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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Growth stunting (linear growth retardation, low height-for-age) vs Children without growth stunting (normal height-for-age) Early childhood caries (def-t/dmft caries experience) · Children in early childhood (0-6 years) · Achmad et al. 2020 (Indonesia) The bi-directional relationship between growth stunting and early childhood caries: a rapid review. (2023) | MEAN 7.37 | 1 study · 208 participants | Ungraded |
Resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) vs Glass ionomer cement (GIC) Secondary caries (occurrence) · Patients requiring dental restoration; permanent teeth · 2 or more years of follow-up Clinical efficacy of bioactive restorative materials in controlling secondary caries: a systematic review… (2023) | RR 1.33 [0.70, 2.54] | 5 studies · 141 participants | Low |
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− 0.2 [0.16, 0.25] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Hänsel Petersson,2010 [31]; model performance 3 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR+ 1.61 [1.38, 1.88] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Mutans streptococci present in oral samples at baseline vs Mutans streptococci absent in oral samples at baseline Future caries experience (dmft/dmfs) · Children younger than 6 years with caries-free primary dentition (no cavitated or non-cavitated lesions at baseline) · 1 to 2 years, Overall Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and… (2023) | SMD 0.85 [0.33, 1.37] | 4 studies · 1323 participants | Ungraded |
Early childhood caries / severe early childhood caries vs Caries-free children Growth stunting / low linear growth (height-for-age z-score) · Children in early childhood (0-6 years) · 1-year follow-up, Renggli et al. 2021 (Cambodia) The bi-directional relationship between growth stunting and early childhood caries: a rapid review. (2023) | OR 1.8 [1.0, 3.0] | 1 study · 1307 participants | Ungraded |
Calcium hydroxide (CH) vs Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) Continued root formation / root development · Patients with carious pulp exposure in permanent teeth (predominantly immature) undergoing DPC or pulpotomy · ≥6 months follow-up Comparative efficacy of materials used in patients undergoing pulpotomy or direct pulp capping in carious… (2023) | CH vs MTA was the only informative comparison for root development (3 RCTs); estimates had implausibly wide 95% CIs, all including no difference, and two trials gave contradictory results (Qudeimat 2007 favored CH, OR… | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Carious dentin vs Sound dentin Cathepsin B (CT-B) 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) | CT-B may be increased in carious dentin when compared to sound dentin, but the evidence is very uncertain (Vidal et al., 2014; Nascimento et al., 2011: significantly higher in caries, p<0.05). | 2 studies · 22 participants | Very low |
38% SDF every 12 months vs water every 12 months new carious lesions or fillings at fissure-site level · children with caries in permanent molars · 24 months A systematic review on the effect of silver diamine fluoride for management of dental caries in permanent… (2023) | Preventative fraction (%) 52 | 1 study · 501 participants | Ungraded |
Surgery plus adjuvant radiotherapy vs Chemotherapy (chemoradiotherapy) Recurrence · Adults with oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer · oral cavity Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane | Recurrence: not reported for the oral cancer subgroup (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, Fontana,2011 [16]; model performance 11 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR+ 1.92 [1.28, 2.89] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Surgery vs Radiotherapy alone Disease-free survival (new disease, progression, and mortality) · Adults with oropharyngeal cancer · 3 years Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane | HR 1.07 [0.27, 4.22] | 1 study · 68 participants | Low |
Root carious dentin vs Coronal carious dentin MMP-13 activity · Human root and coronal carious dentin Presence of host and bacterial-derived collagenolytic proteases in carious dentin: a systematic review of ex… (2023) | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 7 participants | Very low |
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 14 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR+ 1.88 [1.27, 2.79] | 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 coronal caries increment (positive likelihood ratio, LR+) · Children and adolescents (aged 2-19) at risk of coronal caries increment (caries onset or progression) · 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. Per-model LR+ (Table 2) across the 9 validation studies (31 coronal models) ranged roughly 0.78-5.53 (e.g. Beck 1.62-3.00, Christian/CAMBRA 1.09-1.14, Gao 2013 CAT ~1.03 to NUS-CRA 5.31, Campus 5.53,… | 9 studies | Ungraded |
Favorable family structure (being an only child; nuclear family) vs Having siblings / non-nuclear family structure Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) · Adolescents (10-19 years) Oral-health-related quality of life in adolescents: umbrella review. (2023) | Being an only child, growing up in your nuclear family or family structure, household conditions, and number of people per household and maternal age are predictors of better OHRQoL [43]. | NR | Ungraded |
Outer/shallower carious dentin vs Inner/deeper carious dentin MMP-8 location/presence · Human carious dentin Presence of host and bacterial-derived collagenolytic proteases in carious dentin: a systematic review of ex… (2023) | No clear single direction for MMP-8 by lesion depth/location (Kuhn 2016 NS by location; Shimada 2009 higher in outer); very low | 2 studies | Very low |
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 1 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR+ 0.78 [0.57, 1.08] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Polyether impression material vs Polyvinyl siloxane impression material Pulp necrosis incidence · Vital teeth · Polyvinyl siloxane Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023) | Proportion 3.17 [1.55, 5.34] | 636 participants | Ungraded |
Surgery vs Radiotherapy alone Recurrence · Adults with oropharyngeal cancer Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment (2023) · Cochrane | Recurrence: not reported. | 0 studies | No studies |
Indirect restorations (crowns, fixed partial dentures, inlays/onlays/veneers) vs None (single-group incidence) Periapical pathosis · Vital teeth restored with indirect restorations · Follow-up ≤5 to >10 years, Fixed partial dentures (FPD) Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023) | Proportion 4.59 [2.28, 7.64] | 9 studies · 2435 participants | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Root caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Ritter,2016 [22]; model performance 5 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR− 0.39 [0.26, 0.60] | 1 study | 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 1 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR− 0.26 [0.19, 0.34] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) Clinical and radiographic success · Patients with carious pulp exposure in permanent teeth with mixed root development · 1 to 2 years, Mixed root development Comparative efficacy of materials used in patients undergoing pulpotomy or direct pulp capping in carious… (2023) | OR 1.11 [0.17, 7.11] | 3 studies · 257 participants | Very low |
P11-4 + fluoride varnish vs Self-assembling peptide P11-4 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 -0.40 [-0.97, 0.17] | NR | 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 5 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR− 0.47 [0.40, 0.55] | 1 study | 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 5 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR+ 1.04 [1.02, 1.06] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Fluoride varnish applied periodically (at least quarterly) around the bracket bases during treatment vs Placebo varnish, resin sealant, or standard care (oral hygiene instructions) White spot lesion clinical score (mean values), subject level · Healthy adolescents and adults undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed multi-bracket appliances · At debonding Prevention of white spot lesions with fluoride varnish during orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances: a… (2023) | SMD -0.44 [-0.64, -0.24] | 2 studies · 258 participants | Ungraded |
Amalgam (AAG) vs Glass ionomer cement (GIC) Secondary caries (occurrence) · Patients requiring dental restoration; permanent teeth · 2 or more years of follow-up Clinical efficacy of bioactive restorative materials in controlling secondary caries: a systematic review… (2023) | RR 1.79 [1.04, 3.09] | 7 studies · 390 participants | Low |
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Any (current minimally invasive techniques) Not applicable (no eligible studies) · Adults with coronal (crown) dental caries in permanent teeth A systematic review on the effect of silver diamine fluoride for management of dental caries in permanent… (2023) | The review states there was a lack of studies on the effects of SDF on coronal caries in adults; included adult studies addressed only root caries. | 0 studies | No studies |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Christian,2020 [27]; model performance 2 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR− 0.83 [0.55, 1.26] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Root caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Hayes,2017 [33]; model performance 1 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR− 0.34 [0.21, 0.54] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Root caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Ritter,2016 [22]; model performance 2 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR+ 2.23 [1.60, 3.10] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Irradiated carious dentin vs Non-irradiated carious dentin MMP-20 expression · Human carious dentin from irradiated and non-irradiated subjects Presence of host and bacterial-derived collagenolytic proteases in carious dentin: a systematic review of ex… (2023) | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 36 participants | Very low |
Probiotic mouthwash (e.g., Lactobacillus-based) vs Blank control (no mouthwash; before-after comparison) Cariogenic bacteria (Mutans streptococci colony count) · Orthodontic patients (any age) undergoing orthodontic treatment (mostly fixed appliances) · <=3 months (short-term) 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 [53]. Colony count of MS was insignificantly increased compared to baseline [33]. | 2 studies | Very low |
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) · 3.5 years (42 months), Follow-up: 3.5 years (42 months) Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and… (2023) | OR 4.23 [2.49, 7.18] | 1 study · 366 participants | Ungraded |
Treatment of traumatic dental injury vs Untreated dental trauma Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) · Adolescents (10-19 years) Oral-health-related quality of life in adolescents: umbrella review. (2023) | Treatment of TDI reduces the negative impact on OHRQoL in adolescents, based on parental perception [33]. Treatment of traumatic dental injuries reduces the impact on the OHRQoL with low evidence [46]. | NR | 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− 0.60 [0.47, 0.76] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Fluoride mouthwash vs Blank control Plaque-related index · Orthodontic patients · ≤ 3 months The efficacy of mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and gingivitis in patients undergoing orthodontic… (2023) | TI was significantly reduced compared to baseline [34]; PI was significantly reduced compared to baseline but similar to blank control [46]. | 2 studies | Very low |
Daily chewing gum for 2 weeks or longer vs No gum chewing or control Unstimulated whole salivary flow rate · Elderly people and medically compromised people with xerostomia · 2 to 12 weeks, Meta-regression by chewing duration The effect of gum chewing on xerostomia and salivary flow rate in elderly and medically compromised… (2023) | SMD per week 0.06 | 6 studies · 291 participants | Ungraded |
Functional edentulism vs No functional edentulism Poor oral health-related quality of life · Indians Impact of oral conditions on oral health-related quality of life among Indians- a systematic review and… (2023) | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 368 participants | Very low |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Coronal caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Dolic,2020 [28]; model performance 1 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR− 0.67 [0.45, 0.98] | 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, Follow-up: 6 months Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and… (2023) | OR 4.65 [2.01, 10.76] | 2 studies · 303 participants | Ungraded |
Multivariable caries prediction model vs Additional prediction model(s) Root caries increment · Individuals of all ages · Follow-up ≥1 year, Hayes,2017 [33]; model performance 3 Multivariable prediction models of caries increment: a systematic review and critical appraisal. (2023) | LR− 0.37 [0.23, 0.59] | 1 study | Ungraded |
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, no 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) 0.06 | 1 study · 1016 participants | Ungraded |
Ceramic restoration material vs Porcelain-fused-to-metal restoration material Pulp necrosis incidence · Vital teeth · Ceramic Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023) | Proportion 5.59 [2.89, 9.12] | 460 participants | Ungraded |
Pulp-status assessment method Pulp necrosis incidence · Vital teeth · Radiographic Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations:… (2023) | Proportion 4.95 [2.43, 8.29] | 5 studies · 1853 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride varnish vs Control (placebo / no active therapy) 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 -0.25 [-0.51, 0.02] | 12 studies | 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) · 3 months, Follow-up: 3 months White spot lesions, plaque accumulation and salivary caries-associated bacteria in clear aligners compared… (2023) | SMD -1.08 [-1.93, -0.24] | 5 studies · 211 participants | Ungraded |
Uncomplicated traumatic dental injury vs No traumatic dental injury 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 |