Caries arrest · Children (age 1-10 years) with active cavitated dentin caries lesions in primary molars
SDF is effective in arresting caries progression in cavitated primary molars overall (pooled ES 0.33, 95% CI 0.26-0.40; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Caries arrest · Children (age 1-10 years) with active cavitated dentin caries lesions in primary molars
The pooled caries arrest rate with SDF (>=30%, applied annually/biannually) was 51.62% (622/1205 lesions arrested) at >=12 months follow-up.
1 finding from 1 review
Adverse effects / specific side effects (oral allergic reactions, mucosal irritation, adverse symptoms such as nausea, gagging, vomiting) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
1 finding from 1 review
Oral health-related quality of life · Children with dental caries
SDF plus fluoride varnish did not significantly differ from ART plus fluoride varnish for oral health-related quality of life (MD 0.16, 95% CI -0.1 to 0.42; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Oral health-related quality of life · Children with dental caries
The direct estimate found no statistically significant difference in oral health-related quality of life between atraumatic restorative treatment plus fluoride varnish and silver diamine fluoride plus fluoride varnish.
2 findings from 1 review
Caries increment on permanent tooth surfaces (D(M)FS), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition)
7 findings from 1 review
Show 4 more findings
PF 0.28 [0.19, 0.37]
22 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.40 [0.31, 0.49]
17 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.24 [0.21, 0.28]
70 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.46 [0.30, 0.63]
7 studies
GRADE not reported
Caries increment on primary (deciduous) tooth surfaces (d(e/m)fs), prevented fraction · Children with primary (deciduous) teeth (younger children)
5 findings from 1 review
PF 0.26 [-0.11, 0.63]
2 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.41 [0.26, 0.55]
2 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.27 [0.08, 0.48]
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Show 2 more findings
PF 0.33 [0.22, 0.44]
5 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.33 [0.19, 0.48]
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Caries increment on permanent whole teeth (D(M)FT), prevented fraction · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition)
7 findings from 1 review
PF 0.26 [0.21, 0.30]
79 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.53 [0.23, 0.82]
3 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.32 [0.19, 0.46]
10 studies
GRADE not reported
Show 4 more findings
PF 0.45 [0.32, 0.58]
7 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.24 [0.18, 0.30]
13 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.24 [0.20, 0.28]
72 studies
GRADE not reported
PF 0.23 [0.19, 0.28]
53 studies
GRADE not reported
Proportion developing new caries · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition)
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish;… led to lower proportion of children developing one or more new caries compared with placebo or no treatment; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
RR 0.88 [0.82, 0.95]
13 studies
GRADE not reported
Increment of occlusal DMFS (decayed, missing, filled surfaces) of FPMs · Generally healthy children aged 6 to 9 years with at least one fully erupted first permanent molar with deep fissures or early enamel…
Fluoride varnish and fissure sealant did not differ significantly in occlusal DMFS increment of FPMs (MD 0.13, 95% CI -0.09 to 0.34; 3 RCTs; ungraded).
2 findings from 1 review
Proportion of children developing new caries (permanent) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
Fluoride toothpaste showed no clear difference in proportion of children developing new caries (permanent) compared with fluoride mouthrinse; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
RR 0.90 [0.60, 1.37]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Caries increment in permanent teeth · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
1 finding from 1 review
Caries increment in permanent teeth · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
1 finding from 1 review
Caries increment in permanent teeth · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
1 finding from 1 review
Aesthetics · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Adverse effects · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
1 finding from 1 review
Ruff 2022 reported that there were no adverse events during the study period; adverse events were not defined by the study authors. Assumed data available for 1398 participants.
1 study · 1398 participants
Very low
Dental pain or sensitivity · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Caries increment in permanent teeth · Children or adolescents
The NMR reported a difference between fluoride in varnish and placebo at randomisation years 1954 to 1980; no GRADE assessment was reported.
1 finding from 1 review
no estimate extracted
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Caries increment, surface index D(M)FS · Children or adolescents
In the illustrative network meta-regression the SMD for caries increment differed between fluoride in varnish and no treatment at randomization years 1954 to 1990; certainty was not graded.
1 finding from 1 review
Caries increment in permanent teeth · Children or adolescents
The NMR reported a difference between fluoride in varnish and no treatment at randomisation years 1954 to 1990; no GRADE assessment was reported.
1 finding from 1 review
no estimate extracted
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported