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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
2400 to 2800 ppm F toothpaste vs 1700 to 2200 ppm F toothpaste Caries increment, tooth index D(M)FT · Children and adolescents with immature permanent dentition (aged 5 to 16 years at study start) · Closest to 36 months Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries (2019) · Cochrane | SMD -0.05 [-0.27, 0.17] | NR | Very low |
Residence in heavily contaminated area (approx. 15-40 Ci/km2) vs Residence in non-contaminated (non-exposed) area (<1 Ci/km2) Dental caries experience (DMFT/dmft index) · Children of mixed ages (mean approximately 12 years; no age separation) · heavy contamination A systematic review of the caries prevalence among children living in Chernobyl fallout countries. (2019) | WMD 0.54 [0.43, 0.65] | 1 study · 102 participants | Ungraded |
Longer follow-up vs Shorter follow-up Annual increment in DMFT (D3) · Children and adolescents with permanent dentition · Per additional year of follow-up, Not adjusted Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. (2019) | Meta-regression beta per year of follow-up 0.18 [-0.04, 0.40] | 13 studies · 24753 participants | Ungraded |
1700 to 2200 ppm F toothpaste vs 1000 to 1250 ppm F toothpaste Caries increment, tooth index D(M)FT · Children and adolescents with immature permanent dentition (aged 5 to 16 years at study start) · Closest to 36 months Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries (2019) · Cochrane | SMD -0.07 [-0.3, 0.15] | 1 study | Very low |
No intervention (single-arm cohort estimates) vs No comparator First dentine caries incidence rate per person-year at risk (D3) · Caries-free children and adolescents with permanent dentition · Follow-up of at least 3 years Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. (2019) | Incidence rate per person-year at risk 0.07 [0.06, 0.08] | 1 study | Ungraded |
2400 to 2800 ppm F toothpaste vs 1000 to 1250 ppm F toothpaste Caries increment, surface index D(M)FS · Children and adolescents with immature permanent dentition (aged 5 to 16 years at study start) · Closest to 36 months Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries (2019) · Cochrane | SMD -0.12 [-0.2, -0.05] | 6 studies | Low |
Dental cavity liner (e.g. calcium hydroxide, glass ionomer, resin-modified glass ionomer, or flowable composite) placed under the restoration vs No liner (resin-based composite bonded directly to the tooth) Postoperative hypersensitivity (POH), cold response measurement (time in seconds) · Adults or children with a Class I or Class II resin-based composite restoration in a permanent posterior tooth · 1 week Dental cavity liners for Class I and Class II resin‐based composite restorations (2019) · Cochrane | MD 6 [1.36, 10.64] | 1 study | Low |
Rubber/elastomeric cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing Gingivitis (gingival index) · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) · 4 to 6 weeks Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | SMD -0.22 [-0.69, 0.24] | 6 studies · 256 participants | Very low |
38% SDF solution (applied annually) vs 5% NaF varnish Arrest or reversal of noncavitated and cavitated root carious lesions · Adults (including institutionalized/older adults) with noncavitated and cavitated carious lesions on root surfaces… · 3-12 mo Nonrestorative Treatments for Caries: Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. (2019) | RR 0.64 [0.04, 9.66] | 7 studies · 1304 participants | Very low |
1.23% APF gel vs 10% CPP-ACP paste Arrest or reversal of noncavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface · Children and adults with noncavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface (primary and permanent teeth) · 9-12 mo Nonrestorative Treatments for Caries: Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. (2019) | RR 2.19 [1.83, 2.61] | 3 studies · 4672 participants | Moderate |
No intervention (single-arm cohort estimates) vs No comparator First dentine caries incidence rate per person-year at risk (D3) · Caries-free children and adolescents with permanent dentition · Follow-up of at least 3 years Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. (2019) | Incidence rate per person-year at risk 0.05 [0.05, 0.05] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Dental caries prevalence · Children (<12 years) and adolescents (12-18 years) with type 1 diabetes · Continent: South America Prevalence of dental caries in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: a systematic review and… (2019) | Prevalence 0.84 [0.67, 0.94] | 2 studies · 112 participants | Ungraded |
Wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Gingivitis (gingival index) · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | Gingivitis measured by gingival index: Not measured. | 0 studies | No studies |
Residence in low-contamination area (approx. 5-15 Ci/km2) vs Residence in non-contaminated (non-exposed) area (<1 Ci/km2) Dental caries experience (DMFT/dmft index) · Children aged 12-15 years (adolescents) · low contamination A systematic review of the caries prevalence among children living in Chernobyl fallout countries. (2019) | WMD 3.48 [3.42, 3.54] | 1 study · 38 participants | Ungraded |
0.2% NaF mouthrinse + supervised toothbrushing vs Sealant Arrest or reversal of noncavitated occlusal carious lesions · Children and adults with noncavitated carious lesions on occlusal surfaces (primary and permanent teeth) · 8-12 mo Nonrestorative Treatments for Caries: Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. (2019) | RR 0.98 [0.84, 1.14] | 7 studies · 1575 participants | Low |
Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Gingivitis (gingival index) · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) · 1 month Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | MD -0.53 [-0.83, -0.23] | 1 study · 62 participants | Very low |
No intervention (single-arm cohort estimates) vs No comparator First dentine caries incidence rate per person-year at risk (D3) · Caries-free children and adolescents with permanent dentition · Follow-up of at least 3 years Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. (2019) | Incidence rate per person-year at risk 0.11 [0.09, 0.13] | 15 studies · 10768 participants | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Dental caries prevalence · Children (<12 years) and adolescents (12-18 years) with type 1 diabetes · Continent: Asia Prevalence of dental caries in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: a systematic review and… (2019) | Prevalence 0.67 [0.43, 0.85] | 4 studies · 163 participants | Ungraded |
Oral irrigation plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing Periodontitis (probing pocket depth) · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | No included study assessed periodontitis. | 0 studies | No studies |
Oral irrigation plus toothbrushing vs Flossing plus toothbrushing Gingivitis (gingival index) · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) · 1 month Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | MD -0.06 [-0.12, 0.00] | 1 study · 63 participants | Very low |
Residence in weakly contaminated area (approx. 1-5 Ci/km2) vs Residence in non-contaminated (non-exposed) area (<1 Ci/km2) Dental caries experience (DMFT/dmft index) · Children aged 12-15 years (adolescents) · weak contamination A systematic review of the caries prevalence among children living in Chernobyl fallout countries. (2019) | WMD 2.27 [2.06, 2.48] | 1 study · 129 participants | Ungraded |
1055 to 1100 ppm F toothpaste vs 500 to 550 ppm F toothpaste Proportion developing new caries · Young children with primary (deciduous) dentition (aged 1 to 6 years at study start) · 36 months Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries (2019) · Cochrane | RR 0.86 [0.74, 0.99] | 1 study · 905 participants | Low |
color contrast: black vs dark brown/light brown/yellow vs hardness contrast: soft vs medium/hard total microbial load (log10 CFU) · humans with open primary dentine caries · B-DB/LB/Y vs S-M/H Reliability of colour and hardness clinical examinations in detecting dentine caries severity: a systematic… (2019) | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 59 participants | Ungraded |
1450 to 1500 ppm F toothpaste vs Non-fluoride (0 ppm F) placebo toothpaste Caries increment, tooth index D(M)FT · Children and adolescents with immature permanent dentition (aged 5 to 16 years at study start) · Closest to 36 months Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries (2019) · Cochrane | SMD -0.39 [-0.49, -0.28] | 4 studies | Moderate |
Interdental brushing plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) · 1 month Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | SMD -1.07 [-1.51, -0.63] | 2 studies · 93 participants | Low |
Wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Plaque · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) · 3 months Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | MD -0.03 [-0.13, 0.07] | 1 study · 24 participants | Very low |
Longitudinal follow-up over time (natural caries progression; no assigned intervention) vs Within-cohort change from baseline to follow-up (>=3 y) Annual increment in DMFT (permanent dentition) · Children and adolescents (permanent dentition, D3, up to 21 y), Western or comparable populations · Per year of follow-up Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. (2019) | 0.06 to 0.73 | 14 studies · 25206 participants | Ungraded |
Oral irrigation plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Periodontitis (probing pocket depth) · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | Periodontitis measured in one study but useable data not provided (Walsh 1989 reported proportion of sites with >4 mm pocket depth at 3 months but not mean PD; attachment loss measured but no data). | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Dental caries prevalence · Children (<12 years) and adolescents (12-18 years) with type 1 diabetes · Metabolic control: good Prevalence of dental caries in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: a systematic review and… (2019) | Prevalence 0.47 [0.30, 0.64] | 3 studies · 54 participants | Ungraded |
38% silver diamine fluoride vs Placebo Root carious lesions arrest · Older adults with root carious lesions (exposed root surfaces) Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. (2019) | One systematic review found that SDF can be efficacious to decrease progression of root carious lesions (no numeric results reported) [24]. | NR | Ungraded |
Oral-health promotion programs (OHPPs): community-based oral-health education/training, supervised toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste and topical fluoride, dental screening, and dietary advice vs No oral-health promotion program, or a differing (usual-care) action under similar conditions DMFT/DMFS index (dental caries experience) · Children aged 0-12 years in the United Kingdom · Country: United Kingdom Clinical Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Oral-Health Promotion in Dental Caries Prevention among… (2019) | OR 0.04 [0.00, 0.58] | 5 studies | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Clinical and radiographic success · MTA vs CH, 3 months (El-Meligy 2006) Materials for pulpotomy in immature permanent teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2019) | no estimate extracted | 1 study | Ungraded |
Intervention NR Dental caries prevalence · Children (<12 years) and adolescents (12-18 years) with type 1 diabetes · Continent: Europe Prevalence of dental caries in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: a systematic review and… (2019) | Prevalence 0.57 [0.41, 0.72] | 3 studies · 194 participants | Ungraded |
38% SDF solution (applied biannually) vs 38% SDF solution (applied annually) Arrest of advanced cavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface · Preschool children with advanced cavitated carious lesions on any coronal surface (primary teeth) · 12 mo Nonrestorative Treatments for Caries: Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. (2019) | RR 1.21 [1.12, 1.3] | 1 study · 799 participants | High |
Wooden cleaning stick plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Gingivitis (proportion of bleeding sites) · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) · 3 months Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | MD -0.25 [-0.37, -0.13] | 1 study · 24 participants | Very low |
Patient-used 5000 ppm F toothpaste, daily vs 1450 ppm F (conventional) toothpaste, daily Number of participants with more severe DLs (severity of DLs) · Orthodontic patients of any age with fixed braces (new DLs assessed at debond) · At debond (end of orthodontic treatment) Fluorides for preventing early tooth decay (demineralised lesions) during fixed brace treatment (2019) · Cochrane | SoF 3. Number of participants with more severe DLs: none of the trials reported this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
No intervention (single-arm cohort estimates) vs No comparator First dentine caries incidence rate per person-year at risk (D3) · Caries-free children and adolescents with permanent dentition · Follow-up of at least 3 years Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. (2019) | Incidence rate per person-year at risk 0.14 [0.13, 0.15] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Sealant vs No treatment Arrest or reversal of noncavitated occlusal carious lesions · Children and adults with noncavitated carious lesions on occlusal surfaces (primary and permanent teeth) · 8-12 mo Nonrestorative Treatments for Caries: Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. (2019) | RR 1.98 [1.61, 2.44] | 7 studies · 1575 participants | Moderate |
2400 to 2800 ppm F toothpaste vs Non-fluoride (0 ppm F) placebo toothpaste Caries increment, tooth index D(M)FT · Children and adolescents with immature permanent dentition (aged 5 to 16 years at study start) · Closest to 36 months Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries (2019) · Cochrane | SMD -0.39 [-0.52, -0.25] | 2 studies | Low |
Oral irrigation plus toothbrushing vs Toothbrushing alone Gingivitis (gingival index) · Adults, 16 years and older (dentate) · 1 month Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling… (2019) · Cochrane | SMD -0.48 [-0.89, -0.06] | 4 studies · 380 participants | Very low |
Longer follow-up vs Shorter follow-up Caries incidence rate per person-year at risk (D3) · Children and adolescents with permanent dentition · Per additional year of follow-up, Adjusted for groups 1-4 including relevance of evidence and risk of bias Caries Progression Rates Revisited: A Systematic Review. (2019) | Meta-regression beta per year of follow-up -0.02 [-0.05, 0.01] | 15 studies · 10768 participants | Ungraded |
1400/250 ppm F (amine F/SnF2) toothpaste + mouthrinse, daily vs 1400/250 ppm F (NaF) toothpaste + mouthrinse, daily Number of participants with more severe DLs (severity of DLs) · Orthodontic patients of any age with fixed braces (new DLs assessed at debond) · At debond (end of orthodontic treatment) Fluorides for preventing early tooth decay (demineralised lesions) during fixed brace treatment (2019) · Cochrane | Additional SoF Table 2. Number of participants with more severe DLs: none of the trials reported this outcome. | 0 studies | No studies |
Placebo rinse vs Pre-treatment (baseline, same group) Lactobacillus count (pre- vs post-treatment) · Medically healthy individuals (adults and children, 6-60 years) · Pre- vs post-treatment The antiplaque/anticariogenic efficacy of Salvadora persica (Miswak) mouthrinse in comparison to that of… (2019) | MD 0.34 [-0.50, 1.18] | 2 studies · 30 participants | Ungraded |
1450 to 1500 ppm F toothpaste vs Non-fluoride (0 ppm F) placebo toothpaste Caries increment, surface index D(M)FS · Children and adolescents with immature permanent dentition (aged 5 to 16 years at study start) · Closest to 36 months Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries (2019) · Cochrane | SMD -0.36 [-0.43, -0.29] | 4 studies | Moderate |
Laser enamel preparation alone (Er,Cr:YSGG or CO2 laser) vs Acid-etching (phosphoric acid) Incidence of dental caries · Caries-free children to young adults with premolars/molars requiring pit-and-fissure sealants · 24 months The clinical effects of laser preparation of tooth surfaces for fissure sealants placement: a systematic… (2019) | Karaman 2013 (Er,Cr:YSGG laser vs acid-etching): incidence of caries was 0% in both groups; not meta-analyzed. | 1 study · 16 participants | Ungraded |
Residence in weakly contaminated area (approx. 1-5 Ci/km2) vs Residence in non-contaminated (non-exposed) area (<1 Ci/km2) Dental caries experience (DMFT/dmft index) · Children aged 12-15 years (adolescents) · weak contamination A systematic review of the caries prevalence among children living in Chernobyl fallout countries. (2019) | WMD 3.49 [3.26, 3.72] | 1 study · 30 participants | Ungraded |
1700 to 2200 ppm F toothpaste vs Non-fluoride (0 ppm F) placebo toothpaste Caries increment, tooth index D(M)FT · Children and adolescents with immature permanent dentition (aged 5 to 16 years at study start) · Closest to 36 months Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries (2019) · Cochrane | SMD -0.33 [-0.56, -0.11] | NR | Low |
250 ppm F toothpaste vs Non-fluoride (0 ppm F) placebo toothpaste Caries increment, surface index D(M)FS · Children and adolescents with immature permanent dentition (aged 5 to 16 years at study start) · Closest to 36 months Fluoride toothpastes of different concentrations for preventing dental caries (2019) · Cochrane | SMD -0.15 [-0.25, -0.05] | 3 studies | Low |
38% silver diamine fluoride vs Placebo Coronal carious lesions arrest · Children with coronal carious lesions (permanent first molars) · Permanent first molars Silver diamine fluoride for managing carious lesions: an umbrella review. (2019) | Prevented Fraction 100 | 1 study | Ungraded |
Residence in weakly contaminated area (approx. 1-5 Ci/km2) vs Residence in non-contaminated (non-exposed) area (<1 Ci/km2) Dental caries experience (DMFT/dmft index) · Children of mixed ages (mean approximately 12 years; no age separation) · weak contamination A systematic review of the caries prevalence among children living in Chernobyl fallout countries. (2019) | WMD 1.40 [1.34, 1.46] | 1 study · 1302 participants | Ungraded |