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
Caries experience at the surface level (dmfs/defs) · Children (mean age newborn to ~5.2 years) and their parents/carers
Comprehensive interventions produced a small, statistically significant reduction in surface-level caries (dmfs SMD -0.14, 95% CI -0.26 to -0.02; 10 studies; not GRADE-rated).
1 finding from 1 review
Caries experience · Children (mean age newborn to ~5.2 years) and their parents/carers
Comprehensive interventions produced a statistically significant reduction in tooth-level caries (dmft SMD -0.47, 95% CI -0.84 to -0.10; 4 studies; not GRADE-rated), though heterogeneity was very high.
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 fluoride mouthrinse; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
RR 0.89 [0.78, 1.00]
5 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 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
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
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
Adverse effects · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
1 finding from 1 review
Adverse effects · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
1 finding from 1 review
Gao 2019 noted that "arrested lesions were stained black" (reported with no associated data). No other adverse effects observed, and no reports from parents of systemic disease.
1 study · 1070 participants
Very low
Adverse effects · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
1 finding from 1 review
In 1 study, black or brown staining on treated lesions was more common after SDF (OR 3.19, 95% CI 1.95 to 5.23), with no other adverse effects. 1 study reported complaints of a transient bitter taste with SDF use (with…
3 studies · 980 participants
Very low
Aesthetics · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Caries incidence of first permanent molars (FPMs) · Schoolchildren aged 6-12 years with sound occlusal surfaces of the first permanent molars
Pit and fissure sealant and fluoride varnish showed no statistically significant difference in caries incidence of first permanent molars at 24 months (RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.31 to 1.38; I2=89%; not GRADE-rated).
1 finding from 1 review
Adverse events and periodontal/secondary outcomes (gingival bleeding, gingival bleeding index, visible plaque index) · Children and adults with non-cavitated proximal (interproximal) caries lesions in primary and/or permanent teeth (ages 3-45)
Only three trials reported secondary/adverse outcomes; no adverse events were attributed to microinvasive treatment and periodontal findings were mixed and not pooled (ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Microinvasive interventions in the management of proximal caries lesions in primary and permanent teeth- systematic… 2025 All outcomesBaseline and follow-up · Multiple countries (Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, USA, Turkey, Switzerland, Germany, New Zealand, Chile, Thailand); dental clinic/community settings
Reported narratively by 3 trials (Arthur 2018, Sarti 2020, Jorge 2019). No adverse events were attributed to microinvasive treatment. Gingival bleeding index: no significant difference in Arthur 2018 and Jorge 2019 but…
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Fluorosis (adverse effect; % of children with fluorotic teeth) · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque and gingivitis scores · Children and adolescents aged 16 years or less
1 finding from 1 review
Treatment success (caries lesion arrest or restoration survival) · Children (aged 3-11 y) with cavitated caries lesions in primary teeth
At 12 months, the Hall technique had significantly higher treatment success than sodium fluoride varnish (OR 6.38; moderate certainty).
2 findings from 1 review
OR 6.38 [1.41, 28.96]
43 studies
Moderate
OR 8.19 [1.44, 46.63]
44 studies
Moderate