What do systematic reviews say?

All GNI strata vs No comparator

The overall pooled mean DMFT was 2.10 across all GNI strata.

• Caries status in 12-year-old children, geographical location and socioeconomic conditions across European countries: A… 2025 All outcomes

  2011-2022 · Europe · Overall
  Mean DMFT 2.10 [1.63, 2.57]
  34 studies
  GRADE not reported

All M49 regions vs No comparator

The overall pooled mean DMFT was 2.10 across all M49 regions.

• Caries status in 12-year-old children, geographical location and socioeconomic conditions across European countries: A… 2025 All outcomes

  2011-2022 · Europe · Overall
  Mean DMFT 2.10 [1.63, 2.57]
  34 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of imaging… 2025 All outcomes

  Imaging modality: Bitewing radiographs
  Log DOR 3.96 [3.20, 4.72]
  5 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of imaging… 2025 All outcomes

  Imaging modality: Periapical radiographs
  Specificity 0.88 [0.82, 0.93]
  12 studies
  GRADE not reported

Machine-learning algorithms for dental caries detection vs Dental expert / visual-tactile clinical assessment (reference standard)

The negative post-test probability was 6%; certainty was not graded.

• Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of imaging… 2025 All outcomes

  Dental imaging across modalities · Overall (all imaging modalities pooled)
  Post-test probability 0.06
  20 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of imaging… 2025 All outcomes

  Imaging modality: Panoramic radiographs
  Log DOR 5.08 [4.15, 6.02]
  8 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of imaging… 2025 All outcomes

  Overall; trim-and-fill (20 observed + 6 imputed studies)
  Sensitivity 0.818 [0.778, 0.858]
  26 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of imaging… 2025 All outcomes

  Imaging modality: CBCT
  Log DOR 6.33 [5.95, 6.71]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of imaging… 2025 All outcomes

  Imaging modality: Intraoral photographic images
  Sensitivity 0.80 [0.69, 0.90]
  7 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of imaging… 2025 All outcomes

  Imaging modality: Panoramic radiographs
  Specificity 0.97 [0.96, 0.98]
  8 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of imaging… 2025 All outcomes

  Imaging modality: Periapical radiographs
  Log DOR 4.72 [3.16, 6.27]
  12 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of imaging… 2025 All outcomes

  Overall; trim-and-fill (20 observed + 6 imputed studies)
  Log DOR 3.913 [3.219, 4.606]
  26 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of imaging… 2025 All outcomes

  Imaging modality: Intraoral photographic images
  Log DOR 3.69 [2.80, 4.59]
  7 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of imaging… 2025 All outcomes

  Imaging modality: CBCT
  Sensitivity 0.73 [0.68, 0.77]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of imaging… 2025 All outcomes

  Imaging modality: Intraoral photographic images
  Specificity 0.84 [0.77, 0.91]
  7 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of imaging… 2025 All outcomes

  Imaging modality: Panoramic radiographs
  Sensitivity 0.83 [0.72, 0.94]
  8 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of imaging… 2025 All outcomes

  Imaging modality: CBCT
  Specificity 1.00 [0.99, 1.00]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Machine-learning algorithms for dental caries detection vs Dental expert / visual-tactile clinical assessment (reference standard)

The positive post-test probability was 79%; certainty was not graded.

• Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of imaging… 2025 All outcomes

  Dental imaging across modalities · Overall (all imaging modalities pooled)
  Post-test probability 0.79
  20 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of imaging… 2025 All outcomes

  Imaging modality: Periapical radiographs
  Sensitivity 0.86 [0.83, 0.90]
  12 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of imaging… 2025 All outcomes

  Imaging modality: Bitewing radiographs
  Sensitivity 0.81 [0.72, 0.91]
  5 studies
  GRADE not reported