Streptococcus mutans load in the oral cavity (saliva and/or dental plaque) · Adults and children (general population)
In a sensitivity analysis assuming a 0.95 baseline-to-endpoint correlation for the sugar-free gum arm, the effect remained significant (SMD -0.55, 95% CI -0.80 to -0.30; 13 trials, I2 73%); certainty not formally graded.
2 findings from 1 review
Streptococcus mutans load in the oral cavity (saliva and/or dental plaque) · Adults and children (general population)
Xylitol-only sugar-free gum significantly reduced Streptococcus mutans load versus pooled controls (SMD -0.46, 95% CI -0.64 to -0.28; 12 trials, I2 43%); certainty not formally graded.
1 finding from 1 review
Salivary Lactobacilli counts · Patients with drooling (sialorrhea) due to neurological disease
Salivary Lactobacilli counts were unchanged in two studies but significantly increased in one study one month after BoNT (ungraded; no effect estimate reported).
1 finding from 1 review
Salivary osmolality (hydration level) · Patients with drooling (sialorrhea) due to neurological disease
No included study reported salivary osmolality; this pre-planned outcome remains unassessed (no studies).
1 finding from 1 review
Salivary S. mutans level · Patients with drooling (sialorrhea) due to neurological disease
BoNT injections were not associated with significant changes in salivary S. mutans counts across three studies (ungraded; no effect estimate reported).
1 finding from 1 review
Salivary pH · Patients with drooling (sialorrhea) due to neurological disease
BoNT injections were not associated with significant changes in oral/salivary pH across three studies (ungraded; no effect estimate reported).
1 finding from 1 review
Development of >=1 new carious lesion (caries incidence) · Patients with drooling (sialorrhea) due to neurological disease
In one RCT, BoNT-B 2500 U was not associated with a statistically significant increase in new caries versus placebo (RR 2.4, 95% CI 0.48 to 11.80; not significant).
2 findings from 1 review
Salivary buffering capacity · Patients with drooling (sialorrhea) due to neurological disease
Salivary buffering capacity did not decrease after BoNT; one of two quasi-experimental studies reported a significant increase (ungraded; no effect estimate reported).
1 finding from 1 review
Oral health effects of botulinum toxin treatment for drooling: a systematic review. 2020 All outcomesBefore vs after BoNT injection (2018 study: significant buffering increase at 1 month; 2017 study no change) · Neurological-disease populations with drooling (e.g., cerebral palsy, Parkinson disease, adults with sialorrhea); specialist clinical care
The quasi-experimental studies of Tiigimae-Saar found different results concerning the changes in buffering capacity. For the analysis carried out in 2017, no statistically significant change was observed. By contrast,…
2 studies
GRADE not reported
Caries increment, tooth index D(M)FT · Children and adolescents with immature permanent dentition (aged 5 to 16 years at study start)
440 to 550 ppm F toothpaste showed no clear difference in caries increment, tooth index D(M)FT compared with non-fluoride (0 ppm F) placebo toothpaste (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
SMD -0.18 [-0.41, 0.04]
2 studies
Low
Caries increment, tooth index D(M)FT · Adults with mature permanent dentition (aged 18 to 93 years at study start)
1000 or 1100 ppm F toothpaste showed no clear difference in caries increment, tooth index DMFT compared with non-fluoride (0 ppm F) placebo toothpaste (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Number of participants with more severe DLs (severity of DLs) · Orthodontic patients of any age with fixed braces (new DLs assessed at debond)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Caries increment, tooth index D(M)FT · Children and adolescents with immature permanent dentition (aged 5 to 16 years at study start)
1450 to 1500 ppm F toothpaste probably leads to lower caries increment, tooth index D(M)FT compared with non-fluoride (0 ppm F) placebo toothpaste (moderate certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
SMD -0.39 [-0.49, -0.28]
4 studies
Moderate
Root carious lesions arrest · Older adults with root carious lesions (exposed root surfaces)
One review reported SDF may reduce progression of root caries, with no numeric result (ungraded).
3 findings from 1 review
One systematic review found that SDF can be efficacious to decrease progression of root carious lesions (no numeric results reported) [24].
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Prevented Fraction 100–725
2 studies
GRADE not reported
One low risk of bias systematic review reported that 38% SDF was significantly more effective than placebo in arresting root carious lesions (pooled results were not calculated) [31].
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Caries increment, tooth index D(M)FT · Children and adolescents with immature permanent dentition (aged 5 to 16 years at study start)
2400 to 2800 ppm F toothpaste may leads to lower caries increment, tooth index D(M)FT compared with non-fluoride (0 ppm F) placebo toothpaste (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
SMD -0.39 [-0.52, -0.25]
2 studies
Low
Caries increment, surface index D(M)FS · Children and adolescents with immature permanent dentition (aged 5 to 16 years at study start)
1450 to 1500 ppm F toothpaste probably leads to lower caries increment, surface index D(M)FS compared with non-fluoride (0 ppm F) placebo toothpaste (moderate certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
SMD -0.36 [-0.43, -0.29]
4 studies
Moderate
Caries increment, tooth index D(M)FT · Children and adolescents with immature permanent dentition (aged 5 to 16 years at study start)
1700 to 2200 ppm F toothpaste may leads to lower caries increment, tooth index D(M)FT compared with non-fluoride (0 ppm F) placebo toothpaste (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
SMD -0.33 [-0.56, -0.11]
Studies not reported
Low
Caries increment, surface index D(M)FS · Children and adolescents with immature permanent dentition (aged 5 to 16 years at study start)
250 ppm F toothpaste may leads to lower caries increment, surface index D(M)FS compared with non-fluoride (0 ppm F) placebo toothpaste (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
SMD -0.15 [-0.25, -0.05]
3 studies
Low
Coronal carious lesions arrest · Children with dental caries in permanent (first) molars
One review reported a 100% prevented fraction for 38% SDF for arresting coronal caries in permanent first molars (one study; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Prevented Fraction 100
1 study
GRADE not reported
Root carious lesions prevention · Older adults with root carious lesions (exposed root surfaces)
38% silver diamine fluoride reduced root-caries increment (DMFRS/DFRS) versus placebo, MD −0.33 (95% CI −0.39 to −0.28) (ungraded).
3 findings from 1 review
Arrest or reversal of noncavitated facial/lingual carious lesions · Children and adults with noncavitated carious lesions on facial/lingual surfaces (primary and permanent teeth)
10% CPP-ACP cream (+ 900-ppm NaF mouthrinse + 1,000-ppm NaF dentifrice) may not differ from Placebo cream (+ 900-ppm NaF mouthrinse + 1,000-ppm NaF dentifrice) for arrest or reversal of facial/lingual carious lesions (RR 1.28, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.68; low certainty).
3 findings from 1 review