Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

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Evidence found and GRADE certainty

335 questions · 406 findings · 23 reviews

No studies found 93 · 22.9%GRADE not reported 166 · 40.9%Very low 66 · 16.3%Low 65 · 16%Moderate 14 · 3.4%High 2 · 0.5%

Xylitol tablets (200 to 600 mg/day) via slow-release pacifier/dummy vs Control (sorbitol) tablets

Number of infants with a caries increment (dmfs) · Infants (primary teeth)

It is very uncertain whether xylitol tablets (200 to 600 mg/day) via slow-release pacifier/dummy changes number of infants with a caries increment (dmfs) compared with control (sorbitol) tablets (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride gel (topically applied; operator- or self-applied; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs placebo or no treatment

Caries increment in primary/deciduous teeth: decayed, (extraction indicated/missing) and filled teeth d(e/m)ft (prevented fraction) · Children with primary (deciduous) teeth (younger children)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Topical fluoride therapy (toothpaste, mouthrinse, gel or varnish; any fluoride agent/concentration; frequency at least once a year) vs placebo or no treatment

Caries increment on primary (deciduous) tooth surfaces (d(e/m)fs), prevented fraction · Children with primary (deciduous) teeth (younger children)
5 findings from 1 review
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Dental fillings (restorations) vs No treatment

Outcome not reported · Children aged 12 years or younger with tooth decay involving at least one tooth in the primary dentition, symptomatic or symptom free

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) vs placebo or no treatment

Filled primary surfaces at 3 years · Pregnant women (for preventing dental caries in the primary teeth of their children)

Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) showed no clear difference in filled primary surfaces at 5 years compared with placebo or no treatment; GRADE not reported.

2 findings from 1 review

Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) vs placebo or no treatment

Fluorosis (maxillary teeth) at 5 years · Pregnant women (for preventing dental caries in the primary teeth of their children)

It is very uncertain whether fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) changes fluorosis (maxillary teeth) at 5 years compared with placebo or no treatment (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) vs placebo or no treatment

Caries in primary teeth: dmft (3 years) · Pregnant women (for preventing dental caries in the primary teeth of their children)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) vs placebo or no treatment

Fluorosis (mandibular teeth) at 5 years · Pregnant women (for preventing dental caries in the primary teeth of their children)

It is very uncertain whether fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) changes fluorosis (mandibular teeth) at 5 years compared with placebo or no treatment (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) vs placebo or no treatment

Decayed primary surfaces at 3 years · Pregnant women (for preventing dental caries in the primary teeth of their children)

Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) showed no clear difference in decayed primary surfaces at 3 years compared with placebo or no treatment; GRADE not reported.

2 findings from 1 review

Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) vs placebo or no treatment

Decayed or filled primary tooth surfaces at 3 years · Pregnant women (for preventing dental caries in the primary teeth of their children)

It is very uncertain whether fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) changes decayed or filled primary tooth surfaces at 3 years compared with placebo or no treatment (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) vs placebo or no treatment

Decayed or filled primary tooth surfaces at 5 years · Pregnant women (for preventing dental caries in the primary teeth of their children)

It is very uncertain whether fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) changes decayed or filled primary tooth surfaces at 5 years compared with placebo or no treatment (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Adhesive/polyurethane sealant patch vs No treatment (both arms received flossing plus fluoride toothpaste)

Caries (lesion) progression (radiographic) · Dentate children and adults with non-cavitated proximal caries lesions extending into enamel or dentine (not pulp) in primary or permanent…

Adhesive/polyurethane sealant patch showed no clear difference in caries (lesion) progression (radiographic) compared with no treatment (both arms received flossing plus fluoride toothpaste); GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Micro-invasive treatment (proximal sealing or resin infiltration): resin sealant, glass ionomer sealant, polyurethane/adhesive patch, or resin infiltration vs Non-invasive / control treatment

Caries (lesion) progression (radiographic) · Dentate children and adults with non-cavitated proximal caries lesions extending into enamel or dentine (not pulp) in primary or permanent…

Micro-invasive treatment (proximal sealing or resin infiltration):… probably leads to lower caries (lesion) progression measured by pairwise reading of… compared with non-invasive measures (e.g. fluoride varnish, flossing/oral hygiene… (moderate certainty).

4 findings from 1 review
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Resin sealant (one micro-invasive treatment) vs Resin infiltration alone

Caries (lesion) progression (radiographic) · Dentate children and adults with non-cavitated proximal caries lesions extending into enamel or dentine (not pulp) in primary or permanent…
1 finding from 1 review

Resin infiltration vs Non-invasive measures (fluoride varnish/toothpaste, flossing, oral hygiene instruction, sham/standard of care)

Caries (lesion) progression (radiographic) · Dentate children and adults with non-cavitated proximal caries lesions extending into enamel or dentine (not pulp) in primary or permanent…

Resin infiltration led to lower caries (lesion) progression (radiographic) compared with fluoride varnish, sham/placebo, or flossing advice (non-invasive…; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Fluoride-releasing resin-based sealant vs Resin-based sealant

Retention of sealant (complete or partial retention) · Children with caries-free second primary molars, aged 4-8 years (dental clinic, Turkey and Spain)
1 finding from 1 review
  • Sealants for preventing dental caries in primary teeth 2022 · Cochrane All outcomes
    6-24 months
    Effect estimate not calculable; 69 (2 studies). Retention equivocal: Unal 2015 100% (fluoride resin) vs 96.0% (resin) at 12 months; Baca 2007 84.1% (fluoride resin) vs 97.7% (resin) at 12 months; at 24 months 87.8% vs…
    2 studies · 69 participants
    Very low