Dental caries · Primary school children in Ethiopia
Absence of toothpaste use was not significantly associated with dental caries (OR 1.42, 95% CI -1.278 to 4.109, p=0.3029; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 1.42 [-1.278, 4.109]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Enamel surface / cross-sectional microhardness · Human / bovine enamel specimens under cariogenic challenge (in situ / ex vivo)
CO2 laser irradiation changes enamel microhardness versus untreated enamel (MD 49.55, CI 37.74 to 61.37; ungraded, 3 ex-vivo studies, I2=48%); the forest plot shows higher microhardness in laser-treated enamel, although the review text states the opposite.
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 caries · Primary school children in Ethiopia
Being in grade levels 1-4 was associated with higher odds of dental caries (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.523-3.397; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 2.46 [1.523, 3.397]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
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
Dental caries · Primary school children in Ethiopia
A high intake of sweets was associated with higher odds of dental caries (OR 2.71, 95% CI 1.968-3.451; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 2.71 [1.968, 3.451]
5 studies
GRADE not reported
Enamel surface microhardness · Human tooth enamel specimens, sound/intact (in vitro)
In sound enamel, Er:YAG laser irradiation significantly increased surface microhardness after acid challenge versus untreated control (SMD 2.41, 95% CI 0.70 to 4.12; 3 in vitro studies; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
SMD 2.41 [0.70, 4.12]
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Adverse effects · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
1 finding from 1 review
Ruff 2022 reported that there were no adverse events during the study period; adverse events were not defined by the study authors. Assumed data available for 1398 participants.
1 study · 1398 participants
Very low
Intervention not reported
Dental caries in children
The intervention led to higher dental caries in children; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
OR 1.20 [1.04, 1.36]
4 studies
GRADE not reported
Caries arrest · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
It is very uncertain whether silver diamine fluoride (SDF) changes caries arrest compared with restoration (restorative treatment) (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Caries arrestment at the individual (patient) level · Children and adults without systemic diseases affecting dental health
SDF showed a higher caries-arrestment proportion at the individual level, but the reported difference was not statistically significant.
1 finding from 1 review
Adverse effects · Children and adults (with or without carious lesions)
1 finding from 1 review
Enamel resistance to demineralization (microhardness / lesion depth) · Human enamel adjacent to restorations or in pits and fissures (in situ / ex vivo)
Er:YAG laser showed a mixed and limited effect on enamel resistance to demineralization: feasible for controlling progression around restorations but not preventing caries formation, and ineffective in pits and fissures (ungraded, 2 ex-vivo studies, no pooled estimate).
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
Enamel demineralization (QLF ΔF) · Human enamel specimens under cariogenic challenge (in situ / ex vivo)
Evidence on a synergistic effect of combining CO2 laser with fluoride versus fluoride alone is mixed: one ex-vivo study found combined treatment superior while another found no synergy (ungraded, 2 ex-vivo studies, no pooled estimate).
1 finding from 1 review
Pattern of dental service utilisation and barriers · Adult residents of slums and non-slum urban settings of LMICs
Dental service use is low, episodic and pain-driven, with widespread self-care and cost/funding barriers; ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
Utilisation was generally low, episodic and mostly problem/pain-driven (pain-driven visits ~70-99%); widespread self-care/home remedies were used as alternatives to professional care; lack of funds/cost, income, age,…
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Frequency of mouth cleaning · Adult residents of slums and non-slum urban settings of LMICs
Twice-daily cleaning (recommended) is uncommon; most clean once, in the morning; ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
Mean DMFT (decayed, missing, filled permanent teeth) · Institutionalized orphan children (roughly 3 to 18 years)
Permanent-teeth caries experience (DMF) was marginally higher in institutionalized children but essentially similar to parented children (pooled MD 0.09, not significant; very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Oral disease burden, slum vs non-slum urban comparison · Adult residents of slums and non-slum urban settings of LMICs
Where compared, oral disease burden is generally higher in slums than non-slum urban/national populations (5 studies; 1 found no difference); ungraded.
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 restoration (restorative treatment) (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review