Sensitivity · Children, adolescents, or adults presenting asymptomatically or suspected of early enamel caries (in vivo), or extracted teeth of…
1 finding from 1 review
Electrical conductance for the detection of dental caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies)
CarieScan Pro (3 studies, 244 tooth surfaces): sensitivity ranged from 0.55 to 0.91. No evidence of a difference in accuracy by device type (Chi2=0.05, df=1, P=0.82).
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Specificity · Children, adolescents, or adults presenting asymptomatically or suspected of early enamel caries (in vivo), or extracted teeth of…
1 finding from 1 review
Oral health-related quality of life · people aged 60 years and older living in the community
The review reported higher OHRQoL in the low than high dental-caries-prevalence category.
1 finding from 1 review
71.40 [64.16, 78.63]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Caries experience (mean DMFT) · 12-year-old children across European countries (national/regional epidemiological surveys, 2011-2022)
The overall pooled mean DMFT was 2.10 across all dental health care expenditure strata.
1 finding from 1 review
Dental fillings (restorations) vs Dental extractions
Outcome not reported · Children aged 12 years or younger with tooth decay involving at least one tooth in the primary dentition, symptomatic or symptom free
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Caries experience · Children (mean age newborn to ~5.2 years) and their parents/carers
Oral-health-education-only interventions showed at most a marginal effect on tooth-level caries (dmft SMD -0.11, 95% CI -0.21 to -0.00; 2 studies; not GRADE-rated).
1 finding from 1 review
Caries experience at the surface level (dmfs/defs) · Children (mean age newborn to ~5.2 years) and their parents/carers
Oral-health-education-only interventions did not show a statistically significant effect on surface-level caries (dmfs SMD -0.20, 95% CI -0.43 to 0.03; 2 studies; not GRADE-rated).
1 finding from 1 review
Caries experience at the surface level (dmfs/defs) · Children (mean age newborn to ~5.2 years) and their parents/carers
Behaviour change interventions delivered by non-dental health workers produced a small, statistically significant reduction in caries experience at the surface level (dmfs SMD -0.15, 95% CI -0.25 to -0.04; 12 studies); the review judged the overall evidence to be of low quality (not GRADE-rated).
1 finding from 1 review
Caries experience · Children (mean age newborn to ~5.2 years) and their parents/carers
Behaviour change interventions delivered by non-dental health workers produced a small-to-moderate, statistically significant reduction in caries experience at the tooth level (dmft SMD -0.34, 95% CI -0.54 to -0.13; 6 studies); the review judged the overall evidence to be of low quality (not GRADE-rated).
1 finding from 1 review
Caries experience at the surface level (dmfs/defs) · Children (mean age newborn to ~5.2 years) and their parents/carers
Comprehensive interventions produced a small, statistically significant reduction in surface-level caries (dmfs SMD -0.14, 95% CI -0.26 to -0.02; 10 studies; not GRADE-rated).
1 finding from 1 review
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
Sensitivity for detection and diagnosis of early (enamel) caries · Asymptomatic children, adolescents, or adults presenting for clinical examination (in vivo studies), or extracted teeth of children or…
1 finding from 1 review
Sensitivity for detection and diagnosis of early (enamel) caries · Asymptomatic children, adolescents, or adults presenting for clinical examination (in vivo studies), or extracted teeth of children or…
17 findings from 1 review
Show 14 more findings
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Dentine-caries (D3) prevalence low <15% (non-CBCT)
Sensitivity 0.36 [0.25, 0.47]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Reference standard: excavation (non-CBCT)
Sensitivity 0.51 [0.27, 0.74]
5 studies
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Analogue and digital combined (non-CBCT); 97 datasets
Sensitivity 0.46 [0.40, 0.51]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Dentine-caries (D3) prevalence high >=35% or unreported (non-CBCT)
Sensitivity 0.50 [0.40, 0.59]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Sensitivity analysis: low risk of bias for index test
Sensitivity 0.51 [0.43, 0.61]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Sensitivity analysis: excluding high/unclear risk of bias reference standard
Sensitivity 0.51 [0.45, 0.57]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Setting: in vivo / clinical (non-CBCT)
Sensitivity 0.56 [0.43, 0.69]
17 studies
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Setting: in vitro (non-CBCT)
Sensitivity 0.44 [0.37, 0.50]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Sensitivity analysis: low dentine-caries prevalence <15%
Sensitivity 0.34 [0.25, 0.45]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Reference standard: histology (non-CBCT)
Sensitivity 0.46 [0.39, 0.53]
64 studies
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies)
Sensitivity 0.47 [0.40, 0.53]
77 studies
Low
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Occlusal surfaces (non-CBCT)
Sensitivity 0.45 [0.35, 0.54]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Primary dentition (non-CBCT)
Sensitivity 0.52 [0.40, 0.63]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Proximal surfaces (non-CBCT)
Sensitivity 0.47 [0.39, 0.55]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Specificity for detection and diagnosis of early (enamel) caries · Asymptomatic children, adolescents, or adults presenting for clinical examination (in vivo studies), or extracted teeth of children or…
3 findings from 1 review
Specificity for detection and diagnosis of early (enamel) caries · Asymptomatic children, adolescents, or adults presenting for clinical examination (in vivo studies), or extracted teeth of children or…
17 findings from 1 review
Show 14 more findings
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Setting: in vitro (non-CBCT)
Specificity 0.89 [0.84, 0.92]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Proximal surfaces (non-CBCT)
Specificity 0.89 [0.84, 0.93]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Primary dentition (non-CBCT)
Specificity 0.87 [0.77, 0.93]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Occlusal surfaces (non-CBCT)
Specificity 0.88 [0.80, 0.93]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Sensitivity analysis: excluding high/unclear risk of bias reference standard
Specificity 0.87 [0.83, 0.90]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Reference standard: excavation (non-CBCT)
Specificity 0.96 [0.80, 0.99]
5 studies
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Dentine-caries (D3) prevalence medium 15-34% (non-CBCT)
Specificity 0.87 [0.78, 0.92]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies)
Specificity 0.88 [0.84, 0.92]
77 studies
Low
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Analogue and digital combined (non-CBCT); 97 datasets
Specificity 0.89 [0.86, 0.92]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Sensitivity analysis: low dentine-caries prevalence <15%
Specificity 0.91 [0.87, 0.94]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Dentine-caries (D3) prevalence low <15% (non-CBCT)
Specificity 0.91 [0.85, 0.95]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Setting: in vivo / clinical (non-CBCT)
Specificity 0.89 [0.78, 0.95]
17 studies
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Reference standard: enhanced visual (non-CBCT)
Specificity 0.91 [0.77, 0.97]
8 studies
GRADE not reported
Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomesUp to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) · Reference standard: histology (non-CBCT)
Specificity 0.88 [0.83, 0.92]
64 studies
GRADE not reported
Specificity for detection and diagnosis of early (enamel) caries · Asymptomatic children, adolescents, or adults presenting for clinical examination (in vivo studies), or extracted teeth of children or…
2 findings from 1 review
Specificity for detection and diagnosis of early (enamel) caries · Asymptomatic children, adolescents, or adults presenting for clinical examination (in vivo studies), or extracted teeth of children or…
1 finding from 1 review