Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

1,692 questions · 2,586 findings · 180 reviews · Dental caries

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No studies found 194 · 7.5%GRADE not reported 1,937 · 74.9%Very low 248 · 9.6%Low 136 · 5.3%Moderate 52 · 2%High 19 · 0.7%

Replacement of the defective restoration vs Repair of the defective restoration

Composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 5: open margin · Dentists managing a defective direct resin composite restoration (posterior occlusal Class I; standardized vignette of a 30-year-old,…

For a defective composite restoration with open margin, surveyed dentists most often preferred replacement over repair (pooled RR 3.93; p < 0.001); ungraded.

1 finding from 1 review

Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… 2025 All outcomes
Not applicable (single time-point survey, June to October 2023) · Multinational (21 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, South America); general dental practice · Overall (all 21 countries pooled)
RR 3.93 [2.68, 5.76]
21 studies · 3680 participants
GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 3: secondary caries

The intervention led to higher amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 3:…; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… 2025 All outcomes
HDI: High
RR 8.20 [6.93, 9.70]
7 studies
GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

Composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 4: marginal discoloration

The intervention led to higher composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 4:…; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… 2025 All outcomes
HDI: High
RR 2.55 [1.79, 3.62]
7 studies
GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 6: corrosion

The intervention showed no clear difference in amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 6:…; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… 2025 All outcomes
HDI: Low
RR 1.09 [0.86, 1.38]
2 studies
GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 6: corrosion

The intervention led to higher amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 6:…; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… 2025 All outcomes
Continent: Africa
RR 1.60 [1.22, 2.10]
2 studies
GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 3: secondary caries

The intervention led to higher amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 3:…; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… 2025 All outcomes
HDI: Low
RR 6.16 [4.45, 8.52]
2 studies
GRADE not reported

Replacement of the defective restoration vs Repair of the defective restoration

Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 2: loss of dental hard substance adjacent to the restoration · Dentists managing a defective direct amalgam restoration (posterior occlusal Class I; standardized vignette of a 30-year-old,…

For a defective amalgam restoration with loss of dental hard substance adjacent to the restoration, surveyed dentists most often preferred replacement over repair (pooled RR 4.70; p < 0.001); ungraded.

1 finding from 1 review

Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… 2025 All outcomes
Not applicable (single time-point survey, June to October 2023) · Multinational (21 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, South America); general dental practice · Overall (all 21 countries pooled)
RR 4.70 [3.59, 6.16]
21 studies · 3680 participants
GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

Composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 4: marginal discoloration

The intervention led to higher composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 4:…; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… 2025 All outcomes
Continent: Africa
RR 2.88 [2.31, 3.58]
2 studies
GRADE not reported

Replacement of the defective restoration vs Repair of the defective restoration

Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 6: corrosion · Dentists managing a defective direct amalgam restoration (posterior occlusal Class I; standardized vignette of a 30-year-old,…

For a defective amalgam restoration with corrosion, surveyed dentists most often preferred replacement over repair (pooled RR 1.59; p < 0.001); ungraded.

1 finding from 1 review

Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… 2025 All outcomes
Not applicable (single time-point survey, June to October 2023) · Multinational (21 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, South America); general dental practice · Overall (all 21 countries pooled)
RR 1.59 [1.24, 2.03]
21 studies · 3680 participants
GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 5: open margin

The intervention led to higher amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 5: open…; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… 2025 All outcomes
Coverage: Not covering
RR 5.26 [3.58, 7.71]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported

Breastfeeding for more than 24 months vs Not breastfed at the same age

Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years)

Breastfeeding for more than 24 months is associated with higher ECC prevalence (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Risk of Early Childhood Dental Caries Associated With Prolonged Breastfeeding: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. 2025 All outcomes
More than 24 months
OR 2.99 [1.03, 8.67]
4 studies
Low

Replacement of the defective restoration vs Repair of the defective restoration

Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 4: marginal discoloration · Dentists managing a defective direct amalgam restoration (posterior occlusal Class I; standardized vignette of a 30-year-old,…

Subgroup (HDI: Very high): pooled preference was replacement over repair for a defective amalgam restoration with marginal discoloration (RR 6.48); significant HDI variation, p = 0.01.

5 findings from 1 review

Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… 2025 All outcomes
Not applicable (single time-point survey, June to October 2023) · Multinational (21 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, South America); general dental practice · HDI: Very high
RR 6.48 [3.71, 11.31]
10 studies · 1754 participants
GRADE not reported
Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… 2025 All outcomes
Not applicable (single time-point survey, June to October 2023) · Multinational (21 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, South America); general dental practice · HDI: High
RR 7.06 [5.14, 9.69]
7 studies · 1223 participants
GRADE not reported
Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… 2025 All outcomes
Not applicable (single time-point survey, June to October 2023) · Multinational (21 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, South America); general dental practice · HDI: Low
RR 3.58 [2.74, 4.69]
2 studies · 350 participants
GRADE not reported

Show 2 more findings

Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… 2025 All outcomes
Not applicable (single time-point survey, June to October 2023) · Multinational (21 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, South America); general dental practice · Overall (all 21 countries pooled)
RR 6.04 [4.51, 8.08]
21 studies · 3680 participants
GRADE not reported
Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… 2025 All outcomes
Not applicable (single time-point survey, June to October 2023) · Multinational (21 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, South America); general dental practice · HDI: Medium
RR 5.19 [3.61, 7.45]
2 studies · 353 participants
GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

Composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 3: secondary caries

The intervention led to higher composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 3:…; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… 2025 All outcomes
HDI: Very high
RR 2.98 [2.23, 3.98]
10 studies
GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

Composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 8: disruption of occlusal integrity

The intervention showed no clear difference in composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 8:…; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… 2025 All outcomes
HDI: Medium
RR 0.31 [0.08, 1.13]
2 studies
GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 3: secondary caries

The intervention led to higher amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 3:…; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… 2025 All outcomes
Coverage: Not covering
RR 6.64 [4.83, 9.11]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

Reduction of preformed S. mutans biofilms

1 finding from 1 review

Postbiotics and Dental Caries: A Systematic Review. 2025 All outcomes
In vitro
no estimate extracted
2 studies
GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 5: open margin

The intervention led to higher amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 5: open…; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… 2025 All outcomes
HDI: Low
RR 3.87 [2.18, 6.86]
2 studies
GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 7: non-stable (mobile) restoration

The intervention led to higher amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 7:…; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… 2025 All outcomes
HDI: Very high
RR 30.92 [8.85, 108.02]
10 studies
GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 2: loss of dental hard substance adjacent to the restoration

The intervention led to higher amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 2: loss…; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… 2025 All outcomes
Continent: Africa
RR 6.31 [4.73, 8.42]
2 studies
GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

Composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 5: open margin

The intervention led to higher composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 5: open…; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… 2025 All outcomes
Continent: South America
RR 2.59 [1.59, 4.22]
2 studies
GRADE not reported