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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
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) · Overall Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.45 [0.75, 2.81] | 3 studies · 298 participants | 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) · Age group: Children Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 2.65 [0.49, 14.35] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
T allele of AMELX rs946252 vs C allele 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 0.95 [0.35, 2.55] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
TT genotype of ENAM rs3796703 vs CC + CT genotype 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) · Ethnicity: Asian Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 2.90 [0.92, 9.12] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Absence of recurrent caries success rate · Dentist experience: Experienced Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.908 [0.861, 0.941] | 28 studies | Ungraded |
T allele of AMELX rs17878486 vs C allele 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 1.38 [0.25, 7.75] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Absence of recurrent caries 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 0.965 [0.787, 0.995] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
CT + TT genotype (T-allele carriers) of ENAM rs3796703 vs CC genotype 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) · Ethnicity: Asian Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.90 [0.23, 3.63] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Radiographic examination (bitewing radiographs) vs Reference standard: histology Sensitivity · Extracted teeth of adults with restored approximal surfaces (in vitro studies; secondary root caries; Switzerland) Tests to detect and inform the diagnosis of root caries (2020) · Cochrane | 2 in vitro studies (59 root surfaces) using extracted, restored teeth and a histological reference standard investigated the accuracy of radiographs. Reported estimates of sensitivity ranged from 0.40 to 0.63 and… | 2 studies | Very low |
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) · Control group: Caries-free 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 |
TT genotype of ENAM rs3796703 vs CC genotype 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) · Age group: Children Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 5.22 [0.25, 108.96] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Combined index test: visual examination + radiograph + DIAGNOdent (Alomari 2015) vs Reference standard: histology 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 | Specificity 0.65 [0.38, 0.86] | 1 study | Ungraded |
rs1126478, recessive model (GG genotype) vs GA or AA genotype Dental caries · Human subjects with dental caries and caries-free controls · Recessive model (GG vs. GA + AA) The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based… (2020) | OR 1.55 [0.44, 5.38] | 4 studies · 1802 participants | 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, Study design: Nonrandomized controlled trial Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.899 [0.768, 0.961] | 9 studies | Ungraded |
Radiographic examination (bitewing radiographs) vs Reference standard: histology Specificity · Extracted teeth of adults with restored approximal surfaces (in vitro studies; secondary root caries; Switzerland) Tests to detect and inform the diagnosis of root caries (2020) · Cochrane | 2 in vitro studies (59 root surfaces) using extracted, restored teeth and a histological reference standard investigated the accuracy of radiographs. Reported estimates of sensitivity ranged from 0.40 to 0.63 and… | 2 studies | Very low |
Intervention NR Anatomic form success rate · Reporting bias: Yes Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.964 [0.828, 0.994] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Vegetarian diet (any diet excluding all meat, poultry and fish) vs Nonvegetarian diet Dental caries measures other than pooled DMFT (DMFS, decayed/filled surfaces and teeth, root caries, nonvisible lesions, white spots) · 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 dental caries using 11 definitions; four (DMFT) were meta-analysed (see O2). Narrative findings were inconsistent: DMFS results were mixed; decayed surfaces and decayed teeth and percentages of… | NR | 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: Low caries Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 3.42 [1.04, 11.28] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
AMELX rs946252 CT genotype vs CC genotype 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 2.80 [0.93, 8.43] | 2 studies | 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) · Overall (crude OR) Relationship between preterm, low birth weight and early childhood caries: a meta-analysis of the… (2020) | OR 1.12 [0.94, 1.33] | 15 studies | Ungraded |
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) · Control group: Caries-free Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.03 [0.80, 1.33] | 4 studies | Ungraded |
ENAM rs3796703 CT + TT genotype vs CC genotype Dental caries susceptibility · Ethnicity: Asian (n=2) individuals with caries/high caries and controls · Ethnicity: Asian (n=2) Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.90 [0.23, 3.63] | 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) · Ethnicity: Caucasian 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 |
G allele of ENAM rs1264848 vs A allele 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 0.82 [0.57, 1.18] | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Bleaching plus fluoride, calcium, or CPP-ACP vs Bleaching without a remineralising additive Mineral loss, lesion depth, or enamel microhardness · Extracted human teeth with artificial white spot lesions · Varied or not stated Is Bleaching Effective in Managing Post-orthodontic White-spot Lesions? A Systematic Review. (2020) | no estimate extracted | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Absence of recurrent caries success rate · Financial source: Private or mixed Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.851 [0.679, 0.939] | 5 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) · Ethnicity: Mixed Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.14 [0.01, 1.46] | 1 study | 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) · Control group: Low caries Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.14 [0.01, 1.46] | 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) · Age group: Adults 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 |
Intervention NR Dental caries in primary teeth · Children (primary dentition) worldwide · Africa Dental caries in primary and permanent teeth in children's worldwide, 1995 to 2019: a systematic review and… (2020) | Prevalence 0.531 [0.443, 0.617] | 5 studies · 3004 participants | Ungraded |
Resin-based fissure sealant (visible-light-polymerized) vs Fluoride varnish Incidence of dentinal carious lesion on treated occlusal surfaces of molars or premolars (yes/no) · Children and adolescents from the general population, younger than 20 years of age at the start of the study · 9 years Pit and fissure sealants versus fluoride varnishes for preventing dental decay in the permanent teeth of… (2020) · Cochrane | RR 0.48 [0.29, 0.79] | 1 study · 75 participants | Very low |
AG 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 1.57 [0.97, 2.53] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Absence of recurrent caries success rate · Rubber dam isolation: No Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.899 [0.829, 0.942] | 16 studies | 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) · Ethnicity: Caucasian 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 |
Fluoride varnish applied biannually vs Fissure sealant (resin-based or glass ionomer) Increment of occlusal DMFS (decayed, missing, filled surfaces) of 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 Comparison between Fissure Sealant and Fluoride Varnish on Caries Prevention for First Permanent Molars: a… (2020) | MD 0.13 [-0.09, 0.34] | 3 studies · 1787 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) · Control group: Caries-free Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 2.80 [0.93, 8.43] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Dental caries in primary teeth · Children (primary dentition) worldwide · Asia Dental caries in primary and permanent teeth in children's worldwide, 1995 to 2019: a systematic review and… (2020) | Prevalence 0.526 [0.467, 0.585] | 50 studies · 54680 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 or severe caries combined; Volckova et al. 2014 The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based… (2020) | OR 1.88 [1.50, 2.37] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Low maternal education (<=6 years of schooling) vs Higher maternal education (>6 years) Poor oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) · Children aged 3-12 years The Association of Oral Health Status, demographic characteristics and socioeconomic determinants with Oral… (2020) | OR 1.12 [1.00, 1.23] | 4 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, Rubber dam isolation: No Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.847 [0.726, 0.920] | 14 studies | Ungraded |
rs1126478, dominant model (GG or GA genotype) vs AA genotype Dental caries · Human subjects with dental caries and caries-free controls · Dominant model (GG + GA vs. AA) The association between genetic variants in lactotransferrin and dental caries: a meta- and gene-based… (2020) | OR 1.32 [0.43, 4.03] | 4 studies · 1802 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride varnish applied biannually vs Fissure sealant (resin-based or glass ionomer) Caries incidence of occlusal surfaces of first permanent molars · 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 1.33 [0.83, 2.11] | 4 studies · 6551 participants | Ungraded |
ENAM rs3796703 T allele vs C allele 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 0.92 [0.24, 3.58] | 2 studies · 1152 participants | 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 Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.898 [0.852, 0.931] | 27 studies | 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) · Control group: Low caries Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.04 [0.29, 3.75] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Resin-modified glass ionomer fissure sealant plus oral health education vs Fluoride varnish plus oral health education Change in DMF increment on occlusal surfaces of first permanent molars · Children and adolescents from the general population, younger than 20 years of age at the start of the study · 24 months, low caries risk Pit and fissure sealants versus fluoride varnishes for preventing dental decay in the permanent teeth of… (2020) · Cochrane | MD 0.07 [-0.03, 0.17] | 1 study | Ungraded |
GG genotype of ENAM rs1264848 vs AA + AG 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 0.66 [0.15, 2.95] | 3 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) · Overall Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 3.59 [0.55, 23.32] | 4 studies · 442 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: Mixed Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.39 [0.69, 2.80] | 1 study | Ungraded |
LTF rs1126478 AG genotype vs AA genotype Dental caries susceptibility · Age group: Children (n=4) individuals with caries/high caries and controls · Age group: Children (n=4) 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 |