What do systematic reviews say?

Fixed tooth-borne expansion (Hyrax) vs Bonded expander plate (acrylic)

Fixed tooth-borne Hyrax expander showed no clear difference in molar expansion compared with bonded expander plate (acrylic); GRADE not reported.

• Orthodontic treatment for posterior crossbites 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes

  1 week after completion of expansion
  MD 0.36 [-0.72, 1.44]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Special health care needs vs None (descriptive; compared across disability types)

One study found very high caries (85.2%) and high unmet treatment needs among children with special healthcare needs, varying by disability type (narrative synthesis; not GRADE-rated).

• Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. 2021 All outcomes

  Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
  Alkhabuli et al. (Ras Al Khaimah) reported a high caries prevalence (85.2%) and high mean dmft/DMFT (5.67) among children with special healthcare needs. About two-thirds had good oral hygiene (highest in autism 100%,…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Topical triamcinolone acetonide vs Topical tacrolimus

Topical triamcinolone acetonide may leads to lower adverse effects compared with topical tacrolimus (low certainty).

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3-8 weeks
  RR 0.47 [0.22, 0.99]
  2 studies · 58 participants
  Low

Topical clobetasol propionate vs Topical tacrolimus

Topical clobetasol propionate showed no clear difference in pain (mean VAS score) compared with topical tacrolimus; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  end of treatment
  MD 0.08 [-0.33, 0.49]
  1 study · 68 participants
  GRADE not reported

Topical clobetasol propionate vs Topical tacrolimus

It is very uncertain whether topical clobetasol propionate changes clinical resolution compared with topical tacrolimus (very low certainty).

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3-8 weeks
  RR 0.61 [0.38, 0.99]
  2 studies · 52 participants
  Very low

Topical triamcinolone acetonide vs Topical tacrolimus

It is very uncertain whether topical triamcinolone acetonide changes clinical resolution compared with topical tacrolimus (very low certainty).

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3-8 weeks
  RR 0.86 [0.55, 1.35]
  2 studies · 60 participants
  Very low

Topical clobetasol propionate vs Topical tacrolimus

It is very uncertain whether topical clobetasol propionate changes adverse effects compared with topical tacrolimus (very low certainty).

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3-8 weeks
  RR 0.05 [0.00, 0.83]
  2 studies · 100 participants
  Very low

Topical triamcinolone acetonide vs Topical tacrolimus

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3-8 weeks
  Summary of findings 2: 'No data for this outcome' (triamcinolone vs tacrolimus, pain resolution)
  0 studies
  No studies found

Topical clobetasol propionate vs Topical tacrolimus

It is very uncertain whether topical clobetasol propionate changes pain resolution compared with topical tacrolimus (very low certainty).

• Interventions for treating oral lichen planus: corticosteroid therapies 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3-8 weeks
  RR 0.45 [0.24, 0.88]
  2 studies · 100 participants
  Very low

Down syndrome vs Individuals without Down syndrome (healthy controls: siblings, schoolchildren or others)

Individuals with Down syndrome had a lower mean DMFT in permanent teeth than controls (pooled SMD -0.18, 95% CI -0.35 to -0.02; 6 studies; I2=20%); certainty of evidence not graded.

• Association between Dental Caries and Down Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. 2015 All outcomes

  Individuals with and without Down syndrome from referral centres, national databases and schools across China, Portugal, Jordan, Nigeria, Brazil and India; cross-sectional studies
  SMD -0.18 [-0.35, -0.02]
  6 studies · 718 participants
  GRADE not reported

Down syndrome vs Individuals without Down syndrome (healthy controls: siblings, schoolchildren or others)

Individuals with Down syndrome had a lower prevalence of dental caries than those without (pooled OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.57; 2 studies; I2=0%); certainty of evidence not graded.

• Association between Dental Caries and Down Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. 2015 All outcomes

  Individuals with and without Down syndrome in Portugal (reference centre, national database and closest-age siblings); cross-sectional studies
  OR 0.36 [0.22, 0.57]
  2 studies · 314 participants
  GRADE not reported

All dental health care expenditure strata vs No comparator

The overall pooled mean DMFT was 2.10 across all dental health care expenditure 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 [1.61, 2.59]
  32 studies
  GRADE not reported

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