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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Hänsel Petersson,2002 [18]; model performance 1 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR− 0.74 [0.63, 0.87] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Campus,2012 [26]; model performance 1 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR+ 5.53 [4.36, 7.03] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Safe housing / favorable household conditions vs Unsafe housing / poor household conditions Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) · Adolescents (10-19 years) Oral-health-related quality of life in adolescents: umbrella review. (2023) | having parents who can provide dental care and safe housing are positive predictors for OHRQoL. Socioeconomic factors related to the area of residence, satisfaction with oral health and dental care were shown to be… | NR | Ungraded |
Clear aligners (CA) vs Conventional fixed orthodontic appliances (CF) Plaque accumulation (Plaque Index) · Orthodontic patients undergoing comprehensive treatment (late mixed or permanent dentition, no active caries) · Range 1 to 18 months (maximum time-point per study), Study design: randomized controlled trials White spot lesions, plaque accumulation and salivary caries-associated bacteria in clear aligners compared… (2023) | SMD -1.79 [-3.63, 0.04] | 3 studies · 111 participants | Moderate |
Intervention NR Quality of life Strategies to integrate oral health into primary care: a systematic review. (2023) | 1 study reported an unfavourable outcome | 1 study | Ungraded |
Carious dentin vs Sound dentin Cathepsin K (CT-K) presence/activity · Human ex vivo carious dentin (mostly coronal), natural caries lesions Presence of host and bacterial-derived collagenolytic proteases in carious dentin: a systematic review of ex… (2023) | Higher intensity of immunodetection of CT-K was registered in carious dentin than in sound dentin (Vidal et al., 2014); GRADE was not applied to CT-K. | 1 study · 10 participants | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Gao.2010 [17]; model performance 5 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR− 0.22 [0.19, 0.22] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Resin infiltration vs Fluoride varnish (gold standard) 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 -0.70 [-1.18, -0.21] | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) Clinical and radiographic success · Patients with carious pulp exposure in permanent teeth undergoing pulpotomy · 1 to 2 years, Full or partial pulpotomy Comparative efficacy of materials used in patients undergoing pulpotomy or direct pulp capping in carious… (2023) | OR 2.36 [0.47, 11.75] | 6 studies · 341 participants | Low |
Surgery plus adjuvant radiotherapy vs Chemotherapy (chemoradiotherapy) Disease-free survival · Adults with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer · oral cavity Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane | Disease-free survival: not reported (Iyer 2015). | 0 studies | No studies |
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 10 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR− 0.26 [0.18, 0.37] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Carious dentin vs Sound dentin MMP-13 presence/activity · Human coronal carious dentin and sound dentin Presence of host and bacterial-derived collagenolytic proteases in carious dentin: a systematic review of ex… (2023) | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 13 participants | Very low |
38% SDF (indirect pulp capping) vs Resin-modified GIC (RMGIC) Restoration color, marginal staining and luster (esthetics) · Children with deep occlusal caries in young permanent first molars (indirect pulp capping) · 12 months, Baraka 2022 A systematic review on the effect of silver diamine fluoride for management of dental caries in permanent… (2023) | Baraka et al. (2022): significant differences in restoration color, marginal staining and luster favoring RMGIC over both SDF groups (p=0.03); SDF caused black staining that darkened over time. | 1 study · 49 participants | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Hänsel Petersson,2015 [30]; model performance 3 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR− 0.82 [0.77, 0.88] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Multivariable prediction model of caries increment (>=3 predictors), e.g. logistic-regression or algorithm-based caries-risk models vs Alternative prediction model(s) within the same study, or no formal comparator (models compared descriptively; no between-model statistical test) Predictive performance for root caries increment (negative likelihood ratio, LR-) · Older adults (aged 52-95; mean 52-73) at risk of root caries increment · Follow-up >=1 year (included studies 1-5 years), Model validation studies Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | No meta-analysis. Hayes 2017 [33] (5 Cariogram root-caries models): per-model LR- (Table 2) ranged 0.34-0.41; none reached the useful rule-out threshold of <=0.20. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Surgery plus radiotherapy vs Radiotherapy alone Locoregional recurrence · Adults with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane | Locoregional recurrence: not reported. | 0 studies | No studies |
Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) vs Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) Clinical and radiographic success (composite) · Patients with carious pulp exposure in immature permanent teeth undergoing pulpotomy · ≥6 months follow-up Comparative efficacy of materials used in patients undergoing pulpotomy or direct pulp capping in carious… (2023) | PRF vs MTA was investigated in 2 RCTs (Alawwad 2020; Keswani 2014) for the primary outcome; the two trials provided contradictory evidence and differed in risk of bias, so were not pooled. Weak evidence. | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Beck,1992 [24]; model performance 4 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR− 0.34 [0.28, 0.40] | 1 study | Ungraded |
38% SDF vs Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) Caries/restoration status in permanent molars · Children with dental caries in permanent (first) molars · 9 months, Satyarup 2022 (school setting, India) A systematic review on the effect of silver diamine fluoride for management of dental caries in permanent… (2023) | Satyarup et al. (2022): 38% SDF vs ART; SDF group 5.6% carious teeth with partly lost restorations vs ART 16.7% carious with partly lost and 8.9% carious with completely lost restorations (p=0.004, favoring SDF). | 1 study · 190 participants | Ungraded |
38% SDF plus oral health instruction vs oral health instruction plus tonic water new root-surface carious lesions or restorations · community-dwelling older adults with root caries · 30 months A systematic review on the effect of silver diamine fluoride for management of dental caries in permanent… (2023) | Preventative fraction (%) 62 | 1 study · 323 participants | Ungraded |
Irradiated carious dentin vs Non-irradiated carious dentin MMP-2 expression/activity · Human ex vivo carious dentin (head/neck radiotherapy) Presence of host and bacterial-derived collagenolytic proteases in carious dentin: a systematic review of ex… (2023) | No significant difference in MMP-2 (gelatinase) expression or activity between irradiated and non-irradiated groups (Gomes-Silva et al., 2017a); GRADE not separately applied to this comparison. | 1 study · 36 participants | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Birpou,2019 [25]; model performance 2 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR− 0.55 [0.38, 0.82] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Sodium fluoride (5% NaF, one-time [Mauro] or every 6 months [Liu]) vs Control (water or unspecified) New coronal caries in permanent molars (caries prevention) · Children with dental caries in permanent (first) molars · 24 months, Liu 2012 (5% NaF, fissure site) A systematic review on the effect of silver diamine fluoride for management of dental caries in permanent… (2023) | Prevented Fraction 48 | 1 study · 501 participants | Ungraded |
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, PFM fabrication material Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023) | Proportion 5.71 [0.12, 18.75] | 1980 participants | Ungraded |
Carious dentin vs Sound dentin MMP-8 presence/activity · Human ex vivo carious dentin (mostly coronal), natural caries lesions Presence of host and bacterial-derived collagenolytic proteases in carious dentin: a systematic review of ex… (2023) | Due to the conflicting results of the included studies, no effect direction was found so the evidence is very uncertain regarding the MMP-8 presence in carious vs. sound dentin. | 2 studies | Very low |
Indirect restorations (crowns, fixed partial dentures, inlays/onlays/veneers) vs None (single-group incidence) Pulp necrosis · Vital teeth restored with indirect restorations · >5-10 years, Follow-up >5-10 years Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023) | Proportion 5.53 [3.74, 7.64] | 2443 participants | Ungraded |
38% SDF plus potassium iodide and oral health instruction vs oral health instruction plus tonic water new root-surface carious lesions or restorations · community-dwelling older adults with root caries · 30 months A systematic review on the effect of silver diamine fluoride for management of dental caries in permanent… (2023) | Preventative fraction (%) 52 | 1 study · 323 participants | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Fontana,2011 [16]; model performance 5 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR− 0.36 [0.26, 0.50] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Disney,1992 [15]; model performance 4 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR+ 3.88 [3.19, 4.71] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Indirect restoration placement by undergraduate students vs None Pulp necrosis incidence · Vital teeth · Undergraduate students Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023) | Proportion 5.68 [3.17, 8.86] | 1604 participants | Ungraded |
Chlorhexidine mouthwash vs Placebo Cariogenic bacteria (Mutans streptococci) · Orthodontic patients · ≤ 3 months The efficacy of mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and gingivitis in patients undergoing orthodontic… (2023) | Colony count of MS was significantly reduced compared to placebos according to three studies [34; 48; 52]; colony count of MS was slightly reduced compared to placebo in a short time in one study [40]. | 4 studies | Very low |
Resin infiltration vs P11-4 + fluoride varnish 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 0.01 [-0.62, 0.65] | NR | Ungraded |
Cariogram multivariable caries-risk model (including modified/reduced-predictor versions) vs Alternative prediction model(s) within the same study, or no formal comparator (models compared descriptively; no between-model statistical test) Predictive performance of the Cariogram for caries increment (positive likelihood ratio, LR+) · Children/adolescents (coronal caries) and older adults (root caries); populations from areas with varying caries risk · Follow-up >=1 year (included studies 1-5 years), Model validation studies Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | Six validation studies (5 coronal, 1 root) evaluated modified Cariogram models (not the original model per se). Review-stated LR+ range 1.1-3.8 (with one exception). LR+ was not substantially changed by excluding the… | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Malocclusion vs No malocclusion Impaired OHRQoL measured with CPQ 11-14 (quantitative synthesis / meta-analysis) · Adolescents aged 10-19 years Malocclusions and quality of life among adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2023) | Rate/prevalence ratio (RR/PR) 1.15 [1.12, 1.18] | 4 studies · 3672 participants | Moderate |
Calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) vs Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) Clinical and radiographic success (composite) · Patients with carious pulp exposure in permanent teeth undergoing pulpotomy · ≥6 months follow-up Comparative efficacy of materials used in patients undergoing pulpotomy or direct pulp capping in carious… (2023) | CEM vs MTA was investigated in 2 RCTs (Asgary 2017; Nosrat 2013) for the primary outcome; not pooled owing to heterogeneity. The per-trial forest plots (Figure 8) indicated MTA performed comparably to CEM. Weak evidence. | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) 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 1.82 [0.45, 7.28] | 2 studies · 126 participants | Low |
Malocclusion (assessed by DAI, IOTN or WHO criteria) vs Individuals without malocclusion Oral health-related quality of life (continuous), measured by GOHAI · Indian children, adolescents and adults Impact of oral conditions on oral health-related quality of life among Indians- a systematic review and… (2023) | Malocclusion and QoL (continuous, GOHAI): no significant difference in OHRQoL between individuals with and without malocclusion (Appukuttan 2016). Single study, not pooled. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Bruxism vs Individuals without bruxism (non-bruxers) Oral health-related quality of life (continuous), measured by OHIP-14 · Indian children and adults Impact of oral conditions on oral health-related quality of life among Indians- a systematic review and… (2023) | Bruxism and QoL (continuous, OHIP-14): bruxers have poorer OHRQoL than non-bruxers (Thetakala 2018, Suguna 2020). Two studies, 284 individuals; not pooled. | 2 studies · 284 participants | Ungraded |
Clear aligners (CA) vs Conventional fixed orthodontic appliances (CF) Plaque accumulation (Plaque Index) · Orthodontic patients undergoing comprehensive treatment (late mixed or permanent dentition, no active caries) · 6 months, Follow-up: 6 months White spot lesions, plaque accumulation and salivary caries-associated bacteria in clear aligners compared… (2023) | SMD -2.04 [-3.37, -0.70] | 5 studies · 253 participants | Ungraded |
Chlorhexidine mouthwash vs Blank control Cariogenic bacteria (Mutans streptococci) · Orthodontic patients · ≤ 3 months The efficacy of mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and gingivitis in patients undergoing orthodontic… (2023) | Colony count of MS was significantly reduced compared to blank control according to one study [53]; one study reported a significant reduction compared to baseline [51]. | 2 studies | Very low |
Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) sealant (one-time) vs No treatment New coronal caries in permanent first molars (caries prevention) · Children with dental caries in permanent (first) molars · 18 months, Monse 2012 (ART one-time, with brushing programme) A systematic review on the effect of silver diamine fluoride for management of dental caries in permanent… (2023) | Mean new caries increment (surfaces) 0.01 | 1 study · 1016 participants | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Pang,2021 [19]; model performance 2 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR− 1.00 [0.85, 1.18] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Carious dentin vs Sound dentin MMP-2 presence/activity · Human ex vivo carious dentin (mostly coronal), natural caries lesions Presence of host and bacterial-derived collagenolytic proteases in carious dentin: a systematic review of ex… (2023) | MMP-2 may be increased in carious dentin when compared to sound dentin, but the evidence is very uncertain. | 7 studies · 373 participants | Very low |
Toothache vs No toothache Oral health-related quality of life · Adolescents aged 10-19 years Oral-health-related quality of life in adolescents: umbrella review. (2023) | no estimate extracted | NR | Ungraded |
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, Temporization >2 weeks Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023) | Proportion 4.25 [1.28, 8.85] | 2280 participants | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Pang,2021 [19]; model performance 4 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR+ 1.54 [1.22, 1.94] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Indirect restorations (crowns, fixed partial dentures, inlays/onlays/veneers) vs None (single-group incidence) Pulp necrosis · Vital teeth restored with indirect restorations · >10 years, Follow-up >10 years Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023) | Proportion 6.74 [2.82, 12.18] | 3640 participants | Ungraded |
2.26% ammonium bifluoride (one-time) vs Control (details reported as unavailable) New coronal caries in permanent first molars (caries prevention) · Children with dental caries in permanent (first) molars · 12 months, Mauro 2004 A systematic review on the effect of silver diamine fluoride for management of dental caries in permanent… (2023) | Prevented Fraction 56 | 1 study · 141 participants | Ungraded |
Surgery vs Radiotherapy alone Adverse events associated with treatment · Adults with oropharyngeal cancer Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane | Adverse events: grade 2+ treatment-related events similar (31/34 radiotherapy vs 33/34 surgery; RR 0.94, 0.83 to 1.06); more hearing loss/neutropenia/constipation/tinnitus with radiotherapy, more oral bleeding/trismus… | 1 study · 68 participants | Very low |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Angulo,1995 [13]; model performance 1 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR− 0.94 [0.74, 1.20] | 1 study | Ungraded |