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Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.
10,375 questions in 429 reviews · Oral Health
current versionsNo studies 1,344 · 13%Ungraded 6,832 · 65.9%Very low 1,228 · 11.8%Low 613 · 5.9%Moderate 290 · 2.8%High 68 · 0.7%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Intervention NR Log diagnostic odds ratio · Imaging modality: Panoramic radiographs Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of… (2025) | Log DOR 5.08 [4.15, 6.02] | 8 studies | Ungraded |
Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Reference (lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability) Femoral neck bone mineral density (FN-BMD) · European-ancestry adults · Lifelong genetic liability, SVMR and MVMR (IVW) From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. (2025) | No causal effect of oral diseases on FN-BMD was found (SVMR and MVMR); no numeric estimate reported in text (see Fig. 3). | 32735 participants | Ungraded |
Hall technique vs Sealing Treatment success (caries lesion arrest or restoration survival) · Children (aged 3-11 y) with cavitated caries lesions in primary teeth · 6 months, 6-month follow-up Comparative success of minimally invasive treatments for cavitated caries in primary teeth: a network… (2025) | OR 90.71 [1.57, 5243.63] | 44 studies | Moderate |
Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Reference (lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability) Osteoporosis with pathological fracture · European-ancestry adults · Lifelong genetic liability, MVMR (IVW), adjusted for DMFS From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. (2025) | OR 1.003 [0.546, 1.842] | 376746 participants | Ungraded |
Genetically predicted dental caries (DMFS index) vs Reference (1-SD lower genetically predicted DMFS) Femoral neck bone mineral density (FN-BMD) · European-ancestry adults · Lifelong genetic liability, SVMR and MVMR (IVW) From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. (2025) | No causal effect of oral diseases on FN-BMD was found (SVMR and MVMR); no numeric estimate reported in text (see Fig. 3). | 32735 participants | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 5: open margin · Coverage: Covering cost of minimally invasive treatment Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 3.09 [1.65, 5.79] | NR | Ungraded |
Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Reference (lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability) Fracture of femur · European-ancestry adults · Lifelong genetic liability, MVMR (IVW), adjusted for DMFS From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. (2025) | OR 1.034 [0.963, 1.109] | 489106 participants | Ungraded |
Genetically predicted DMFS (dental caries) vs Lower genetically predicted DMFS Lumbar spine bone mineral density · European GWAS participants · SVMR IVW From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. (2025) | BETA 0.105 [0.006, 0.205] | 28498 participants | Ungraded |
Caries-active status (presence of dental caries) vs Caries-free status Relative abundance of S. mutans in saliva · Systemically healthy individuals (children and adults, aged 40 months to 50 years) assessed for dental caries · Cross-sectional, Saliva sample Streptococcus mutans and Caries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2025) | SMD 1.48 [0.45, 2.50] | 5 studies · 258 participants | Ungraded |
Anticaries vaccine or antibody (DNA, recombinant protein, nanoparticle-adjuvanted, live-vector, plant-based, or passive IgY immunization) targeting S. mutans vs Control (unvaccinated / empty vector / PBS / placebo animals) Serum IgG antibody response (immunogenicity) · Animal caries models (mice, rats, hamsters) challenged/colonized with Streptococcus mutans; one transgenic-plant… Assessing the Efficacy and Immunogenicity of Anticaries Vaccine-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (2025) | no estimate extracted | NR | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 7: non-stable (mobile) restoration · HDI: Low Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 25.94 [1.88, 358.26] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
All European countries pooled (overall) vs None (overall pooled prevalence) Caries experience (mean DMFT) · 12-year-old children across European countries (national/regional epidemiological surveys, 2011-2022) · Cross-sectional (survey data 2011-2022), Overall Caries status in 12-year-old children, geographical location and socioeconomic conditions across European… (2025) | MEAN 2.10 [1.63, 2.57] | 34 studies · 493360 participants | Ungraded |
Higher drinking-water fluoride exposure vs Null / lowest drinking-water fluoride exposure (reference) Hip/femoral bone mineral density (BMD) · General population (both sexes, all ages) · Long-term / lifetime fluoride exposure, Both sexes, main dose-response The association of fluoride exposure with bone density and fracture risk: a dose-response meta-analysis. (2025) | Hip BMD increased in both sexes, linearly in males and non-linearly (starting above 1.2 mg/L) in females (no numeric MD reported in text for main analysis) | NR | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 8: disruption of occlusal integrity · HDI: Very high Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 1.87 [1.32, 2.64] | 10 studies | Ungraded |
Older child age (months) vs Younger age (reference) Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children aged 0-5 years in North Africa · 48-59 months Prevalence and risk factors for early childhood caries in North Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2025) | OR 2.602 [1.122, 2.302] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Gamified oral health interventions (mobile apps, serious games, augmented reality, game-based education) vs Conventional or traditional oral health education, or non-gamified interventions (comparator varied; several studies were single-arm/uncontrolled) Oral health knowledge · Children and adolescents aged <=18 years · Post-intervention (predominantly short-term; long-term follow-up in a minority of studies) The Application of Gamification in Children's Oral Health Management: Systematic Review. (2025) | The effectiveness of digital-based interventions was generally positive, with 38% (9/24) of the experimental studies reporting improvements in oral health knowledge and behaviors; game-based teaching significantly… | 9 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Sensitivity (trim-and-fill adjusted for publication bias) · Overall; trim-and-fill (20 observed + 6 imputed studies) Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of… (2025) | Sensitivity 0.818 [0.778, 0.858] | 26 studies | Ungraded |
Conventional restoration vs Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) Treatment success (caries lesion arrest or restoration survival) · Children (aged 3-11 y) with cavitated caries lesions in primary teeth · 6 months, 6-month follow-up Comparative success of minimally invasive treatments for cavitated caries in primary teeth: a network… (2025) | OR 2.67 [1.24, 6.15] | 44 studies | Moderate |
Intervention NR Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 3: secondary caries · HDI: Very high Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 6.56 [4.37, 9.86] | 10 studies | Ungraded |
Timing of first dental visit vs Reference visit timing Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children aged 0-5 years in North Africa · Early visit Prevalence and risk factors for early childhood caries in North Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2025) | OR 0.042 [0.013, 0.136] | 1 study | Ungraded |
E-cigarette use (electronic nicotine delivery systems / vaping) vs Traditional (conventional) cigarette smokers Plaque index / periodontal health (relative harm vs conventional smoking) · Adult e-cigarette (ENDS) users (general oral health) An Umbrella Review of E-Cigarettes' Impact on Oral Microbiota and Biofilm Buildup. (2025) | Narrative synthesis: plaque accumulation and periodontal harm were less pronounced in e-cigarette users than in traditional cigarette smokers; cigarette smokers had a significantly higher plaque index than e-cigarette… | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Postmenopausal osteoporosis with pathological fracture · DMFS, bias-corrected (MR-RAPS/Debiased IVW) From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. (2025) | OR 1.401 [1.040, 1.887] | NR | Ungraded |
Simple childhood caries prediction models with at least two predictors vs No competing model Dental caries discrimination (area under the curve) · Children and adolescents (≤18 years) · Validation assessment; prediction horizon not reported Risk prediction models for dental caries in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2025) | AUC 0.71 [0.69, 0.72] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 8: disruption of occlusal integrity · Continent: Europe Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 0.32 [0.27, 0.37] | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 3: secondary caries · HDI: Medium Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 0.70 [0.05, 10.26] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Flavonoids (e.g., quercetin, proanthocyanidin) vs Calcium phosphate agent (e.g., CPP-ACP, Ca/P-PILP, niobophosphate) Immediate (24 h) resin-dentin bond strength (MPa) · Artificial caries-affected dentin (ACAD) in extracted permanent human teeth (in vitro) · 24 h (immediate), Etch-and-Rinse + biological ACAD Biomimetic Remineralization Strategies for Dentin Bond Stability-Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. (2025) | MD -12.771 [-20.538, -5.003] | 0 studies | Moderate |
Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Reference (lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability) Osteoporosis · European-ancestry adults · Lifelong genetic liability, MVMR (IVW), adjusted for DMFS From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. (2025) | OR 1.000 [0.937, 1.067] | 483725 participants | Ungraded |
Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability, adjusted for DMFS Femur fracture · European GWAS participants · MVMR MR-Egger From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. (2025) | OR 1.024 [0.960, 1.093] | 489106 participants | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 7: non-stable (mobile) restoration · HDI: Very high Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 19.06 [7.76, 46.80] | 10 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 4: marginal discoloration · Continent: Asia Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 5.71 [3.51, 9.28] | 11 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 6: superficial discoloration · Coverage: Covering cost of minimally invasive treatment Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 0.26 [0.16, 0.41] | NR | Ungraded |
Partial pulpotomy vs Full (complete) pulpotomy Postoperative analgesic use · Mature permanent (molar) teeth with deep caries and symptoms indicative of irreversible pulpitis (spontaneous pain) · Postoperative (up to 1 week) The effectiveness of partial pulpotomy compared with full pulpotomy in managing deep caries in vital… (2025) | Analgesic use recorded in both studies. Jassal: PP 12% vs FP 8%. In one study, significantly fewer patients required analgesics with complete/full pulpotomy (30.6%) than partial pulpotomy (54.5%), and mean analgesic… | 2 studies · 156 participants | Ungraded |
Epilepsy (as exposure/condition) vs Healthy participants without epilepsy (control group) DMFT (permanent teeth) · Adults with epilepsy · Adults Evaluating the DMFT and dmft indices in people with epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (2025) | SMD 0.548 [0.223, 0.873] | NR | Ungraded |
Ion-releasing restorations (IRR): RMGIC, HVGIC, GIC, compomer/PMRC, giomer vs Composite resin (CR), including bulk-fill composite Proper anatomic form · Children receiving dental restorations (aged 4-11 years; primary teeth; Class I/II/V cavities) · 1 to 2 years Clinical effectiveness of ion-releasing restorations compared to composite restorations in pediatric dental… (2025) | RR 1.00 [0.99, 1.01] | 8 studies · 1044 participants | High |
Intervention NR Log diagnostic odds ratio · Imaging modality: CBCT Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of… (2025) | Log DOR 6.33 [5.95, 6.71] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence) Early childhood caries (ECC), prevalence · Children aged 0-5 years in North Africa · Sample size <500 Prevalence and risk factors for early childhood caries in North Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2025) | Prevalence 48 [39, 58] | 9 studies | Ungraded |
Pulp and periapical diseases vs Without pulp and periapical diseases Lacunar stroke · Adults The contribution of oral infectious diseases in lacunar stroke based on meta-analysis and Mendelian… (2025) | No studies addressing the association between pulp and periapical diseases and LS were identified. | 0 studies | No studies |
Replacement of the defective restoration vs Repair of the defective restoration Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 4: marginal discoloration · Dentists managing a defective direct amalgam restoration (posterior occlusal Class I; standardized vignette of a… · Not applicable (single time-point survey, June to October 2023), HDI: High Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 7.06 [5.14, 9.69] | 7 studies · 1223 participants | Ungraded |
Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Reference (lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability) Fracture of femur · European-ancestry adults · Lifelong genetic liability, SVMR (IVW), total causal effect From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. (2025) | OR 1.044 [0.982, 1.110] | 489106 participants | Ungraded |
Higher drinking-water fluoride exposure vs Null / lowest drinking-water fluoride exposure (reference) Lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) · General population (both sexes, all ages) · Long-term / lifetime fluoride exposure, Both sexes, main dose-response The association of fluoride exposure with bone density and fracture risk: a dose-response meta-analysis. (2025) | Inverted U-shaped association in both males and females, highest value around 0.6 mg/L (no numeric MD reported in text for main analysis) | NR | Ungraded |
Anorexia nervosa (as exposure; diagnosed by DSM-III/III-R/IV/V) vs Healthy individuals without anorexia nervosa (age- and sex-matched controls) Stimulated salivary flow rate · Patients with anorexia nervosa aged >=12 years (mean age ~18.4; entirely female in reported data), general… The influence of anorexia nervosa on oral health and related parameters potentially relevant to orthodontic… (2025) | Stimulated salivary flow rate significantly lower in anorexic patients (Paszynska 2015 Nov 1.20 vs 1.57 ml/min, p=0.005; Paszynska 2018 0.99 vs 1.45 ml/min, p<0.00001); reported narratively, not meta-analyzed | 2 studies · 126 participants | Ungraded |
AI algorithms (predominantly CNN/deep learning) as index test vs Dental expert / visual-tactile clinical assessment (reference standard) Specificity · Patients undergoing dental caries detection on dental images (teeth/surfaces across imaging modalities) · Cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy (index test vs reference standard), Overall (all imaging modalities pooled) Examining the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence for detecting dental caries across a range of… (2025) | Specificity 0.90 [0.85, 0.95] | 20 studies · 29423 participants | Ungraded |
Genetically predicted DMFS (dental caries) vs Lower genetically predicted DMFS Lumbar spine and pelvis fracture · European GWAS participants · SVMR Maximum Likelihood From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. (2025) | OR 0.950 [0.808, 1.117] | 490700 participants | Ungraded |
Genetically predicted dental caries vs Without dental caries (lower genetic liability) Lacunar stroke · European-ancestry adults (GWAS) The contribution of oral infectious diseases in lacunar stroke based on meta-analysis and Mendelian… (2025) | OR 0.92 [0.69, 1.23] | NR | Ungraded |
Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability Lumbar spine and pelvis fracture · European GWAS participants · SVMR MR-Egger From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. (2025) | OR 1.036 [0.956, 1.122] | 490700 participants | Ungraded |
Conventional restoration vs Placebo Treatment success (caries lesion arrest or restoration survival) · Children (aged 3-11 y) with cavitated caries lesions in primary teeth · 6 months, 6-month follow-up Comparative success of minimally invasive treatments for cavitated caries in primary teeth: a network… (2025) | OR 44.66 [3.22, 620.47] | 44 studies | Moderate |
Intervention NR Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 3: secondary caries · HDI: Medium Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 5.73 [2.83, 11.57] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Amalgam: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 8: disruption of occlusal integrity · HDI: High Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 1.85 [1.43, 2.39] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability, adjusted for DMFS Postmenopausal osteoporosis with pathological fracture · European GWAS participants · MVMR MR-Egger From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. (2025) | OR 1.012 [0.858, 1.193] | 281786 participants | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Composite: Preference for replacement over repair - Scenario 7: non-stable (mobile) restoration · Coverage: Not covering Clinical Decision-Making of Repair vs. Replacement of Defective Direct Dental Restorations: A Multinational… (2025) | RR 10.96 [6.53, 18.39] | NR | Ungraded |