 years Maternal smoking during pregnancy and early childhood dental caries in children: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.70 [1.50, 1.91] | 7 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, Sample size: >1000 and ≤3000 Maternal smoking during pregnancy and early childhood dental caries in children: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.70 [1.48, 1.88] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Advice about a healthy diet (including breastfeeding promotion and sugar avoidance) and feeding practices (e.g. relating to bottle-feeding and sleep) for infants and young children vs Standard care Mother self-reported oral health behaviours and attitudes · 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 | One trial (Watt 2009) reported mother self-reported oral health behaviours (other data): some benefit in favour of the intervention. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Experimental orthodontic adhesive containing amorphous fluorinated calcium phosphate nanoparticles (n-AFCP) vs Conventional/control orthodontic adhesive (e.g., Transbond XT) or negative control Enamel remineralization extent and color change · Human enamel specimens around orthodontic brackets (in vitro) · pH cycling 21 days, Overall Remineralization and anti-demineralization effect of orthodontic adhesives on enamel surrounding orthodontic… (2024) | A study using an orthodontic primer containing amorphous fluorinated calcium phosphate nanoparticles showed statistically significant remineralization and less enamel color change (delta-E) compared with the control… | 1 study | Ungraded |
Salivary F. nucleatum level vs Not specified Salivary S. mutans level · Humans with salivary bacteria measured · Overall Association between periodontitis and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 6.03 [1.55, 23.45] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Slum / urban-disadvantaged setting vs Non-slum urban / general-urban / national population Dental caries prevalence · Adult residents of slums and non-slum urban settings of LMICs · Cross-sectional Systematic review of oral health in slums and non-slum urban settings of Low and Middle-Income Countries… (2024) | Prevalence of dental caries varied across age, gender and socioeconomic class, ranging from 13% (Nigeria) to 76% (Central India); prevalence >50% reported in India, Brazil, Malaysia and Rwanda; generally higher in… | 14 studies | Ungraded |
Teledentistry (index test): dental caries diagnosis from photographs taken with DSLR or smartphone cameras; store-and-forward vs Visual/clinical dental examination (reference standard) Positive predictive value · Children and adults with primary or permanent dentition undergoing dental caries assessment · Cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy (index test vs reference standard, in-vivo), Overall (studies reporting PPV; narrative synthesis) Teledentistry accuracy for caries diagnosis: a systematic review of in-vivo studies using extra-oral… (2024) | PPV 41.8% to 99% | 10 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Oral cancer (OC) · Sensitivity analysis: excluding Moraes et al. [34] Periodontitis and the risk of oral cancer: a meta-analysis of case-control studies. (2024) | OR 2.63 [1.92, 3.62] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Probiotics (any strain, dose, or presentation), minimum intake duration 0.2 months vs No treatment or placebo (control) Salivary pH · Children and/or adolescents (<18 years) without background systemic disease · follow-up: mean 1.1 months, Overall (all presentations pooled) Efficacy of Probiotic Consumption on Oral Outcomes in Children and/or Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis. (2024) | MD -0.12 [-0.72, 0.48] | 3 studies · 137 participants | Very low |
Intervention NR Pathogenic bacteria / plaque composition around brackets (fewer pathogenic bacteria with flash-free vs APC; comparable plaque quantity) Can Orthodontic Adhesive Systems Inhibit the Formation and Development of White Spot Lesions During Fixed… (2024) | no estimate extracted | 1 study | Ungraded |
Highest BMI category (overweight/obese) vs Lowest BMI category (normal weight/underweight) Dental caries / early childhood caries (ECC) · Children (approx. 4-18 years) · Adjustment for sex: yes Childhood obesity in relation to risk of dental caries: a cumulative and dose-response systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.30 [0.99, 1.71] | 10 studies | Ungraded |
Teledentistry (index test): dental caries diagnosis from photographs taken with DSLR or smartphone cameras; store-and-forward vs Visual/clinical dental examination (reference standard) Sensitivity · Children and adults with primary or permanent dentition undergoing dental caries assessment · Cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy (index test vs reference standard, in-vivo), Overall (studies reporting sensitivity; narrative synthesis) Teledentistry accuracy for caries diagnosis: a systematic review of in-vivo studies using extra-oral… (2024) | Sensitivity Overall 48% to 98.3% across 13 studies; sensitivity is lesion-stage dependent: Kohara reported <40% for initial/moderate caries (75-100% for extensive) and early enamel lesions were less sensitive | 13 studies | Ungraded |
Fixed orthodontic treatment with fixed (multibracket) appliances (exposure) vs None (single-group prevalence/incidence estimate) Association between orthodontic treatment duration and ICLs incidence · Patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment with fixed (multibracket) appliances, followed for development of new… · 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) | Incidence of new ICLs positively associated with orthodontic treatment duration (meta-regression, P<.01); effect size/slope not available (Fig. 6b image not provided) | NR | 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) · Children and/or adolescents (<18 years) without background systemic disease · follow-up: mean 26 months, Overall (all presentations pooled) Efficacy of Probiotic Consumption on Oral Outcomes in Children and/or Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis. (2024) | MD -0.24 [-0.72, 0.23] | 6 studies · 1049 participants | Low |
Consumption of xylitol chewing gum by women (mothers) vs Consumption of CHX/xylitol gum by women, or CHX varnish applied to women's dentition defs 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 | MD -0.28 [-0.83, 0.27] | 1 study · 96 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% in most trials, 30% in three) vs Placebo (inactive control) Caries arrestment at the individual (patient) level · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition) · 3 weeks to 12 months, SDF vs placebo The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 18.10 [3.89, 84.15] | 2 studies · 102 participants | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Glass ionomer cement (GIC) plus fluoride varnish Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 6 months, Primary dentition (coronal) Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | OR 1.89 [0.61, 5.87] | 1 study · 69 participants | Very low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Fluoride varnish Secondary prevention of caries · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 30 months, Primary dentition Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | MD 0.04 [-0.30, 0.38] | 1 study · 309 participants | Very low |
Breastfeeding for <6 months vs Breastfeeding for ≥6 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 0.97 [0.88, 1.06] | 6 studies · 4850 participants | Ungraded |
Xylitol (low-intensity sweetener/sugar alcohol) in food products (chewing gum, milk, candy, or tablets) vs No treatment (no gum / no intervention) Change in Mutans streptococci (MS) count in dental plaque · Generally healthy individuals across all age groups (infants to elderly) · Post-consumption endpoint (trial durations 2 wk to 6 mo), Xylitol gum vs no treatment (5 studies, mixed ages) Clinical Effects of Sugar Substitutes on Cariogenic Bacteria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2024) | SMD -0.73 [-1.09, -0.37] | 5 studies · 308 participants | Ungraded |
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence) Poor (inadequate) oral hygiene (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 38 [21, 59] | 5 studies · 1333 participants | Ungraded |
TT+TC genotypes vs CC genotype Dental caries · Children (<18 years) with vs without dental caries · Dominant model (TT+TC vs CC) Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with caries risk in children: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 0.75 [0.54, 1.05] | 5 studies · 1606 participants | Ungraded |
Minimally invasive caries removal (MIT): selective removal to soft dentin, self-limiting chemomechanical removal, or partial/incomplete caries removal vs Conventional caries removal (CT): selective removal to firm dentin, stepwise excavation, or complete caries removal Restoration/treatment success rate · Patients with deep carious lesions in permanent (mainly posterior) teeth · 1 to 5 years (follow-up varied by study) Comparative Meta-Analysis of Minimally Invasive and Conventional Approaches for Caries Removal in Permanent… (2024) | Mean success-rate percentage (unweighted study-level mean, 7 studies) MIT 83.6% vs CT 75.4% (Mann-Whitney U = 0.2, p > 0.05; not statistically significant) | 7 studies · 1305 participants | Ungraded |
TT+CC (homozygous) genotypes vs TC (heterozygous) genotype Dental caries · Children (<18 years) with vs without dental caries · Over-dominant model (TT+CC vs TC), Primary dentition Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with caries risk in children: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.49 [0.97, 2.28] | NR | Ungraded |
TT+TC genotypes vs CC genotype Dental caries · Children (<18 years) with vs without dental caries · Dominant model (TT+TC vs CC), Asian ethnicity Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with caries risk in children: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 0.69 [0.44, 1.07] | NR | Ungraded |
Orthodontic adhesives containing bioactive glass (BAG) particles/nanoparticles (including fluoride- or Ga-doped BAG) vs Conventional/control orthodontic adhesive (e.g., Transbond XT) or negative control Ion release (fluoride, calcium, phosphate) · Human enamel specimens around orthodontic brackets (in vitro) · 14 days [31] and 20 days [27,28] (per Discussion); ion-release durations for [23,24] not reported, Overall Remineralization and anti-demineralization effect of orthodontic adhesives on enamel surrounding orthodontic… (2024) | Ion release from BAG-containing adhesives was assessed in 5 studies [23, 24, 27, 28, 31]; a significant increase of phosphate ion release with gallium-doped bioactive glass nanoparticles up to 14 days was reported… | 5 studies | Ungraded |
Oral health education/promotion (oral hygiene advice plus diet and feeding practice advice) combined with clinical treatment for mother's dentition (basic restorative and preventive; 1 trial included CHX varnish application) vs Standard care Caries presence in primary teeth · For interventions, pregnant women and mothers of infants in the first year of life; for outcomes, children up to 6… · Children assessed at 18-24 months Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood… (2024) · Cochrane | RR 0.44 [0.05, 3.95] | 2 studies · 324 participants | Very low |
nCaF2 primer vs Control Transbond primer Streptococcus mutans count · Patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment · 1, 3, and 6 months after bonding Can Orthodontic Adhesive Systems Inhibit the Formation and Development of White Spot Lesions During Fixed… (2024) | Statistically significant difference in bacterial count between the two primers only at T1 (p-value = 0.000). | 1 study · 31 participants | Ungraded |
Grape seed extract (GSE) and its proanthocyanidin fractions vs Untreated or vehicle control (some studies vs positive antimicrobial controls, e.g. chlorhexidine/fluoride) Biofilm formation (reduction) · Streptococcus mutans (in vitro cultures and biofilms) Effect of flavonoids from grape seed and cranberry extracts on the microbiological activity of Streptococcus… (2024) | GSE reduced biofilm formation: 89% (polymeric PAC) vs 79% (dealcoholized wine) (Daglia), inhibition at 4 mg/mL (Zhao), decreased microcolonies with 2000 ug/mL GSE + fluorinol (Furiga), reduction within 30 min… | 5 studies | Ungraded |
Advice about a healthy diet (including breastfeeding promotion and sugar avoidance) and feeding practices (e.g. relating to bottle-feeding and sleep) for infants and young children vs Standard care dmft index score (decayed, missing, filled primary teeth; range 0-20) · For interventions, pregnant women, mothers or other caregivers of infants in the first year of life; for outcomes,… · Children assessed at 4 yrs Interventions with pregnant women, new mothers and other primary caregivers for preventing early childhood… (2024) · Cochrane | MD -0.90 [-1.85, 0.05] | 1 study · 340 participants | Very low |
TT+CC (homozygous) genotypes vs TC (heterozygous) genotype Dental caries · Children (<18 years) with vs without dental caries · Over-dominant model (TT+CC vs TC), Asian ethnicity Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with caries risk in children: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.38 [1.02, 1.87] | NR | Ungraded |
Cranberry extract or cranberry flavonoid fractions vs No extract or vehicle control; other antimicrobial agents Biofilm formation · Streptococcus mutans cultures and biofilms Effect of flavonoids from grape seed and cranberry extracts on the microbiological activity of Streptococcus… (2024) | no estimate extracted | 10 studies | Ungraded |
Gene sequencing (GS) applied to diagnose/manage oral conditions (predominantly 16S rRNA next-generation sequencing of the oral microbiome; also genome-wide/whole-genome sequencing) vs Negligible ('abysmal') effect of gene sequencing; no separate comparator arm (within-sample event contrast in the forest plots) Noticeable impact of gene sequencing on diagnosing/managing oral conditions · Human patients (any age) with oral-cavity related disorders (e.g. dental caries, periodontitis, gingivitis,… · Overall Gene sequencing applications to combat oral-cavity related disorders: a systematic review with meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 0.30 [0.26, 0.33] | 8 studies · 2211 participants | Ungraded |
High-frequency sugar consumption (three or more times daily) vs Low sugar intake (fewer than three times daily) Dental caries experience in permanent dentition · Nigerian individuals with permanent dentition (approximately 12 years and older) · Permanent dentition A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between sugar intake and dental caries in Nigeria. (2024) | OR 1.15 [0.88, 1.52] | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Prenatal vitamin D deficiency (low maternal 25(OH)D during pregnancy) vs Adequate prenatal vitamin D (sufficient maternal 25(OH)D) Dental caries in children · Infants and children (aged about 2 to 8 years) whose mothers' vitamin D status was assessed during pregnancy · Prenatal exposure; dental caries assessed in children aged 2 to 8 years, Overall (all studies pooled) Association between prenatal vitamin D deficiency with dental caries in infants and children: a systematic… (2024) | OR 1.35 [1.22, 1.47] | 12 studies · 11021 participants | Ungraded |
Highest BMI category (overweight/obese) vs Lowest BMI category (normal weight/underweight) Dental caries / early childhood caries (ECC) · Children (approx. 4-18 years) · Adjustment for sex: no Childhood obesity in relation to risk of dental caries: a cumulative and dose-response systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.74 [1.13, 2.68] | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure · >=12 months, Irreversible pulpitis Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | OR 3.17 [1.25, 7.99] | NR | Ungraded |
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence) Proportion of teeth with non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) in ancient skulls · Ancient/prehistoric human skulls (excavated/archaeological skeletal remains) · Overall (all included studies) Investigation of the presence of Non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) in ancient adult skulls: analyzing… (2024) | Proportion 0.004 [0.001, 0.006] | 4 studies · 11578 participants | Ungraded |
Periodontitis vs No periodontitis (periodontal health or gingivitis) Dental caries (prevalence) · Adults · Crude OR Association between periodontitis and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 1.69 [1.41, 2.01] | 8 studies | Ungraded |
Overweight vs Normal weight (eutrophic) Dental caries prevalence (any DMFT), dichotomous · Brazilian children/adolescents in permanent dentition (BMI classified by CDC 2000 growth charts) Overweight/obesity and dental caries in Brazilian children and adolescents: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.01 [0.43, 2.35] | 2 studies · 706 participants | Very low |
Sociodemographic and behavioural factors (older age, lower education, lower income, poor oral hygiene/brushing, smoking, disadvantaged/slum residence, sex) vs Referent groups (younger, higher education/income, better oral hygiene, non-slum residence) Factors associated with oral diseases · Adult residents of slums and non-slum urban settings of LMICs · Cross-sectional Systematic review of oral health in slums and non-slum urban settings of Low and Middle-Income Countries… (2024) | Fourteen studies reported determinants: older age, less education, lower income, poor oral hygiene behaviour (brushing frequency, technique), infrequent dental visits and disadvantaged/slum residential setting were… | 14 studies | Ungraded |
Started toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste at or before 24 months (earlier start) vs Started after 24 months (later start) 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 1.12 [0.89, 1.42] | 5 studies · 3592 participants | Very low |
Teledentistry diagnosis using DSLR or smartphone extra-oral photographs vs Visual or clinical examination Intra-examiner reliability · 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 | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Grape seed extract or grape seed flavonoid fractions vs No extract or vehicle control; other antimicrobial agents Cell damage or cytotoxicity · Streptococcus mutans cultures and biofilms Effect of flavonoids from grape seed and cranberry extracts on the microbiological activity of Streptococcus… (2024) | no estimate extracted | 1 study | 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, Sample size: <100 (Table 6; abstract text erroneously states '<1000') RETRACTED: Investigating the association between Candida albicans and early childhood dental caries: A… (2024) | OR 4.35 [2.75, 6.89] | 16 studies | Ungraded |
Teledentistry (index test): dental caries diagnosis from photographs taken with DSLR or smartphone cameras; store-and-forward vs Visual/clinical dental examination (reference standard) Inter-examiner reliability · Children and adults with primary or permanent dentition undergoing dental caries assessment · Cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy (index test vs reference standard, in-vivo), Overall (studies reporting inter-examiner reliability; narrative synthesis) Teledentistry accuracy for caries diagnosis: a systematic review of in-vivo studies using extra-oral… (2024) | Inter-examiner reliability (kappa) reported in 13 studies, ranging from 0.44 to 0.91. No pooled estimate. | 13 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 dental plaque · Generally healthy individuals across all age groups (infants to elderly) · Post-consumption endpoint (varied durations across trials), Xylitol vs sorbitol (4 studies) Clinical Effects of Sugar Substitutes on Cariogenic Bacteria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2024) | SMD -0.45 [-0.69, -0.21] | 4 studies · 323 participants | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Biodentine 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 0.89 [0.47, 1.69] | 6 studies · 348 participants | Low |