What do systematic reviews say?

Early treatment (two-phase) with headgear vs Late treatment (one-phase in adolescence) with headgear

Early treatment (two-phase) with headgear led to lower final ANB compared with late treatment (one-phase in adolescence) with headgear; GRADE not reported.

• Orthodontic treatment for prominent upper front teeth (Class II malocclusion) in children and adolescents 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes

  End of phase I (growth modification phase)
  MD -0.72 [-1.18, -0.27]
  2 studies · 277 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Orthodontic treatment for prominent upper front teeth (Class II malocclusion) in children and adolescents 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes

  End of orthodontic treatment (phase II)
  MD -0.27 [-0.8, 0.26]
  2 studies · 231 participants
  Low

Secondary alveolar bone grafting performed at one timing (e.g. early secondary grafting) vs Secondary alveolar bone grafting performed at a different / optimal timing (e.g. late secondary grafting)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Secondary bone grafting for alveolar cleft in children with cleft lip or cleft lip and palate 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Furthermore, no RCTs were found to study the optimal timing ... with secondary bone grafting surgery. This systematic review has not been able to report all the objectives described in the protocol.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Early treatment (two-phase: phase 1 in childhood, phase 2 in adolescence) with functional appliance vs Late treatment (one-phase in adolescence) with functional appliance

Early treatment (two-phase: phase 1 in childhood, phase 2 in… showed no clear difference in self concept compared with late treatment (one-phase in adolescence) with functional appliance; GRADE not reported.

• Orthodontic treatment for prominent upper front teeth (Class II malocclusion) in children and adolescents 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes

  End of orthodontic treatment (phase II)
  MD -0.83 [-3.97, 2.31]
  1 study · 132 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Orthodontic treatment for prominent upper front teeth (Class II malocclusion) in children and adolescents 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes

  End of phase I (growth modification phase)
  MD -3.63 [-7.66, 0.4]
  1 study · 135 participants
  GRADE not reported

Early treatment (two-phase: phase 1 in childhood, phase 2 in adolescence) with functional appliance vs Late treatment (one-phase in adolescence) with functional appliance

Early treatment (two-phase: phase 1 in childhood, phase 2 in… probably leads to lower incidence of new incisal trauma compared with late treatment (one-phase in adolescence) with functional appliance (moderate certainty).

• Orthodontic treatment for prominent upper front teeth (Class II malocclusion) in children and adolescents 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes

  End of orthodontic treatment (phase II)
  OR 0.56 [0.33, 0.95]
  3 studies · 332 participants
  Moderate

Early treatment (two-phase: phase 1 in childhood, phase 2 in adolescence) with functional appliance vs Late treatment (one-phase in adolescence) with functional appliance

Early treatment (two-phase: phase 1 in childhood, phase 2 in… led to lower final overjet compared with late treatment (one-phase in adolescence) with functional appliance; GRADE not reported.

• Orthodontic treatment for prominent upper front teeth (Class II malocclusion) in children and adolescents 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes

  End of phase I (growth modification phase)
  MD -4.17 [-4.61, -3.73]
  3 studies · 432 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Orthodontic treatment for prominent upper front teeth (Class II malocclusion) in children and adolescents 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes

  End of orthodontic treatment (phase II)
  MD 0.21 [-0.1, 0.51]
  3 studies · 343 participants
  Low

Early treatment (two-phase: phase 1 in childhood, phase 2 in adolescence) with functional appliance vs Late treatment (one-phase in adolescence) with functional appliance

Early treatment (two-phase: phase 1 in childhood, phase 2 in… led to lower final ANB compared with late treatment (one-phase in adolescence) with functional appliance; GRADE not reported.

• Orthodontic treatment for prominent upper front teeth (Class II malocclusion) in children and adolescents 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes

  End of phase I (growth modification phase)
  MD -0.89 [-1.38, -0.4]
  3 studies · 419 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Orthodontic treatment for prominent upper front teeth (Class II malocclusion) in children and adolescents 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes

  End of orthodontic treatment (phase II)
  MD -0.02 [-0.47, 0.43]
  3 studies · 347 participants
  Moderate

Early treatment (two-phase: phase 1 in childhood, phase 2 in adolescence) with functional appliance vs Late treatment (one-phase in adolescence) with functional appliance

Early treatment (two-phase: phase 1 in childhood, phase 2 in… showed no clear difference in incidence of incisal trauma compared with late treatment (one-phase in adolescence) with functional appliance; GRADE not reported.

• Orthodontic treatment for prominent upper front teeth (Class II malocclusion) in children and adolescents 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes

  End of phase I (growth modification phase)
  OR 0.72 [0.35, 1.49]
  2 studies · 281 participants
  GRADE not reported

Early treatment (two-phase: phase 1 in childhood, phase 2 in adolescence) with functional appliance vs Late treatment (one-phase in adolescence) with functional appliance

Early treatment (two-phase: phase 1 in childhood, phase 2 in… led to lower PAR score compared with late treatment (one-phase in adolescence) with functional appliance; GRADE not reported.

• Orthodontic treatment for prominent upper front teeth (Class II malocclusion) in children and adolescents 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes

  End of phase I (growth modification phase)
  MD -10.52 [-12.32, -8.71]
  2 studies · 349 participants
  GRADE not reported
• Orthodontic treatment for prominent upper front teeth (Class II malocclusion) in children and adolescents 2018 · Cochrane All outcomes

  End of orthodontic treatment (phase II)
  MD 0.62 [-0.66, 1.91]
  3 studies · 360 participants
  GRADE not reported

Highest BMI category (overweight/obese) vs Lowest BMI category (normal weight/underweight)

In the Region: Asian countries subgroup, the BMI (highest vs lowest)-childhood caries association was significant (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.25 to 2.32; ungraded).

• Childhood obesity in relation to risk of dental caries: a cumulative and dose-response systematic review and… 2024 All outcomes

  Dental examinations of children; 15 countries across Europe, Asia, the Americas and Oceania · Region: Asian countries
  OR 1.70 [1.25, 2.32]
  6 studies
  GRADE not reported
• Childhood obesity in relation to risk of dental caries: a cumulative and dose-response systematic review and… 2024 All outcomes

  Dental examinations of children; 15 countries across Europe, Asia, the Americas and Oceania · Study design: cross-sectional
  OR 1.58 [1.20, 2.08]
  9 studies
  GRADE not reported
• Childhood obesity in relation to risk of dental caries: a cumulative and dose-response systematic review and… 2024 All outcomes

  Dental examinations of children; 15 countries across Europe, Asia, the Americas and Oceania · Adjustment for age: yes
  OR 1.04 [0.84, 1.30]
  6 studies
  GRADE not reported

High-frequency sugar consumption (three or more times daily) vs Low sugar intake (fewer than three times daily)

In primary dentition, high-frequency sugar consumption was associated with slightly higher, non-significant odds of caries (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.23 to 5.44), with high heterogeneity (I2=83%; ungraded).

• A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between sugar intake and dental caries in Nigeria. 2024 All outcomes

  Community and school-based observational studies in Nigeria (12 of 14 in Southwest Nigeria) · Primary dentition
  OR 1.13 [0.23, 5.44]
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

High snack consumption vs Low snack consumption

High snack consumption was associated with higher odds of severe early childhood caries.

• Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. 2021 All outcomes

  Overall
  OR 1.80 [1.26, 2.58]
  1 study · 1036 participants
  GRADE not reported

Near-infrared (NIR) transillumination vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, radiographs/microCT, or tooth separation)

• Transillumination and optical coherence tomography for the detection and diagnosis of enamel caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo; in vitro no limit if stored appropriately)
  Sensitivity 0.58 [0.46, 0.68]
  5 studies
  GRADE not reported

Fibre-optic transillumination (FOTI) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, radiographs/microCT, or tooth separation)

• Transillumination and optical coherence tomography for the detection and diagnosis of enamel caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo; in vitro no limit if stored appropriately)
  Sensitivity 0.47 [0.35, 0.59]
  8 studies
  GRADE not reported

Transillumination and optical coherence tomography devices (all illumination devices combined: NIR, OCT, and FOTI/DIFOTI) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, radiographs/microCT, or tooth separation)

• Transillumination and optical coherence tomography for the detection and diagnosis of enamel caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo; in vitro no limit if stored appropriately)
  Specificity 0.87 [0.82, 0.92]
  23 studies
  Low

Fibre-optic transillumination (FOTI) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, radiographs/microCT, or tooth separation)

• Transillumination and optical coherence tomography for the detection and diagnosis of enamel caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo; in vitro no limit if stored appropriately)
  Specificity 0.92 [0.86, 0.96]
  8 studies
  GRADE not reported

Low income vs High family income

Low family income was associated with higher odds of severe early childhood caries.

• Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. 2021 All outcomes

  Overall
  OR 1.43 [1.11, 1.85]
  1 study · 1036 participants
  GRADE not reported

Near-infrared (NIR) transillumination vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, radiographs/microCT, or tooth separation)

• Transillumination and optical coherence tomography for the detection and diagnosis of enamel caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo; in vitro no limit if stored appropriately)
  Specificity 0.86 [0.80, 0.91]
  5 studies
  GRADE not reported

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, radiographs/microCT, or tooth separation)

• Transillumination and optical coherence tomography for the detection and diagnosis of enamel caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo; in vitro no limit if stored appropriately)
  Sensitivity 0.94 [0.88, 0.97]
  10 studies
  GRADE not reported

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) vs Reference standard (histology, excavation, radiographs/microCT, or tooth separation)

• Transillumination and optical coherence tomography for the detection and diagnosis of enamel caries 2021 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Up to 3 months between index test and reference standard (in vivo; in vitro no limit if stored appropriately)
  Specificity 0.83 [0.68, 0.91]
  10 studies
  GRADE not reported

Dental visit because of a problem vs No dental visit in previous year

A problem-driven dental visit was associated with higher odds of severe early childhood caries.

• Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. 2021 All outcomes

  Overall
  OR 1.92 [1.49, 2.49]
  1 study · 1036 participants
  GRADE not reported