Initiation of white spot lesions (WSL), visual-tactile assessment · Patients of any age (11-40 years) receiving comprehensive/fixed orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances
Among non-fluoride sealants, WSL initiation was significantly reduced versus no sealant (RR 0.69); subgroup not separately GRADE-rated.
1 finding from 1 review
Probing pocket depth (PPD/PD) · Adults undergoing orthodontic treatment
Aligners may reduce pocket depth compared with fixed appliances in adults at 6-12 weeks (MD -0.42 mm, 95% CI -0.71 to -0.12; very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
White spot lesions (WSLs), patient level · Adolescents/teenagers undergoing orthodontic treatment
A single study found no significant difference in white spot lesion formation (patient level) between aligners and fixed appliances in adolescents at 9 months (RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.10 to 1.04; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
RR 0.33 [0.10, 1.04]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Dentist satisfaction (masking effect) · Patients with dental fluorosis
Resin infiltration alone produced greater dentist-rated masking than in-office bleaching alone in one study (MD 3.97, 95% CI 3.33 to 4.61; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
MD 3.97 [3.33, 4.61]
1 study
GRADE not reported
White spot lesions assessed by laser fluorescence (DIAGNOdent) · Patients of any age (11-40 years) receiving comprehensive/fixed orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances
White spot lesions were also measured by laser fluorescence in 3 sealant-vs-no-sealant studies, but no meta-analysis was possible due to incompatible reporting.
1 finding from 1 review
Initiation of white spot lesions (WSL), visual-tactile assessment · People receiving orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances (upper and/or lower full arch)
Fluoride-releasing compomer bonding agent did not show a statistically significant reduction in new white spot lesions versus non-fluoride compomer bonding agent (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
S. mutans presence · Adolescents/teenagers undergoing orthodontic treatment
A single study found no significant difference in S. mutans presence between aligners and fixed appliances in adolescents at 1 month (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.14; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
RR 0.86 [0.64, 1.14]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Intervention not reported
Initiation of white spot lesions (WSL), visual-tactile assessment
The intervention showed no clear difference in initiation of white spot lesions (WSL), visual-tactile assessment; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
RR 1.02 [0.82, 1.27]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Intervention not reported
Initiation of white spot lesions (WSL), visual-tactile assessment
The intervention showed no clear difference in initiation of white spot lesions (WSL), visual-tactile assessment; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
RR 0.82 [0.66, 1.02]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Intervention not reported
Initiation of white spot lesions (WSL), visual-tactile assessment
The intervention showed no clear difference in initiation of white spot lesions (WSL), visual-tactile assessment; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
RR 0.85 [0.66, 1.10]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Initiation of white spot lesions (WSL), visual-tactile assessment · Patients of any age (11-40 years) receiving comprehensive/fixed orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances
For resin-based sealants, fluoride release did not significantly change WSL initiation (RR 0.71, wide CI); subgroup not separately GRADE-rated.
1 finding from 1 review
Full-mouth bleeding score (FMBS) · Adolescents/teenagers undergoing orthodontic treatment
A single study reported a lower full-mouth bleeding score with aligners versus fixed appliances in adolescents at 12 months (MD -20.44, 95% CI -22.98 to -17.90; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Initiation of white spot lesions (WSL), visual-tactile assessment · Patients of any age (11-40 years) receiving comprehensive/fixed orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances
The additional use of a sealant probably reduces the initiation of white spot lesions during fixed orthodontic treatment compared with no sealant (RR 0.70), but the certainty of evidence is very low.
1 finding from 1 review
White spot lesions assessed by laser fluorescence (DIAGNOdent) · Patients of any age (11-40 years) receiving comprehensive/fixed orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances
White spot lesions were also measured by laser fluorescence in 3 fluoride-vs-non-fluoride studies, but no meta-analysis was possible due to incompatible reporting.
1 finding from 1 review
Intervention not reported
Initiation of white spot lesions (WSL), visual-tactile assessment
The intervention showed no clear difference in initiation of white spot lesions (WSL), visual-tactile assessment; GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
RR 0.83 [0.67, 1.04]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Lesion area (decalcification area, pixels) · Adults undergoing orthodontic treatment
A single study reported a larger decalcification lesion area with aligners versus fixed appliances in adults at 3 months (MD 80.50 pixels, 95% CI 60.52 to 100.48; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
MD 80.50 [60.52, 100.48]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Initiation of white spot lesions (WSL), visual-tactile assessment · Patients of any age (11-40 years) receiving comprehensive/fixed orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances
Fluoride-releasing coating materials do not appear to reduce WSL initiation more than non-fluoride coatings (RR 0.84, not significant); certainty of evidence is very low.
1 finding from 1 review
Masking effect (esthetic improvement) · Patients with dental fluorosis
Bleaching before resin infiltration did not improve masking of fluorosis compared with infiltration alone (MD -0.30, 95% CI -0.98 to 0.39; moderate certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
MD -0.30 [-0.98, 0.39]
2 studies
Moderate
S. mutans counts (5th-root transformed) · Adolescents/teenagers undergoing orthodontic treatment
A single study found no significant difference in S. mutans counts between aligners and fixed appliances in adolescents at 1 month (MD -2.22, 95% CI -6.82 to 2.38; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
MD -2.22 [-6.82, 2.38]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Initiation of white spot lesions (WSL), visual-tactile assessment · Patients of any age (11-40 years) receiving comprehensive/fixed orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances
For resin-based bonding agents, fluoride release did not significantly change WSL initiation (RR 0.97); subgroup not separately GRADE-rated.
1 finding from 1 review