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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. Every word you type has to appear somewhere in the question, and the closest matches are ranked first.
5,762 questions in 263 reviews · Dental caries
current versionsNo studies 321 · 5.6%Ungraded 4,450 · 77.2%Very low 455 · 7.9%Low 297 · 5.2%Moderate 200 · 3.5%High 39 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
TT genotype of AMELX rs946252 vs CC genotype of AMELX rs946252 Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals assessed for dental caries (cases with caries/high caries vs. caries-free or low/very-low-caries controls) · Age group: Children Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.54 [0.61, 3.92] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Tooth-coloured direct restorative materials (composite, compomer, giomer, RMGIC, HVGIC, open-sandwich) vs No comparator group (single-arm pooled success rate; materials/techniques contrasted via moderator analyses) Marginal integrity success rate · Children with primary molars requiring proximal (Class II) restorations · 24 months, Trim-and-fill adjusted (publication-bias sensitivity) Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.881 [0.832, 0.916] | 32 (27 observed + 5 imputed) studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Absence of recurrent caries success rate · Material type: Resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.954 [0.879, 0.983] | 6 studies | Ungraded |
GG genotype of ENAM rs3796704 vs AA genotype of ENAM rs3796704 Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals assessed for dental caries (cases with caries/high caries vs. caries-free or low/very-low-caries controls) · Overall Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.86 [0.96, 3.62] | 4 studies · 1107 participants | Ungraded |
No additional acid etching (self-etch adhesive alone) after Er,Cr:YSGG preparation vs Prior acid etching before self-etch adhesive after Er,Cr:YSGG preparation Incidence of microleakage · Er,Cr:YSGG laser-prepared cavities restored with self-etch adhesive systems (in vitro) · Dentin margin Does Er,Cr:YSGG reduce the microleakage of restorations when used for cavity preparation? A systematic… (2020) | RR 2.44 [1.38, 4.34] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
AG + GG genotype (G-allele carriers) of LTF rs1126478 vs AA genotype of LTF rs1126478 Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals assessed for dental caries (cases with caries/high caries vs. caries-free or low/very-low-caries controls) · Age group: Children Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.99 [0.81, 1.23] | 4 studies | Ungraded |
AG genotype of ENAM rs3796704 vs AA genotype of ENAM rs3796704 Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals assessed for dental caries (cases with caries/high caries vs. caries-free or low/very-low-caries controls) · Overall Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.27 [0.64, 2.52] | 4 studies · 1107 participants | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Anatomic form success rate · Random assignment: No/Incorrect Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.895 [0.817, 0.942] | 14 studies | Ungraded |
Visual examination vs Reference standard: histology Sensitivity · Extracted molar teeth of adults with resin composite approximal restorations (in vitro; secondary root caries;… Tests to detect and inform the diagnosis of root caries (2020) · Cochrane | Sensitivity 0.75 [0.48, 0.93] | 1 study | Very low |
GG genotype of ENAM rs1264848 vs AA genotype of ENAM rs1264848 Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals assessed for dental caries (cases with caries/high caries vs. caries-free or low/very-low-caries controls) · Age group: Children Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.58 [0.19, 1.82] | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Resin-modified glass ionomer fissure sealant vs Fluoride varnish Progression of dentinal carious lesions into enamel or dentine · Children and adolescents from the general population, younger than 20 years of age at the start of the study · 1 year Pit and fissure sealants versus fluoride varnishes for preventing dental decay in the permanent teeth of… (2020) · Cochrane | OR 0.18 [0.01, 4.27] | 1 study · 21 participants | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Marginal integrity success rate · Random assignment: Correct Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.909 [0.837, 0.951] | 13 studies | Ungraded |
VistaProof (Durr Dental; blue fluorescence, 405 nm) vs Reference standard: histology, enhanced visual examination with or without radiographs, or excavation Diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) for detection of early enamel caries (D1 threshold) · Children or adults presenting asymptomatically or suspected of having enamel caries (in vivo/clinical studies);… · Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) Fluorescence devices for the detection of dental caries (2020) · Cochrane | Analysed as a separate index test (coupled forest plot and SROC plot, Figure 24 / Figure 25; Appendix 5); no summary DOR or sensitivity/specificity point reported numerically in the text. 18 datasets, 2402 tooth sites. | 17 studies | Ungraded |
rs1126478 genotype distribution vs Caries-free control genotype distribution Dental caries (by severity) · Human subjects stratified by dental caries severity and caries-free controls · Low caries (DMFT 1); Volckova et al. 2014 The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based… (2020) | OR 0.65 [0.47, 0.90] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Low birth weight (<2500 g) vs Normal birth weight (2500 g or more) Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children aged 6 years or younger (preschool children) · Adjusted OR Relationship between preterm, low birth weight and early childhood caries: a meta-analysis of the… (2020) | OR 1.05 [0.71, 1.57] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Traditional bur cavity preparation vs Er,Cr:YSGG laser cavity preparation Incidence of microleakage · Human teeth requiring cavity preparation and restoration (in vitro) · Dentin margin Does Er,Cr:YSGG reduce the microleakage of restorations when used for cavity preparation? A systematic… (2020) | RR 1.26 [0.67, 2.38] | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Tooth-coloured direct restorative materials (composite, compomer, giomer, RMGIC, HVGIC, open-sandwich) vs No comparator group (single-arm pooled success rate; materials/techniques contrasted via moderator analyses) Anatomic form success rate · Children with primary molars requiring proximal (Class II) restorations · 24 months Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.901 [0.845, 0.938] | 24 studies | Ungraded |
TT genotype of AMELX rs946252 vs CC genotype of AMELX rs946252 Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals assessed for dental caries (cases with caries/high caries vs. caries-free or low/very-low-caries controls) · Overall Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.27 [0.58, 2.75] | 3 studies · 298 participants | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Anatomic form success rate · Use of cavity conditioner: No Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.908 [0.824, 0.954] | 13 studies | Ungraded |
CT genotype of AMELX rs17878486 vs CC genotype of AMELX rs17878486 Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals assessed for dental caries (cases with caries/high caries vs. caries-free or low/very-low-caries controls) · Age group: Adults Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.33 [0.01, 12.82] | 1 study | Ungraded |
T allele of ENAM rs3796703 vs C allele of ENAM rs3796703 Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals assessed for dental caries (cases with caries/high caries vs. caries-free or low/very-low-caries controls) · Overall Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.92 [0.24, 3.58] | 2 studies · 1152 participants | Ungraded |
TT genotype of AMELX rs946252 vs CC genotype of AMELX rs946252 Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals assessed for dental caries (cases with caries/high caries vs. caries-free or low/very-low-caries controls) · Control group: Caries-free Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.42 [0.54, 3.76] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Anatomic form success rate · Material type: High-viscosity glass ionomer cement (HVGIC) Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.759 [0.586, 0.875] | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Tooth-coloured direct restorative materials (composite, compomer, giomer, RMGIC, HVGIC, open-sandwich) vs No comparator group (single-arm pooled success rate; materials/techniques contrasted via moderator analyses) Retention success rate · Children with primary molars requiring proximal (Class II) restorations · 24 months, Reporting bias: No Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.867 [0.779, 0.924] | 24 studies | Ungraded |
TT genotype of AMELX rs17878486 vs CC + CT genotype of AMELX rs17878486 Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals assessed for dental caries (cases with caries/high caries vs. caries-free or low/very-low-caries controls) · Ethnicity: Caucasian Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 6.17 [0.41, 92.05] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
GG genotype of ENAM rs3796704 vs AA genotype of ENAM rs3796704 Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals assessed for dental caries (cases with caries/high caries vs. caries-free or low/very-low-caries controls) · Control group: Caries-free Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 2.499 [1.19, 5.24] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Marginal integrity success rate · Study design: Noncontrolled trial Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.950 [0.863, 0.983] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Vegetarian diet (any diet excluding all meat, poultry and fish) vs Nonvegetarian diet Presence of dental erosion · General population (children and adults) assessed for dental hard-tissue health · Adults only, excluding Linkosalo & Markkanen 1985 Vegetarian diet and its possible influence on dental health: A systematic literature review. (2020) | OR 2.56 [1.77, 3.71] | 4 studies | Ungraded |
rs1126478 genotype distribution vs Caries-free control genotype distribution Dental caries (by severity) · Human subjects stratified by dental caries severity and caries-free controls · Severe/high caries (DMFT 4 or more); Volckova et al. 2014 The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based… (2020) | OR 1.20 [0.94, 1.54] | 1 study | Ungraded |
CT genotype of AMELX rs6639060 vs CC genotype of AMELX rs6639060 Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals assessed for dental caries (cases with caries/high caries vs. caries-free or low/very-low-caries controls) · Age group: Adults Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.27 [0.49, 3.30] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Tooth-coloured direct restorative materials (composite, compomer, giomer, RMGIC, HVGIC, open-sandwich) vs No comparator group (single-arm pooled success rate; materials/techniques contrasted via moderator analyses) Retention success rate · Children with primary molars requiring proximal (Class II) restorations · 24 months, Assessor blinding (triple-blind): Yes Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.805 [0.674, 0.892] | 16 studies | Ungraded |
CT + TT genotype (T-allele carriers) of AMELX rs6639060 vs CC genotype of AMELX rs6639060 Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals assessed for dental caries (cases with caries/high caries vs. caries-free or low/very-low-caries controls) · Overall Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.14 [0.56, 2.29] | 2 studies · 301 participants | Ungraded |
Vegetarian diet (any diet excluding all meat, poultry and fish) vs Nonvegetarian diet Noncarious/cervical lesions and tooth wear (measures other than pooled dental erosion) · General population (children and adults) assessed for dental hard-tissue health Vegetarian diet and its possible influence on dental health: A systematic literature review. (2020) | Eleven studies reported on NCCL using six definitions (presence of NCCL, presence of dental erosion, presence and severity of tooth wear, dental abrasion, cervical buccal defects); the six reporting presence of dental… | NR | Ungraded |
Fluoride varnish applied biannually vs Fissure sealant (resin-based or glass ionomer) Caries incidence of first permanent molars (FPMs) · Generally healthy children aged 6 to 9 years with at least one fully erupted first permanent molar with deep fissures… · 2 to 3 years, Sensitivity analysis excluding Bravo 1996 (high risk of bias) Comparison between Fissure Sealant and Fluoride Varnish on Caries Prevention for First Permanent Molars: a… (2020) | RR 1.05 [0.91, 1.22] | 5 studies | Ungraded |
AG + GG genotype (G-allele carriers) of ENAM rs3796704 vs AA genotype of ENAM rs3796704 Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals assessed for dental caries (cases with caries/high caries vs. caries-free or low/very-low-caries controls) · Ethnicity: Mixed Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.24 [0.03, 2.17] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Anatomic form success rate · Reporting bias: No Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.892 [0.829, 0.932] | 21 studies | Ungraded |
Bleaching gel with added remineralising agent (fluoride, calcium, or CPP-ACP) vs Bleaching alone (no remineralising agent) Whitening (bleaching) efficacy · Demineralised / white-spot-lesion enamel (in vitro specimens) Is Bleaching Effective in Managing Post-orthodontic White-spot Lesions? A Systematic Review. (2020) | Low-quality in vitro data indicated that the presence of fluoride or any other remineralising agent did not impair the whitening effect. | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Radiograph and visual examination in combination vs Reference standard: histology Specificity · Extracted molar teeth of adults with resin composite approximal restorations (in vitro; secondary root caries;… Tests to detect and inform the diagnosis of root caries (2020) · Cochrane | Specificity 0.54 [0.25, 0.81] | 1 study | Very low |
GG genotype of LTF rs1126478 vs AA genotype of LTF rs1126478 Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals assessed for dental caries (cases with caries/high caries vs. caries-free or low/very-low-caries controls) · Ethnicity: Asian Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.97 [0.73, 1.29] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
DIAGNOdent pen (KaVo; red laser fluorescence, 655 nm) vs Reference standard: histology, enhanced visual examination with or without radiographs, or excavation Diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) for detection of early enamel caries (D1 threshold) · Children or adults presenting asymptomatically or suspected of having enamel caries (in vivo/clinical studies);… · Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) Fluorescence devices for the detection of dental caries (2020) · Cochrane | Analysed as a separate index test (coupled forest plot and SROC plot, Figure 22 / Figure 23; Appendix 5); no summary DOR or sensitivity/specificity point reported numerically in the text. 34 datasets, 6842 tooth sites. | 32 studies | Ungraded |
TT genotype of AMELX rs17878486 vs CC genotype of AMELX rs17878486 Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals assessed for dental caries (cases with caries/high caries vs. caries-free or low/very-low-caries controls) · Control group: Caries-free Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 5.12 [0.09, 278.85] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Fluoride varnish applied biannually vs Fissure sealant (resin-based or glass ionomer) Caries incidence (proportion of enrolled children developing dentin caries, ICDAS 4-6) · Generally healthy children aged 6 to 9 years with at least one fully erupted first permanent molar with deep fissures… · 2 to 3 years Comparison between Fissure Sealant and Fluoride Varnish on Caries Prevention for First Permanent Molars: a… (2020) | RR 1.12 [0.60, 2.09] | 2 studies · 1072 participants | Ungraded |
AMELX rs17878486 CT genotype vs CC genotype Dental caries susceptibility · Ethnicity: Asian (n=1) individuals with caries/high caries and controls · Ethnicity: Asian (n=1) Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.33 [0.01, 12.82] | 1 study | Ungraded |
DIAGNOdent (KaVo; red laser fluorescence, 655 nm) vs Reference standard: histology, enhanced visual examination with or without radiographs, or excavation Diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) for detection of early enamel caries (D1 threshold) · Children or adults presenting asymptomatically or suspected of having enamel caries (in vivo/clinical studies);… · Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo studies) Fluorescence devices for the detection of dental caries (2020) · Cochrane | Analysed as a separate index test (coupled forest plot and SROC plot, Figure 22 / Figure 23; Appendix 5); no summary DOR or sensitivity/specificity point reported numerically in the text. 46 datasets, 7316 tooth sites. | 45 studies | Ungraded |
CT + TT genotype (T-allele carriers) of AMELX rs2106416 vs CC genotype of AMELX rs2106416 Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals assessed for dental caries (cases with caries/high caries vs. caries-free or low/very-low-caries controls) · Age group: Children Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.59 [0.15, 2.31] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Tooth bleaching (carbamide or hydrogen peroxide; home and/or in-office) vs No bleaching (untreated control) Colour change / camouflage of white spot lesions (reduction of colour disparity between carious and sound enamel) · Permanent teeth with post-orthodontic white spot lesions (orthodontic patients and in vitro enamel specimens) Is Bleaching Effective in Managing Post-orthodontic White-spot Lesions? A Systematic Review. (2020) | The results showed that bleaching of WSL can diminish colour disparities between carious and non-affected areas, but the certainty of the evidence was very low. | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Laser/light-activated bleaching vs Conventional (non-laser) bleaching with hydrogen or carbamide peroxide Enamel microhardness / caries susceptibility · Permanent teeth enamel (in vitro specimens) Is Bleaching Effective in Managing Post-orthodontic White-spot Lesions? A Systematic Review. (2020) | In two studies having high risk of bias, laser-activated bleaching did not seem to affect enamel microhardness or caries risk when compared to conventional bleaching with hydrogen or carbamide peroxide. | 2 studies | Ungraded |
AG genotype of LTF rs1126478 vs AA genotype of LTF rs1126478 Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals assessed for dental caries (cases with caries/high caries vs. caries-free or low/very-low-caries controls) · Ethnicity: Caucasian Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.02 [0.53, 1.97] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
CT + TT genotype (T-allele carriers) of AMELX rs17878486 vs CC genotype of AMELX rs17878486 Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals assessed for dental caries (cases with caries/high caries vs. caries-free or low/very-low-caries controls) · Control group: Caries-free Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 2.03 [0.10, 42.44] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
G allele of LTF rs1126478 vs A allele of LTF rs1126478 Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals assessed for dental caries (cases with caries/high caries vs. caries-free or low/very-low-caries controls) · Overall Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.98 [0.87, 1.10] | 4 studies · 2662 participants | Ungraded |