Adverse effects: dental fluorosis · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Unacceptability of treatment (dropouts/exclusions during the trial) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish;… showed no clear difference in unacceptability of treatment (dropouts/exclusions during the trial) compared with placebo or no treatment; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
RR 1.20 [0.85, 1.70]
10 studies
GRADE not reported
Proportion developing new caries · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or younger (permanent dentition)
Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish;… led to lower proportion of children developing one or more new caries compared with placebo or no treatment; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
RR 0.88 [0.82, 0.95]
13 studies
GRADE not reported
Coronal carious lesions arrest · Children with coronal carious lesions (primary dentition)
One review reported prevented fractions of 55 to 96% favouring 38% SDF over fluoride varnish or placebo for arresting coronal caries in primary teeth (two studies; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Prevented Fraction 55–96
2 studies
GRADE not reported
Coronal carious lesions arrest · Children with coronal carious lesions (primary dentition)
One review reported a risk ratio of 1.66 favouring SDF over fluoride varnish or ART for arresting coronal caries in primary teeth (no CI; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
RR 1.66
2 studies
GRADE not reported
Coronal carious lesions arrest · Children with coronal carious lesions (primary dentition)
Across three reviews, 38% SDF arrested 65 to 91% of coronal lesions in primary teeth, outperforming fluoride varnish (38 to 44%), glass ionomer cement (39 to 82%), and placebo (34%) (ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Arrest rate 65–91
6 studies
GRADE not reported
Unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
Fluoride toothpaste showed no clear difference in unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs) compared with fluoride mouthrinse; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
RR 0.89 [0.78, 1.00]
5 studies
GRADE not reported
Proportion of children developing new caries (permanent) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
Fluoride toothpaste showed no clear difference in proportion of children developing new caries (permanent) compared with fluoride mouthrinse; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
RR 0.90 [0.60, 1.37]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Caries increment in permanent teeth · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
1 finding from 1 review
Caries increment in permanent teeth · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
1 finding from 1 review
Unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs / leaving study early) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
Fluoride toothpaste showed no clear difference in unacceptability of treatment (drop-outs) compared with any other topical fluoride (gel or mouthrinse); GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
RR 0.88 [0.78, 1.00]
6 studies
GRADE not reported
Caries increment in permanent teeth · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
1 finding from 1 review
Secondary prevention of caries · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Aesthetics · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
It is very uncertain whether silver diamine fluoride (SDF) changes aesthetics compared with fluoride varnish (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Dental pain or sensitivity · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Primary caries prevention · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Aesthetics · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Dental pain or sensitivity · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Dental pain or sensitivity · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
It is very uncertain whether silver diamine fluoride (SDF) changes dental pain or sensitivity compared with fluoride varnish (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Primary caries prevention · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
It is very uncertain whether silver diamine fluoride (SDF) changes primary caries prevention compared with fluoride varnish (very low certainty).
3 findings from 1 review
MD -0.20 [-0.91, 0.51]
1 study · 100 participants
Very low
OR 0.95 [0.44, 2.05]
1 study · 237 participants
Very low
MD 0.00 [-0.26, 0.26]
1 study · 434 participants
Low