What do systematic reviews say?

Intervention not reported

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

  Preschoolers (AlKhayat, Dubai private preschools)
  Prevalence 38.5%
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Observed population vs Not applicable

MIH prevalence was 7.59%.

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

  Overall
  Prevalence 7.59
  1 study · 779 participants
  GRADE not reported

Special health care needs vs Not applicable

Dental caries prevalence was 85.2%.

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

  Overall
  Prevalence 85.2
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Gastroesophageal or laryngopharyngeal reflux (GERD/LPR) vs Healthy individuals without reflux (controls)

Reflux (GERD/LPR) is associated with a higher prevalence and severity of dental erosion than in healthy individuals, but the evidence is heterogeneous, not pooled, and ungraded.

• Laryngopharyngeal reflux, gastroesophageal reflux and dental disorders: A systematic review. 2020 All outcomes

  Adult patients in gastroenterology, ENT and dental clinical settings
  Controlled studies showed GERD patients have a significantly higher rate or severity of dental erosion than healthy individuals; prevalence of dental erosion in reflux patients ranged from 16% to 44% versus <20% in…
  18 studies
  GRADE not reported

Video modelling acclimatisation vs Acclimatisation in clinic (tell-show-do)

Video modelling acclimatisation showed no clear difference in pre- and post-operative anxiety measures (Venham's scale) compared with acclimatisation in clinic (tell-show-do); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for increasing acceptance of local anaesthetic in children and adolescents having dental treatment 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  In advance of LA
  MD 0.13 [-0.37, 0.63]
  1 study · 46 participants
  GRADE not reported

Vegetarian diet (any diet excluding all meat, poultry and fish) vs Nonvegetarian diet

Among adults and excluding the outlier study, vegetarian diet was associated with higher odds of dental erosion with no heterogeneity (OR 2.56, 95% CI 1.77 to 3.71; ungraded).

• Vegetarian diet and its possible influence on dental health: A systematic literature review. 2020 All outcomes

  Multiple countries (mostly India; also Finland and other European countries, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago); community and clinical settings · Adults only, excluding Linkosalo & Markkanen 1985
  OR 2.56 [1.77, 3.71]
  4 studies
  GRADE not reported
• Vegetarian diet and its possible influence on dental health: A systematic literature review. 2020 All outcomes

  Multiple countries (mostly India; also Finland and other European countries, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago); community and clinical settings · Sensitivity analysis excluding Linkosalo & Markkanen 1985 (outlier)
  OR 1.97 [1.19, 3.27]
  5 studies
  GRADE not reported
• Vegetarian diet and its possible influence on dental health: A systematic literature review. 2020 All outcomes

  Multiple countries (mostly India; also Finland and other European countries, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago); community and clinical settings
  OR 2.40 [1.24, 4.66]
  6 studies
  GRADE not reported

Vegetarian diet (any diet excluding all meat, poultry and fish) vs Nonvegetarian diet

Evidence on the number of natural teeth was conflicting and could not be pooled (ungraded).

• Vegetarian diet and its possible influence on dental health: A systematic literature review. 2020 All outcomes

  Multiple countries (mostly India; also Finland and other European countries, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago); community and clinical settings
  Seven studies reported on the number of teeth with conflicting findings; meta-analysis was not possible due to inconsistent outcome definitions. One study found vegetarians had significantly more teeth; two found no…
  7 studies
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

Among patients with dental erosion, 64% to 75% had GERD or reflux findings across four studies; evidence is ungraded and not pooled.

• Laryngopharyngeal reflux, gastroesophageal reflux and dental disorders: A systematic review. 2020 All outcomes

  Adult patients in gastroenterology, ENT and dental clinical settings
  Four studies reported the prevalence of GERD/reflux findings among patients with dental erosion, ranging from 64% to 75% (Bartlett 64% pathological distal reflux; Gudmundsson 75% esophagitis; Wilder-Smith 69% GERD at…
  3 studies
  GRADE not reported

Antimicrobial mouthwash and/or nasal spray (alone or in combination), any concentration, frequency or dosage vs No treatment or saline or water

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Antimicrobial mouthwashes (gargling) and nasal sprays administered to patients with suspected or confirmed COVID‐19… 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No data available (no included studies)
  0 studies
  No studies found

Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall

Clinical examination with risk-based recall showed no clear difference in dental caries: prevalence of root caries compared with clinical examination with 6-month recall; GRADE not reported.

• Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 years
  RR 0.93 [0.76, 1.13]
  1 study · 1306 participants
  GRADE not reported

Clinical examination with 24-month recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall

Clinical examination with 24-month recall showed no clear difference in dental caries: prevalence of moderate to extensive caries (ICDAS 3-6) compared with clinical examination with 6-month recall (low certainty).

• Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 years
  RR 1.05 [0.92, 1.20]
  1 study · 271 participants
  Low

Audiovisual distraction vs Conventional treatment

Audiovisual distraction led to lower pre- and post-operative anxiety measures (Modified Child Dental… compared with conventional treatment; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for increasing acceptance of local anaesthetic in children and adolescents having dental treatment 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  During LA · Audiovisual glasses vs conventional
  MD -12.60 [-15.33, -9.87]
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall

Clinical examination with risk-based recall showed no clear difference in dental caries: prevalence of moderate to extensive caries (ICDAS 3-6) compared with clinical examination with 6-month recall (moderate certainty).

• Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 years
  RR 1.04 [0.99, 1.09]
  1 study · 1478 participants
  Moderate

Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 24-month recall

Clinical examination with risk-based recall showed no clear difference in dental caries: prevalence of root caries compared with clinical examination with 24-month recall; GRADE not reported.

• Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 years
  RR 1.21 [0.72, 2.03]
  1 study · 247 participants
  GRADE not reported

Clinical examination with 24-month recall vs Clinical examination with 6-month recall

Clinical examination with 24-month recall showed no clear difference in dental caries: prevalence of root caries compared with clinical examination with 6-month recall; GRADE not reported.

• Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 years
  RR 1.17 [0.65, 2.11]
  1 study · 238 participants
  GRADE not reported

Clinical examination with risk-based recall vs Clinical examination with 24-month recall

Clinical examination with risk-based recall showed no clear difference in dental caries: prevalence of moderate to extensive caries (ICDAS 3-6) compared with clinical examination with 24-month recall (moderate certainty).

• Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 years
  RR 1.06 [0.95, 1.19]
  1 study · 279 participants
  Moderate

Electric toothbrush (self, carer or carer-assisted brushing) vs Manual toothbrush

• Oral hygiene interventions for people with intellectual disabilities 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Long term (>12 months)
  Comparison 2.8 (reported; not GRADE-rated). One NRS (Bratel 1991, 23 participants), self-efficacy at 16 months: 10/12 people with ID using the electric toothbrush reported a preference for it, finding it easier to use…
  1 study · 23 participants
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

• Oral health in children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis - a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2019 All outcomes

  -
  Proportion with untreated caries NR (significantly higher in JIA)
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

38% silver diamine fluoride vs placebo

38% silver diamine fluoride reduced root-caries increment (DMFRS/DFRS) versus placebo, MD −0.33 (95% CI −0.39 to −0.28) (ungraded).

• Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. 2019 All outcomes
  MD -0.33 [-0.39, -0.28]
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported
• Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. 2019 All outcomes
  Relative success-rate difference (% higher, SDF vs placebo) 72
  1 study
  GRADE not reported
• Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. 2019 All outcomes
  Prevented Fraction 25–71
  4 studies
  GRADE not reported

Fluoride varnish vs placebo

One review reported a 54% prevented fraction for fluoride varnish versus placebo for preventing coronal caries in primary teeth (one study; ungraded; comparator intervention, not SDF).

• Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. 2019 All outcomes

  Primary dentition
  Prevented Fraction 54
  1 study
  GRADE not reported