Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

Refine by population, intervention, comparison or outcome
More filters
Evidence found and GRADE certainty

1,338 questions · 2,104 findings · 136 reviews · Dental caries

No studies found 159 · 7.6%GRADE not reported 1,657 · 78.8%Very low 138 · 6.6%Low 111 · 5.3%Moderate 36 · 1.7%High 3 · 0.1%

Fluoride gel (topically applied; operator- or self-applied; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs placebo or no treatment

Proportion developing new caries · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition)

Fluoride gel (topically applied; operator- or self-applied; any… led to lower proportion of children developing new caries compared with placebo or no treatment; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Higher drinking-water fluoride exposure vs Lower water fluoride concentration (concurrent control)

Adverse effects: dental fluorosis · Populations of all ages (mostly children) exposed to drinking water with differing fluoride concentrations

Higher water fluoride concentration (fluoridated water; natural or… may leads to higher dental fluorosis of any level (all severities) compared with lower water fluoride concentration (concurrent control) (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Xylitol lozenges (4.7 g/day) vs no treatment

Number of children with a caries increment · Children (permanent teeth; baseline 8 to 10 years)

Xylitol lozenges (4.7 g/day) showed no clear difference in number of children with a caries increment compared with no treatment; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride gel (topically applied; operator- or self-applied; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs placebo or no treatment

Caries increment in primary/deciduous teeth: decayed, (extraction indicated/missing) and filled teeth d(e/m)ft (prevented fraction) · Children with primary (deciduous) teeth (younger children)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Initiation of water fluoridation (artificial or natural) vs Low/non-fluoridated water (0.4 ppm fluoride or less)

Caries increment in permanent teeth · Children aged about 12 to 16 years (Hardwick 1982), community setting

Initiation of water fluoridation (artificial or natural) led to lower caries in permanent teeth (change in DMFS) compared with low/non-fluoridated water (0.4 ppm fluoride or less); GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride gel (topically applied; operator- or self-applied; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs placebo or no treatment

Proportion of children not remaining caries-free · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition)

Fluoride gel (topically applied; operator- or self-applied; any… showed no clear difference in proportion of children not remaining caries-free compared with placebo or no treatment; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride varnish vs placebo or no treatment

Proportion of children developing new caries (deciduous) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

Fluoride varnish showed no clear difference in proportion of children developing one or more new caries… compared with placebo or no treatment; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Resin composite restorations containing antibacterial agents vs Non-antibacterial containing composite restorations

Secondary caries · Adults and adolescents in any age group with restorations in the permanent dentition and children with restorations in the primary dentition

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride varnish vs placebo or no treatment

Proportion of children developing new caries (permanent) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less

Fluoride varnish showed no clear difference in proportion of children developing one or more new caries (permanent… compared with placebo or no treatment; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) vs Topical fluoride (fluoride rinse, varnish or toothpaste)

Caries increment in permanent teeth · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
2 findings from 1 review

Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) vs No fluoride supplement (placebo or no treatment)

Caries increment in permanent teeth · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
3 findings from 1 review

Flossing plus toothbrushing (self-performed; manual or automated floss) vs Toothbrushing alone

Interproximal caries · Dentate adults aged 16 years or older (excluding orthodontic patients and those with severe periodontal disease)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review