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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Intervention NR Dental caries in primary teeth · Children (primary dentition) worldwide · America Dental caries in primary and permanent teeth in children's worldwide, 1995 to 2019: a systematic review and… (2020) | Prevalence 0.458 [0.342, 0.58] | 14 studies · 6825 participants | Ungraded |
Traditional bur cavity preparation vs Er,Cr:YSGG laser cavity preparation Incidence of microleakage · Human teeth requiring cavity preparation and restoration (in vitro) · Enamel margin Does Er,Cr:YSGG reduce the microleakage of restorations when used for cavity preparation? A systematic… (2020) | RR 0.87 [0.60, 1.27] | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Absence of recurrent caries success rate · Cavity form: Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.853 [0.751, 0.918] | 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) · Control group: Low caries Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 3.28 [1.14, 9.43] | 2 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) · Ethnicity: Caucasian 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 |
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) · Control group: Caries-free Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 2.16 [1.05, 4.45] | 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) · Ethnicity: Caucasian Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.86 [0.56, 1.32] | 4 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) · Control group: Caries-free Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.79 [0.39, 1.63] | 3 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) · Sensitivity: study Ergoz 2014 excluded Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 3.07 [1.36, 6.94] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
GERD or LPR vs Healthy controls Dental erosion · Adults Laryngopharyngeal reflux, gastroesophageal reflux and dental disorders: A systematic review. (2020) | no estimate extracted | 18 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) · Ethnicity: Mixed Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.27 [0.03, 2.47] | 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, Study design: Noncontrolled trial Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.892 [0.614, 0.977] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Marginal integrity success rate · Financial source: Public Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.900 [0.788, 0.956] | 9 studies | Ungraded |
AMELX rs946252 TT 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 1.42 [0.54, 3.76] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
AMELX rs2106416 TT genotype vs CC genotype Dental caries susceptibility · Individuals with caries/high caries and caries-free or low-caries controls · Overall (n=3) Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.83 [0.47, 7.06] | 3 studies · 285 participants | Ungraded |
All fluorescence-based devices (red, blue, and green fluorescence combined) vs Reference standard: histology, enhanced visual examination with or without radiographs, or excavation Diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) by subgroup: Primary dentition (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), Primary dentition Fluorescence devices for the detection of dental caries (2020) · Cochrane | DOR 12.34 [8.44, 18.04] | NR | Ungraded |
Fibre-optic transillumination (FOTI, including white light scattering and near infrared) vs Reference standard: histology or enhanced visual-tactile examination Outcome NR · Adults presenting asymptomatically or suspected of having root caries (in vivo); extracted teeth of adults (in vitro) Tests to detect and inform the diagnosis of root caries (2020) · Cochrane | Fibre-optic transillumination was a pre-specified eligible index test but no diagnostic test accuracy study of fibre-optic transillumination was included. | 0 studies | No studies |
Surgically induced or chronic acid gastroesophageal reflux (experimental) vs Non-reflux control animals Dental erosion, alveolar bone destruction and oral/pharyngeal lesions · Rat models with surgically induced or chronic acid gastroesophageal reflux Laryngopharyngeal reflux, gastroesophageal reflux and dental disorders: A systematic review. (2020) | Two rat-model studies found significantly higher rates of dental erosion, alveolar bone destruction and osteomyelitis (Higo) and shorter molar crown heights with dentin exposure, inflammatory infiltration and fibrosis… | 2 studies | Ungraded |
ENAM rs3796703 CT 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 0.89 [0.23, 3.48] | 2 studies · 1152 participants | Ungraded |
AMELX rs946252 CT + TT genotype vs CC genotype 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 0.98 [0.46, 2.07] | 1 study | Ungraded |
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) · Ethnicity: Caucasian Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.13 [0.80, 1.59] | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Intraglandular botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) injection vs No BoNT (placebo or pre-treatment baseline) Salivary buffering capacity · Patients with drooling (sialorrhea) due to neurological disease · Before vs after BoNT injection (2018 study: significant buffering increase at 1 month; 2017 study no change) Oral health effects of botulinum toxin treatment for drooling: a systematic review. (2020) | The quasi-experimental studies of Tiigimae-Saar found different results concerning the changes in buffering capacity. For the analysis carried out in 2017, no statistically significant change was observed. By contrast,… | 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) · Ethnicity: Asian Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.96 [0.84, 1.09] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
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: Caries-free Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.00 [0.66, 1.51] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
MidWest (DENTSPLY; red fluorescence, red/green light and sound signal) 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. 4 datasets, 356 tooth sites. | 4 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) · Overall Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.00 [0.80, 1.25] | 4 studies · 2662 participants | 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) · Age group: Adults Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.93 [0.04, 23.52] | 1 study | Ungraded |
G allele of ENAM rs3796704 vs A allele 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 1.62 [1.21, 2.17] | 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: Mixed 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 |
Orthodontic treatment need vs No orthodontic treatment need 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 1.13 [1.07, 1.18] | 3 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) · Age group: Children Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.54 [0.11, 2.56] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Dental caries in primary teeth · Children (primary dentition) worldwide Dental caries in primary and permanent teeth in children's worldwide, 1995 to 2019: a systematic review and… (2020) | Prevalence 0.462 [0.416, 0.508] | 81 studies · 80405 participants | Ungraded |
GERD/NERD vs Healthy individuals without reflux (controls) Oral mucosa inflammation (gingivitis, periodontitis, mucosal lesions) · Adults with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) Laryngopharyngeal reflux, gastroesophageal reflux and dental disorders: A systematic review. (2020) | Five studies examined gingival/periodontal and mucosal disorders with inconsistent results: some reported more frequent mucosal inflammatory findings in GERD patients (Yoshikawa, Watanabe, Vinesh 25.5% periodontitis,… | 5 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) · Overall Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.03 [0.80, 1.33] | 4 studies · 2662 participants | 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) · Age group: Children Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.92 [0.24, 3.58] | 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: Low caries Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.27 [0.03, 2.47] | 2 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 Diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) by subgroup: Multiple sites per tooth (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), Multiple sites per tooth Fluorescence devices for the detection of dental caries (2020) · Cochrane | DOR 9.46 [5.91, 15.14] | 18 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Anatomic form success rate · Assessor blinding (triple-blind): No Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.943 [0.886, 0.972] | 10 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Absence of recurrent caries success rate · Reporting bias: No Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.902 [0.853, 0.935] | 27 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Anatomic form success rate · Cavity form: Conventional cavity design Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.929 [0.889, 0.956] | 18 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 Diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) by subgroup: Smooth or secondary-caries surfaces (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), Smooth or secondary-caries surfaces Fluorescence devices for the detection of dental caries (2020) · Cochrane | DOR 13.41 [5.58, 32.25] | NR | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Marginal integrity success rate · Assessor blinding (triple-blind): No Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.938 [0.891, 0.966] | 11 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) · Ethnicity: Asian 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 |
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: Asian Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.93 [0.04, 23.52] | 1 study | 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 split-mouth design (Raadal 1984) Comparison between Fissure Sealant and Fluoride Varnish on Caries Prevention for First Permanent Molars: a… (2020) | RR 1.29 [0.88, 1.87] | 5 studies | 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) · Age group: Children Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 1.24 [0.61, 2.49] | 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) · Control group: Caries-free 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 |
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) · Overall Association of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX polymorphisms with dental caries susceptibility: a meta-analysis. (2020) | OR 0.95 [0.80, 1.13] | 4 studies · 2662 participants | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Marginal integrity success rate · Cavity form: Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) Success rate of proximal tooth-coloured direct restorations in primary teeth at 24 months: a meta-analysis. (2020) | Proportion 0.831 [0.716, 0.905] | 8 studies | Ungraded |
T allele of AMELX rs6639060 vs C allele 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 1.08 [0.63, 1.85] | 2 studies · 301 participants | Ungraded |