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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Biodentine vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6 and 12 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | No radiological failure in any participant; not estimable | 1 study · 62 participants | Ungraded |
Calcium hydroxide (CH) vs Ferric sulphate (FS) Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 12 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 3.41 [0.37, 31.61] | 2 studies · 122 participants | Low |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Full strength or 1:5 diluted formocresol (FC) Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 12 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.41 [0.19, 0.89] | 12 studies · 740 participants | Moderate |
Hall technique vs Other network treatments Treatment success rate · Primary teeth with dentin caries lesions on occlusoproximal surfaces · Various follow-up times, Occlusoproximal surface without reported lesion depth Scientific evidence for the management of dentin caries lesions in pediatric dentistry: A systematic review… (2018) | RANK 1 | 7 studies | Low |
Self-etch adhesive + acetone-based total-etch adhesive vs Non-rinse conditioner + acetone-based total-etch adhesive Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 12 and 24 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.00 [0.07, 14.90] | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs 3Mix (ciprofloxacin + metronidazole + minocycline) Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 12 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.17 [0.04, 0.70] | 1 study · 160 participants | Low |
Low polymerization shrinkage resin composite (silorane, ormocer, bulk-fill or other modified-monomer composite) vs Conventional methacrylate-based resin composite Marginal discoloration · People with permanent posterior teeth restored with class I or II direct restorations · 24 months Meta-analysis of the clinical behavior of posterior direct resin restorations: Low polymerization shrinkage… (2018) | Odds ratio (OR) 1.08 [0.64, 1.84] | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Primary education vs University education Prevalence of untreated decay (% DT > 0) · Adults aged 25 years and older in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States · 2009, New Zealand Socioeconomic status, oral health and dental disease in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. (2018) | AD 17.68 [6.62, 28.74] | 1 study · 2041 participants | Ungraded |
Populations in countries with a lower Human Development Index (high category, HDI <0.800) vs Populations in countries with a higher Human Development Index (very high, HDI >=0.800) Dental caries experience (DMFT) · Adults aged 19-60 years · Overall (very high + high HDI) Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review… (2018) | MEAN 11.49 [9.96, 13.03] | 25 studies | Ungraded |
Post-secondary education vs University education Prevalence of untreated decay (% DT > 0) · Adults aged 25 years and older in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States · 2009, New Zealand Socioeconomic status, oral health and dental disease in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. (2018) | AD 6.8 [-1.3, 14.8] | 1 study · 2041 participants | Ungraded |
Self-etch adhesive + acetone-based total-etch adhesive vs Total-etching 36% phosphoric acid + acetone-based total-etch adhesive Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 12 and 24 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 1.00 [0.07, 14.90] | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) + sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) vs Calcium hydroxide + sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6 and 12 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | No clinical failure in any participant (Akcay 2014); not estimable | 1 study · 62 participants | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Portland cement (PC) Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 24 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.50 [0.10, 2.56] | 3 studies · 130 participants | Ungraded |
Populations with low socioeconomic status (>=22.4% of the population with low SES) vs Populations with higher socioeconomic status (<22.4% of the population with low SES) Association with dental caries experience (DMFT) by random-effects meta-regression · Adults aged 19-60 years · Unadjusted model Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review… (2018) | Meta-regression coefficient 10.49365 | NR | Ungraded |
Radiographic caries detection (bitewing radiography) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted) Specificity for detecting all (initial and advanced) proximal caries · Proximal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly… · Conventional meta-analysis (all studies) Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and… (2018) | Specificity 90.0 [87, 92] | 38 studies | Ungraded |
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) vs Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) + calcium hydroxide Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6 and 12 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | No clinical failure in any participant (Fernandes 2015); not estimable | 1 study · 30 participants | Ungraded |
Radiographic caries detection (bitewing radiography) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted) Positive LR for detecting advanced occlusal caries · Occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly… · Conventional meta-analysis (all studies) Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and… (2018) | Positive LR 4.9 [3.7, 6.5] | 44 studies | Ungraded |
ProRoot MTA vs RetroMTA Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6 and 12 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | No clinical failure in any participant (Kang 2015); not estimable | 1 study · 96 participants | Ungraded |
Propolis vs Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 3.50 [0.80, 15.23] | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Biodentine vs Formocresol (FC) Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | No radiological failure in any participant; not estimable | 1 study · 112 participants | Ungraded |
Secondary education vs University education Mean number of decayed teeth (mean DT) · Adults aged 25 years and older in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States · 2003-2004, United States Socioeconomic status, oral health and dental disease in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. (2018) | AD 0.3 [0.1, 0.4] | 1 study · 4568 participants | Ungraded |
1.23% APF gel vs 5% NaF varnish Arrest or reversal of noncavitated occlusal carious lesions · Primary and permanent teeth with noncavitated occlusal carious lesions · 8 to 12 months Nonrestorative Treatments for Caries: Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. (2018) | RR 1.08 [0.83, 1.40] | 7 studies | Low |
Non-rinse conditioner + acetone-based total-etch adhesive vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 12 and 24 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 3.00 [0.13, 69.52] | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |
Radiographic caries detection vs Reference standard (often histological; also invasive opening) Advanced proximal carious lesions · Permanent molar surfaces in diagnostic accuracy studies (mostly in vitro; clinical) · Conventional meta-analysis (all studies) Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and… (2018) | Positive LR 9.82 [7.3, 13.3] | 22 studies | Ungraded |
Primary education vs University education Prevalence of untreated decay (% DT > 0) · Adults aged 25 years and older in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States · 2003-2009, Overall random-effects meta-analysis Socioeconomic status, oral health and dental disease in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. (2018) | AD 19.67 [16.70, 22.65] | 4 studies · 14960 participants | Ungraded |
Calcium hydroxide (CH) vs Portland cement (PC) Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 12 and 24 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 13.00 [0.80, 212.02] | 1 study · 30 participants | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Full strength or 1:5 diluted formocresol (FC) Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 12 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.31 [0.10, 0.93] | 12 studies · 740 participants | Moderate |
Low polymerization shrinkage resin composite (silorane, ormocer, bulk-fill or other modified-monomer composite) vs Conventional methacrylate-based resin composite Secondary caries · People with permanent posterior teeth restored with class I or II direct restorations · 12 months Meta-analysis of the clinical behavior of posterior direct resin restorations: Low polymerization shrinkage… (2018) | OR 1.51 [0.64, 3.57] | 14 studies · 2087 participants | Ungraded |
Low income vs High income Prevalence of fair/poor self-rated oral health · Adults aged 25 years and older in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States · 2009, New Zealand Socioeconomic status, oral health and dental disease in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. (2018) | AD 18.77 [9.75, 27.79] | 1 study · 2041 participants | Ungraded |
Total-etching 36% phosphoric acid + acetone-based total-etch adhesive vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 24 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 7.00 [0.38, 127.33] | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |
Radiographic caries detection (bitewing radiography) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted) Sensitivity for detecting advanced occlusal caries · Occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly… · Tailored to Egypt Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and… (2018) | Sensitivity 54.2 [47, 61] | 38 studies | Ungraded |
Calcium hydroxide (CH) vs Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) + sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 12 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 3.00 [0.13, 70.92] | 1 study · 62 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride in varnish vs Fluoride in dentifrice Caries increment in permanent teeth (DMFS change from baseline) · Children or adolescents · At least 1 year or school year, Network meta-regression covariate: randomization year Graphs of study contributions and covariate distributions for network meta-regression. (2018) | no estimate extracted | NR | Ungraded |
Radiographic caries detection (bitewing radiography) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted) Sensitivity for detecting all (initial and advanced) proximal caries · Proximal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly… · Conventional meta-analysis (all studies) Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and… (2018) | Sensitivity 43.2 [36, 51] | 38 studies | Ungraded |
Older mean age (>33.4 years) vs Not applicable Mean DMFT · Adult participants in 25 meta-regression studies · Unadjusted model Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review… (2018) | Meta-regression coefficient 4.324884 | 14 studies | Ungraded |
Radiographic caries detection (bitewing radiography) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted) Positive LR for detecting all (initial and advanced) occlusal caries · Occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly… · Tailored to Germany Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and… (2018) | Positive LR 2.36 [1.4, 4.1] | 9 studies | Ungraded |
Low polymerization shrinkage resin composite (silorane, ormocer, bulk-fill or other modified-monomer composite) vs Conventional methacrylate-based resin composite Retention (restoration loss) · People with permanent posterior teeth restored with class I or II direct restorations · 24 months Meta-analysis of the clinical behavior of posterior direct resin restorations: Low polymerization shrinkage… (2018) | Six articles assessed restoration retention after 24 months; four showed no loss of retention in either group and two favored the control group, with no difference in the overall meta-analytic effect. | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Prenatal passive tobacco exposure (maternal smoking during pregnancy / in the womb) vs No passive tobacco exposure (non-exposed children) Dental caries in permanent dentition (presence) · Children and adolescents (permanent dentition) · Prenatal exposure; permanent dentition Association between passive tobacco exposure and caries in children and adolescents. A systematic review and… (2018) | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | No studies |
Slow-release fluoride device (fluoride glass beads) vs Placebo or usual care (control) Dental pain due to decay · Children with high risk of dental decay Slow‐release fluoride devices for the control of dental decay (2018) · Cochrane | No evidence found | 0 studies | No studies |
Older adults (population mean age >33.4 years) vs Younger adults (population mean age <=33.4 years) Dental caries experience (DMFT) · Adults aged 19-60 years · Younger (mean age <=33.4 years) Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review… (2018) | MEAN 7.31 [5.89, 8.73] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Visual caries detection (ICDAS visual/visual-tactile inspection) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted) Negative LR for detecting advanced occlusal caries · Occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly… · Conventional meta-analysis (all studies) Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and… (2018) | Negative LR 0.39 [0.3, 0.5] | 94 studies | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Portland cement (PC) Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6, 12 and 24 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.20 [0.01, 4.02] | 3 studies · 130 participants | Ungraded |
Radiographic caries detection (bitewing radiography) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted) NPV for detecting advanced occlusal caries · Occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly… · Tailored to Egypt Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and… (2018) | NPV 89.3 | 38 studies | Ungraded |
Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) vs Ferric sulphate (FS) Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 12 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 0.42 [0.17, 1.02] | 2 studies · 110 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Dental caries in permanent dentition (presence) · Postnatal exposure; permanent dentition; trim-and-fill adjusted (publication-bias sensitivity) Association between passive tobacco exposure and caries in children and adolescents. A systematic review and… (2018) | OR 1.30 [1.25, 1.33] | 9 studies | Ungraded |
Visual caries detection (ICDAS visual/visual-tactile inspection) vs Reference standard (histological validation or cavity/lesion opening; advanced = cavitated/dentin-involved lesions, all = enamel-confined initial lesions also counted) Negative LR for detecting all (initial and advanced) occlusal caries · Occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (demonstrated in 12-14 year-olds; underlying diagnostic accuracy studies, mostly… · Tailored to Egypt Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and… (2018) | Negative LR 0.18 [0.14, 0.24] | 51 studies | Ungraded |
Radiographic caries detection vs Reference standard (often histological; also invasive opening) Advanced proximal carious lesions · Permanent molar surfaces in diagnostic accuracy studies (mostly in vitro; clinical) · Tailored meta-analysis (Egypt) Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and… (2018) | Specificity 95.5 [94, 97] | 22 studies | Ungraded |
Fluoride in gel vs Fluoride in rinse Caries increment in permanent teeth (DMFS change from baseline) · Children or adolescents · At least 1 year or school year, Network meta-regression covariate: randomization year Graphs of study contributions and covariate distributions for network meta-regression. (2018) | no estimate extracted | NR | Ungraded |
Populations with low socioeconomic status (>=22.4% of the population with low SES) vs Populations with higher socioeconomic status (<22.4% of the population with low SES) Dental caries experience (DMFT) · Adults aged 19-60 years · Overall Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review… (2018) | MEAN 11.49 [7.50, 15.48] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Full strength formocresol (FC) vs 1:25 diluted formocresol (FC) Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · 6 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | No event in any participant (Goyal 2014); not estimable | 1 study · 30 participants | Ungraded |