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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Cesarean section delivery vs Vaginal delivery Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children aged <6 years · Study quality (NOS): Good RETRACTED: The association between mode of childbirth delivery and early childhood caries: A comprehensive… (2024) | OR 0.97 [0.82, 1.14] | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Teledentistry diagnosis using DSLR or smartphone extra-oral photographs vs Visual or clinical examination d/D dft/DFT or dmft/DMFT score differences · 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 | 8 studies | Ungraded |
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence) Early childhood caries (ECC) prevalence (%, dmft>0) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years) · Region: Central/South America A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. (2024) | Prevalence 34 [20, 48] | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Dental caries (DT not equal to 0) vs No dental caries Periodontitis (prevalence) · Adults · Overall Association between periodontitis and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 1.79 [1.36, 2.35] | 5 studies | Ungraded |
Oral cancer patients (cases) vs Healthy controls Clinical attachment loss (CAL) in OC cases vs controls · Adults in case-control studies (oral cancer patients vs healthy controls) · Not specified, CAL (clinical attachment loss) Periodontitis and the risk of oral cancer: a meta-analysis of case-control studies. (2024) | SMD 1.94 [0.22, 3.66] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Clearfil Protect Bond antibacterial fluoride-releasing primer vs Transbond XT conventional primer Bracket failure · Patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment · During orthodontic treatment Can Orthodontic Adhesive Systems Inhibit the Formation and Development of White Spot Lesions During Fixed… (2024) | No statistically significant difference in bond failure rates was observed between quadrants bonded with Clearfil (CF) and those bonded with the conventional primer (p = 0.316). | 1 study · 35 participants | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Dental caries (early childhood caries) · Narrative single study (Ganesh 2022): BF at beginning of sleep Association of Breastfeeding and Early Childhood Caries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2024) | AOR 6.7 | 1 study | Ungraded |
High-frequency sugar consumption (three or more times daily) vs Low sugar intake (fewer than three times daily) Dental caries experience (prevalence) · Nigerian individuals, including children and adults, with primary or permanent dentition · Overall (all dentitions pooled) A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between sugar intake and dental caries in Nigeria. (2024) | OR 1.18 [0.87, 1.59] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence) Early childhood caries (ECC) prevalence (%, dmft>0) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years) · GNI $20000-$39999 A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. (2024) | Prevalence 30 [22, 38] | 11 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, Dental examination: Parent-reported dental caries Maternal smoking during pregnancy and early childhood dental caries in children: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.68 [1.35, 2.10] | 1 study | 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, Dental examination: Clinical oral examinations Maternal smoking during pregnancy and early childhood dental caries in children: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.82 [1.47, 2.26] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Grape seed extract or grape seed flavonoid fractions vs No extract or vehicle control; other antimicrobial agents Bacterial adhesion · Streptococcus mutans cultures and biofilms Effect of flavonoids from grape seed and cranberry extracts on the microbiological activity of Streptococcus… (2024) | no estimate extracted | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Prophylaxis (teeth cleaning) and CHX or iodine-NaF solution application in the dentition of women (mothers) vs Placebo Mother caries (dmfs increment) · 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 -0.21 [-2.22, 1.79] | 2 studies · 130 participants | Ungraded |
Low-power CO2 laser irradiation (LLLT, 0.5 to 2 W) vs Placebo / no laser (control) Incidence of new white spot lesions (WSLs) · High caries-risk patients: fixed-orthodontic-appliance patients and children with partially erupted permanent molars · 3 to 18 months follow-up Clinical and ex-vivo effect of LASERs on prevention of early-enamel caries: systematic review & meta-analyses. (2024) | OR 0.21 [0.15, 0.30] | 3 studies · 182 participants | Ungraded |
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence) Early childhood caries (ECC) prevalence (%, dmft>0) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years) · GNI <$5000 A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. (2024) | Prevalence 57 [47, 67] | 19 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Overall success (composite of clinical and radiographic success) · Mixed root maturation (both mature and immature teeth) Efficacy of pulpotomy for permanent teeth with carious pulp exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis… (2024) | Proportion 0.950 [0.859, 0.998] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Teledentistry diagnosis using DSLR or smartphone extra-oral photographs vs Visual or clinical examination Specificity for dental caries diagnosis · 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 | 13 studies | Ungraded |
TiO2-modified composite (1 wt.%) vs Control composite in contralateral quadrant Enamel demineralization (DIAGNOdent score) · Patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment · 1 to 6 months after bonding Can Orthodontic Adhesive Systems Inhibit the Formation and Development of White Spot Lesions During Fixed… (2024) | Mean readings were significantly greater on the control side than on the experimental side (p < 0.001) at all time points except at baseline. | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
TT genotype vs TC+CC genotypes Dental caries · Children (<18 years) with vs without dental caries · Recessive model (TT vs TC+CC), Primary dentition Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with caries risk in children: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.49 [0.97, 2.27] | NR | Ungraded |
CC+TT (homozygous) genotypes vs CT (heterozygous) genotype Dental caries · Children (<18 years) with vs without dental caries · Over-dominant model (CC+TT vs CT) Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with caries risk in children: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 0.83 [0.67, 1.04] | 3 studies · 1329 participants | Ungraded |
A allele vs G allele Dental caries · Children (<18 years) with vs without dental caries · Allelic model (A vs G) Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with caries risk in children: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.07 [0.70, 1.64] | 3 studies · 855 participants | Ungraded |
SDF (given at a particular frequency, concentration, or duration) vs SDF (given at a different frequency, concentration, or duration) Primary caries prevention · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | No studies reported data for this outcome | 0 studies | No studies |
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence) Early childhood caries experience (mean dmft) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years) · Life expectancy: >80 years A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. (2024) | MEAN 1.34 | NR | Ungraded |
Fluoride varnish applied before 4 years of age vs No fluoride varnish application 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 2.18 [1.46, 3.25] | 2 studies · 982 participants | 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), Caucasian ethnicity Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with caries risk in children: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.26 [0.88, 1.80] | NR | Ungraded |
Periodontitis vs No periodontitis (periodontal health or gingivitis) Dental caries (prevalence) · Adults · Moderate periodontitis Association between periodontitis and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 1.38 [1.15, 1.66] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Periodontitis vs No periodontitis (periodontal health or gingivitis) Dental caries (prevalence) · Adults · Mild periodontitis Association between periodontitis and dental caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024) | OR 1.65 [0.45, 6.05] | 1 study | 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, Dental examination: Visual examination Maternal smoking during pregnancy and early childhood dental caries in children: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.85 [1.59, 2.16] | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Nd:YAG laser irradiation vs Untreated control enamel Enamel acid resistance (cross-sectional microhardness) · Human enamel in pits and fissures (in situ / ex vivo) Clinical and ex-vivo effect of LASERs on prevention of early-enamel caries: systematic review & meta-analyses. (2024) | Narrative only (not meta-analyzed). Correa-Afonso: Nd:YAG (and CO2) laser increased enamel acid resistance in pits and fissures; microhardness of the Nd:YAG group was higher than the control group. | 1 study | Ungraded |
High-dose vitamin D3 supplementation during pregnancy (2400 IU/day from pregnancy week 24 to 1 week postpartum, in addition to the recommended 400 IU/day) vs Low-dose (standard) vitamin D supplementation as recommended in national pregnancy guidelines dmfs index score · 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 | dmfs was listed in the SoF table but not assessed (not reported for this comparison). | 0 studies | No studies |
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 · Children aged 4 to 6 years whose mothers' prenatal vitamin D status was assessed · Prenatal exposure; dental caries at 4 to 6 years, Children's age subgroup: 4 to 6 years Association between prenatal vitamin D deficiency with dental caries in infants and children: a systematic… (2024) | OR 1.44 [1.32, 1.56] | 8 studies | Ungraded |
Cranberry extract or cranberry flavonoid fractions vs No extract or vehicle control; other antimicrobial agents Antioxidant capacity · 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 |
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence) Dental caries, prevalence · Primary school children in Ethiopia · Overall (all included studies) Prevalence of dental caries and associated factors among primary school children in Ethiopia: systematic… (2024) | Prevalence 35 [27, 43] | 7 studies · 3711 participants | Ungraded |
SDF (given at a particular frequency, concentration, or duration) vs SDF (given at a different frequency, concentration, or duration) Dental pain or sensitivity · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | No studies reported data for this outcome | 0 studies | No studies |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF; 38% in most trials, 30% in three) vs Atraumatic restorative treatment / glass ionomer cement (ART/GIC) Caries arrestment at the tooth level · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition) · 6 to 12 months, SDF vs ART(GIC) The role of silver diamine fluoride as dental caries preventive and arresting agent: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.22 [0.09, 16.34] | 2 studies · 273 participants | Ungraded |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) with glass ionomer cement (GIC) or glass ionomer material Aesthetics · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 24 months, Children Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | 1 study reported that 45% of parents were satisfied with appearance of their child's teeth; data not reported by study group. 1 study reported that 1 of 34 caregivers in SDF group were "annoyed with teeth appearance",… | 2 studies · 248 participants | Very low |
SDF (given at a particular frequency, concentration, or duration) vs SDF (given at a different frequency, concentration, or duration) Adverse effects · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions) · 24 to 30 months, Children Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults (2024) · Cochrane | 1 study (203 children) reported that black or brown staining on treated lesions was commonly found in both groups, with little or no difference according to whether SDF treatment was given in 3 applications at… | 3 studies · 1121 participants | Very low |
T allele vs C allele Dental caries · Children (<18 years) with vs without dental caries · Allelic model (T vs C), Caucasian ethnicity Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with caries risk in children: a systematic review and… (2024) | OR 1.00 [0.72, 1.39] | NR | Ungraded |
Er:YAG laser irradiation of sound enamel before acid challenge vs No anticaries intervention (untreated enamel) Calcium ions released in acidic solution · Human tooth enamel specimens, sound/intact (in vitro) · After acid immersion (acid dissolution) Effect of Er:YAG Laser Irradiation on Preventing Enamel Caries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2024) | SMD -0.40 [-0.96, 0.15] | 6 studies · 292 participants | Ungraded |
Original development of CAMBRA (Caries Management by Risk Assessment) or CAT (Caries-risk Assessment Tool) multivariable models vs Not applicable Model development with reported performance measures (per CHARMS) · Individuals of any age at risk of caries increment · Model development studies Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Indirect restorations (crowns, fixed partial dentures, inlays/onlays/veneers) vs None (single-group incidence) Pulp necrosis · Vital teeth restored with indirect restorations · Follow-up ≤5 to >10 years, Treated by prosthodontists Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023) | Proportion 1.87 [0.84, 3.31] | 3834 participants | Ungraded |
Resin infiltration vs CPP-ACFP Remineralization / reduction in lesion severity (change in QLF, laser fluorescence, or lesion area) · Patients with white spot lesions / early caries lesions (WSLs/ECLs), including orthodontic and non-orthodontic… Comparison of therapies of white spot lesions: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. (2023) | SMD -0.52 [-1.16, 0.12] | NR | Ungraded |
Strategies to integrate oral health into primary care (e.g., training/education of non-dental primary care professionals, policy/financing and health-insurance changes, colocation of dental and medical services, interprofessional and community-health-worker collaboration, teledentistry, integrated oral health assessment tools, school-based activities) vs No integration / usual care (or pre-integration baseline; many included studies uncontrolled) Access to oral healthcare (referral pathways, documentation processes, operating efficiencies, staffing, visits for oral health issues, uptake of fluoride varnish/other preventive treatment, and visits to an oral health professional) · People of all ages and abilities served through primary care and related settings (children, pregnant women, older… Strategies to integrate oral health into primary care: a systematic review. (2023) | Access to oral healthcare was the primary outcome most studied (n=19). Most studies reported results favouring the integration strategy, including improvements in referral pathways, documentation processes, operating… | 19 studies | Ungraded |
Mutans streptococci present in oral samples at baseline vs Mutans streptococci absent in oral samples at baseline Development of any (cavitated or non-cavitated) carious lesion · Children younger than 6 years with caries-free primary dentition (no cavitated or non-cavitated lesions at baseline) · 6 months to 3.5 years, Overall Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and… (2023) | OR 4.13 [3.33, 5.12] | 12 studies · 3010 participants | Moderate |
P11-4 + fluoride varnish vs CPP-ACP Remineralization / reduction in lesion severity (change in QLF, laser fluorescence, or lesion area) · Patients with white spot lesions / early caries lesions (WSLs/ECLs), including orthodontic and non-orthodontic… Comparison of therapies of white spot lesions: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. (2023) | SMD -0.78 [-1.33, -0.24] | NR | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Gao,2013 [29]; model performance 2 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR− 0.31 [0.24, 0.40] | 1 study | Ungraded |
ACTIVA bioactive restorative material vs Glass ionomer cement (GIC) Secondary caries (occurrence) · Patients requiring dental restoration; permanent teeth · 1 year of follow-up Clinical efficacy of bioactive restorative materials in controlling secondary caries: a systematic review… (2023) | RR 22.80 [0.89, 584.17] | 1 study · 153 participants | Very low |
Tooth location Pulp necrosis incidence · Vital teeth · Kontakiotis et al. 2015 mandibular posterior Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023) | Proportion 7.1 | 1 study | Ungraded |
Mutans streptococci present in oral samples at baseline vs Mutans streptococci absent in oral samples at baseline Development of any (cavitated or non-cavitated) carious lesion · Children younger than 6 years with caries-free primary dentition (no cavitated or non-cavitated lesions at baseline) · 6 months to 3.5 years, Sample: plaque Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and… (2023) | OR 5.16 [2.99, 8.91] | 5 studies · 736 participants | Ungraded |
Edentulism (complete or partial missing teeth) vs Individuals without edentulism Oral health-related quality of life (dichotomous: poor vs not) · Indian elderly Impact of oral conditions on oral health-related quality of life among Indians- a systematic review and… (2023) | Edentulism and QoL (dichotomous): edentulism did not affect OHRQoL (Shivakumar 2018). Single study, not pooled. | 1 study | Ungraded |