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
detection of proximal caries · human primary or permanent teeth with dental caries lesions
QLF had pooled sensitivity of 0.83 and specificity of 0.74 for proximal caries (all dentitions, in vitro).
4 findings from 1 review
Sensitivity 0.83
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Sensitivity 0.83
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Specificity 0.74
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Show 1 more finding
Specificity 0.74
3 studies
GRADE not reported
detection of occlusal caries · human primary or permanent teeth with dental caries lesions
QLF had pooled sensitivity of 0.86 and specificity of 0.80 for occlusal caries (permanent dentition, in vivo).
2 findings from 1 review
Specificity 0.80
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Specificity 0.82
4 studies
GRADE not reported
Incidence of proximal (interdental) caries lesions from bitewing radiographs · Orthodontic patients (any age) undergoing orthodontic treatment (mostly fixed appliances)
Only one included study assessed proximal caries incidence from bitewing radiographs; it was not included in the meta-analysis and no pooled estimate is available (ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Future caries · Children without a previous history of caries
Veillonella spp. predicted future caries among children without a caries history, but no quantitative effect estimate was reported.
1 finding from 1 review
Among children without a previous history of caries, Veillonella spp., but not S. mutans or other acid-producing species, predicted future caries.
1 study · NA (subgroup without prior caries history; n not reported) participants
GRADE not reported
Sensitivity · Patients undergoing dental caries detection on dental images (teeth/surfaces across imaging modalities)
AI algorithms have high pooled sensitivity (0.85) for detecting dental caries; ungraded, with very high heterogeneity (I2>95%) and evidence of publication bias.
1 finding from 1 review
Improved caries prognosis via restored oral microbiota · Patients after dental filling
Adjuvant postbiotics after dental filling improve caries prognosis by restoring the oral microbiota in one RCT (ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Specificity · Patients undergoing dental caries detection on dental images (teeth/surfaces across imaging modalities)
AI algorithms have high pooled specificity (0.90) for detecting dental caries; ungraded, with very high heterogeneity (I2>95%).
1 finding from 1 review
Area under the summary ROC curve · Patients undergoing dental caries detection on dental images (teeth/surfaces across imaging modalities)
The area under the summary ROC curve for AI caries detection is 0.86, indicating high overall diagnostic accuracy; ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
Caries prognosis and oral-microbiota diversity structure and function · Patients after dental filling
No meta-analysis was conducted; postbiotic tablets were reported to improve caries prognosis and restore oral-microbiota diversity structure and function.
1 finding from 1 review
no estimate extracted
1 study
GRADE not reported
Enamel/dental hard-tissue changes and e-liquid cariogenic properties (demineralization, colour change, pH, sugar content, metals) · Oral bacteria (streptococci), dental hard tissue (enamel/dentin) and e-liquids studied in vitro/ex vivo (with a few clinical microbiome…
In vitro evidence suggests e-liquids are often acidic and sugar-containing and can alter enamel/dentin colour and properties, supporting a plausible cariogenic effect, but findings are heterogeneous and not pooled (ungraded, narrative).
1 finding from 1 review
Positive likelihood ratio · Patients undergoing dental caries detection on dental images (teeth/surfaces across imaging modalities)
A positive AI test raises caries probability substantially (LR+ 10.44; positive post-test probability 79%); ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
Log diagnostic odds ratio · Patients undergoing dental caries detection on dental images (teeth/surfaces across imaging modalities)
AI algorithms show strong pooled discriminative accuracy for dental caries (log DOR 4.37; DOR 70.9); ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
Negative likelihood ratio · Patients undergoing dental caries detection on dental images (teeth/surfaces across imaging modalities)
A negative AI test lowers caries probability substantially (LR- 0.17; negative post-test probability 6%); ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
Caries arrestment at the surface level · Children and adults without systemic diseases affecting dental health
SDF showed no clear advantage for caries arrestment at the surface level.
1 finding from 1 review
Prevention of new caries (caries development/increment) · Preschool children (primary dentition) at risk of new caries
Limited evidence from two trials suggests SDF may help prevent new caries, but preventive efficacy was not meta-analyzed and remains uncertain (ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Caries arrestment at the individual (patient) level · Children and adults without systemic diseases affecting dental health
SDF showed a higher caries-arrestment proportion at the individual level, but the reported difference was not statistically significant.
1 finding from 1 review
Caries arrestment at the tooth level · Children and adults without systemic diseases affecting dental health
SDF showed a higher caries-free proportion at the tooth level, but the reported difference was not statistically significant.
1 finding from 1 review
Secondary caries prevention in young permanent first molars · Children with deep occlusal caries in young permanent first molars (indirect pulp capping)
SDF and RMGIC did not differ significantly for secondary caries prevention in young permanent molars (no events; p>0.05; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Baraka et al. (2022): no significant difference in secondary caries prevention between 38% SDF and RMGIC (no secondary caries in either group through 12 months; p=0.63 at 12 months; overall p=0.26).
1 study · 49 participants
GRADE not reported
Secondary caries prevention in young permanent first molars · Children with deep occlusal caries in young permanent first molars (indirect pulp capping)
SDF+KI and RMGIC did not differ significantly for secondary caries prevention (p>0.05; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review