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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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
LTF rs1126478 AG + GG genotype vs AA genotype Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals with caries/high caries and caries-free or low-caries controls · Overall (n=4) Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.99 [0.81, 1.23] | 4 studies · 2662 participants | Ungraded |
SoproLife (ACTEON; blue fluorescence) 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. 3 datasets, 1027 tooth sites. | 3 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) · Age group: Children Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.00 [0.80, 1.25] | 4 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) · Overall Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.99 [0.81, 1.23] | 4 studies · 2662 participants | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Marginal integrity success rate · Rubber dam isolation: Yes Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.883 [0.782, 0.941] | 10 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) · Ethnicity: Mixed Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 3.82 [1.19, 12.21] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Absence of recurrent caries success rate · Material type: Resin-based material + self-etching adhesion Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.924 [0.847, 0.963] | 8 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, Dentist experience: Experienced Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.895 [0.828, 0.938] | 25 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) · Ethnicity: Caucasian Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.18 [0.66, 2.11] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Anatomic form success rate · Material type: Resin-based material + total-etching adhesion Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.919 [0.821, 0.966] | 7 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) · Age group: Adults Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.14 [0.56, 2.29] | 1 study | 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) · Ethnicity: Mixed Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 4.03 [1.27, 12.75] | 1 study | Ungraded |
AMELX rs946252 T allele vs C allele Dental caries susceptibility · Ethnicity: Mixed (n=1) individuals with caries/high caries and controls · Ethnicity: Mixed (n=1) Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.99 [0.53, 1.86] | 1 study | Ungraded |
GG genotype of LTF rs1126478 vs AA + AG 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 0.92 [0.77, 1.10] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
LTF rs1126478 G allele vs A allele Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals with caries/high caries and caries-free or low-caries controls · Overall (n=4) 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 |
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: Asian Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.89 [0.30, 11.85] | 1 study | 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) · Enamel margin Does Er,Cr:YSGG reduce the microleakage of restorations when used for cavity preparation? A systematic… (2020) | RR 3.00 [1.54, 5.83] | 2 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) · Control group: Caries-free 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 |
Intervention NR Marginal integrity success rate · Material type: Open sandwich restoration Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.940 [0.695, 0.991] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Resin-based fissure sealant plus fluoride varnish vs Fluoride varnish alone Changes from baseline in decayed, missing and filled (DMF) figures at whole-mouth level · Children and adolescents from the general population, younger than 20 years of age at the start of the study · 2 years Pit and fissure sealants versus fluoride varnishes for preventing dental decay in the permanent teeth of… (2020) · Cochrane | Splieth 2001: whole-mouth mean DMFS increased from 0.2 to 0.6 after 1 year and to 1.1 after 2 years; most caries on occlusal surfaces of first permanent molars (50.9%). | 1 study · 92 participants | Ungraded |
LTF rs1126477 variant vs Reference allele/genotype Dental caries · Human subjects with dental caries and caries-free controls · Single study (Wang et al. 2018) The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based… (2020) | OR 1.17 [1.06, 1.29] | 1 study · 910 participants | Ungraded |
CT 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) · Ethnicity: Mixed Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.95 [0.40, 2.25] | 1 study | Ungraded |
AMELX rs17878486 CT + TT 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 0.89 [0.04, 22.53] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Green fluorescence devices (quantitative light-induced fluorescence, QLF; wavelength ~370-405 nm) vs Reference standard: histology, enhanced visual examination with or without radiographs, or excavation Diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) 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 | DOR 19.49 [9.01, 42.18] | 9 studies | Ungraded |
All fluorescence-based devices (red, blue, and green fluorescence combined) vs Reference standard: histology, enhanced visual examination with or without radiographs, or excavation Sensitivity at fixed median specificity 0.78 (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 | Sensitivity 0.70 [0.64, 0.75] | 79 studies | Low |
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) · Ethnicity: Caucasian Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.16 [0.53, 1.97] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
AMELX rs17878486 T allele vs C allele Dental caries susceptibility · Ethnicity: Caucasian (n=2) individuals with caries/high caries and controls · Ethnicity: Caucasian (n=2) Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 2.87 [0.35, 23.23] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Marginal integrity success rate · Use of cavity conditioner: Yes Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.857 [0.737, 0.928] | 10 studies | Ungraded |
ENAM rs3796703 TT genotype vs CC genotype Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals with caries/high caries and caries-free or low-caries controls · Overall (n=2) Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 5.22 [0.25, 108.96] | 2 studies · 1152 participants | Ungraded |
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) · Control group: Low caries Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.30 [0.79, 2.14] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Tooth bleaching (combined in-office and home bleaching) vs No bleaching (untreated control) Patient satisfaction with aesthetic outcome · Orthodontic patients with post-orthodontic white spot lesions (permanent teeth) · 28 days Is Bleaching Effective in Managing Post-orthodontic White-spot Lesions? A Systematic Review. (2020) | All patients in the bleaching group were satisfied with the outcome; the patients were pleased with the aesthetic outcome of bleaching (Knösel 2007). | 1 study · 10 participants | Ungraded |
Intraglandular botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) injection vs No BoNT (placebo or pre-treatment baseline) New dental caries development · Patients with drooling (sialorrhea) due to neurological disease · BoNT-B 3500 U vs placebo (Isaacson RCT) Oral health effects of botulinum toxin treatment for drooling: a systematic review. (2020) | RR 1.4 [0.24, 8.12] | 1 study | Ungraded |
AMELX rs6639060 T allele vs C allele Dental caries susceptibility · Ethnicity: Caucasian (n=1) individuals with caries/high caries and controls · Ethnicity: Caucasian (n=1) Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.08 [0.63, 1.85] | 1 study | Ungraded |
AG + GG genotype (G-allele carriers) 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) · Control group: Low caries Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.45 [0.92, 2.28] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Absence of recurrent caries 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 0.942 [0.837, 0.981] | 4 studies | Ungraded |
AG + GG genotype (G-allele carriers) 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) · Control group: Caries-free Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.74 [0.27, 2.02] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Anatomic form success rate · Use of cavity conditioner: Yes Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.896 [0.779, 0.955] | 9 studies | Ungraded |
rs1126478, additive (per-allele) model vs Reference allele A Dental caries · Human subjects with dental caries and caries-free controls · Sensitivity analysis excluding the study using adult data (Fine 2013) The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based… (2020) | OR 1.47 [0.92, 2.35] | 3 studies · 1752 participants | 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) · Control group: Caries-free Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.00 [0.12, 8.23] | 2 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 caries (DMFT 13 to 20); Wang et al. 2018 The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based… (2020) | OR 0.78 [0.70, 0.87] | 1 study | 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) · Overall Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 3.10 [0.85, 11.28] | 4 studies · 442 participants | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Marginal integrity success rate · Use of coat: No Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.916 [0.803, 0.966] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
T allele of AMELX rs2106416 vs C allele 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 [0.16, 2.11] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Younger children's age (3-5 years) vs Older children (>5 years) Poor oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) · Children aged 3-12 years · Age 4 years The Association of Oral Health Status, demographic characteristics and socioeconomic determinants with Oral… (2020) | OR 2.13 [1.50, 2.76] | 2 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) · Control group: Low caries Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.03 [0.28, 3.75] | 1 study | Ungraded |
TT genotype of AMELX rs6639060 vs CC + CT 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 1.00 [0.42, 2.39] | 2 studies · 301 participants | Ungraded |
rs1126478, allelic model (G allele) vs A allele Dental caries · Human subjects with dental caries and caries-free controls · Allelic model (G vs. A) The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based… (2020) | OR 1.41 [0.48, 4.13] | 4 studies · 1802 participants | 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 · Moderate caries (DMFT 8 to 12); Wang et al. 2018 The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based… (2020) | OR 0.72 [0.65, 0.80] | 1 study | Ungraded |
TT genotype of AMELX rs946252 vs CC + CT 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) · Ethnicity: Caucasian Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.73 [0.19, 2.87] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Bleaching vs No bleaching or alternative control Colour disparity between carious and non-affected enamel · Permanent teeth with post-orthodontic or artificial white spot lesions · Varied; 28 days in the RCT Is Bleaching Effective in Managing Post-orthodontic White-spot Lesions? A Systematic Review. (2020) | no estimate extracted | 3 studies | Ungraded |