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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Conventional restorative treatment with resin composite (CRT-RC) vs Sealing (resin sealant over caries) Treatment success rate (survival/success of restoration) · Children with dentin caries lesions in the outer half of dentin on occlusal surfaces of primary teeth · Mixed follow-up (6 months to 1.5 years; pooled) Scientific evidence for the management of dentin caries lesions in pediatric dentistry: A systematic review… (2018) | RR 1.20 [1.06, 1.37] | 2 studies · 66 participants | Low |
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) + calcium hydroxide vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) 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 0.50 [0.15, 1.64] | 1 study · 30 participants | 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 · 2004-2006, Australia Socioeconomic status, oral health and dental disease in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. (2018) | AD 9.0 [4.9, 13.1] | 1 study · 5073 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) Negative LR for detecting all (initial and advanced) proximal caries · Proximal 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) | Negative LR 0.65 [0.57, 0.73] | 34 studies | Ungraded |
Metapex (calcium hydroxide/iodoform) vs Zinc oxide and propolis (ZOP) 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 2.00 [0.20, 19.91] | 1 study · 32 participants | Ungraded |
Artemether vs Quinine Death · Patients with severe malaria · Network meta-regression covariate: average age (years) Graphs of study contributions and covariate distributions for network meta-regression. (2018) | no estimate extracted | NR | Ungraded |
Low polymerization shrinkage resin composite (silorane, ormocer, bulk-fill or other modified-monomer composite) vs Conventional methacrylate-based resin composite Postoperative sensitivity · 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 1.65 [0.71, 3.81] | 10 studies · 970 participants | Ungraded |
Human Development Index (quantitative) 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 20.17878 | 25 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) Specificity for detecting 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) | Specificity 96.5 [95, 97] | 50 studies | Ungraded |
Fluoride in gel vs Placebo Caries increment in permanent teeth · Children or adolescents · At least 1 year or school year, Randomisation year, NMR covariate 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… · Tailored to Egypt Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and… (2018) | Sensitivity 40.2 [32, 48] | 31 studies | Ungraded |
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) vs Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) + calcium hydroxide 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 1.00 [0.24, 4.18] | 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) PPV 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) | PPV 22.6 | 9 studies | Ungraded |
Diode laser + mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Formocresol (FC) + zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · mean 15.7 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | RR 4.00 [0.48, 33.42] | 1 study · 52 participants | Ungraded |
Endoflas chlorophenol free (Endoflas-CF) vs Zinc oxide and propolis (ZOP) 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 | Endoflas-CF vs ZOP (Al-Ostwani 2016); no significant difference | 1 study | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) 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 0.16 [0.04, 0.70] | 4 studies · 150 participants | Moderate |
Calcium hydroxide cement (Dycal) vs Calcium sulphate hemihydrate (DentoGen) 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 4.00 [0.49, 32.72] | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |
Zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) vs ZOE + calcium hydroxide + iodoform (unnamed product) 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 0.05 [0.00, 0.76] | 1 study · 109 participants | 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) NPV for detecting 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) | NPV 85.9 | 50 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 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) | Positive LR 5.96 [3.7, 6.6] | 38 studies | Ungraded |
Low income vs High income Prevalence of untreated decay (% DT > 0) · Adults aged 25 years and older in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States · 2007-2009, Canada Socioeconomic status, oral health and dental disease in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. (2018) | AD 16.66 [7.47, 25.86] | 1 study · 3278 participants | Ungraded |
Calcium hydroxide (CH) vs Portland cement (PC) 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 17.00 [1.07, 270.41] | 1 study · 30 participants | Ungraded |
Biodentine vs Propolis 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 0.43 [0.12, 1.47] | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Acetone-based total-etch adhesive vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · up to 24 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | No clinical failure in any participant (Demir 2007); not estimable (direct pulp capping) | 1 study · 40 participants | 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) NPV 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) | NPV 68.6 | 12 studies | Ungraded |
Vitapex (calcium hydroxide/iodoform) vs 3Mix (ciprofloxacin + metronidazole + minocycline) 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 1.83 [0.80, 4.19] | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Passive tobacco exposure (prenatal maternal smoking or postnatal secondhand/household smoke) vs No passive tobacco exposure (non-exposed children) Dental caries (presence; primary or permanent dentition) · Children and adolescents (aged 0 to 19 years) Association between passive tobacco exposure and caries in children and adolescents. A systematic review and… (2018) | OR 1.528 [1.394, 1.676] | 21 studies | Ungraded |
Endoflas (CH + ZOE + iodoform) vs Zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) 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 | RR 0.26 [0.05, 1.50] | 2 studies · 80 participants | Moderate |
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 · 2003-2004, United States Socioeconomic status, oral health and dental disease in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. (2018) | AD 20.49 [13.04, 27.93] | 1 study · 4568 participants | Ungraded |
OrthoMTA vs RetroMTA 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 0.70 [0.12, 3.98] | 1 study · 96 participants | Ungraded |
Dental caries during pregnancy vs Pregnant women without dental caries Preterm birth stratified by clinical type (spontaneous vs iatrogenic vs term) · Pregnant women · By type of PTB (spontaneous vs iatrogenic) Dental caries and preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2018) | no estimate extracted | 0 studies | Ungraded |
Portland cement (PC) vs Portland cement + iodoform or Portland cement + zirconium oxide Radiological failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · up to 24 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | No events in any participant; not estimable | 1 study · 30 participants | Ungraded |
Metapex (calcium hydroxide/iodoform) vs Endoflas chlorophenol free (Endoflas-CF) 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 1.00 [0.16, 6.25] | 1 study · 32 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride in varnish vs Placebo Caries increment in permanent teeth · Children or adolescents · At least 1 year or school year, Randomisation year, NMR covariate Graphs of study contributions and covariate distributions for network meta-regression. (2018) | no estimate extracted | NR | Ungraded |
Older adults (population mean age >33.4 years) vs Younger adults (population mean age <=33.4 years) Association with dental caries experience (DMFT) by random-effects meta-regression · Adults aged 19-60 years · Adjusted (Model 1) Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review… (2018) | Meta-regression coefficient 5.248158 | NR | Ungraded |
3Mix (ciprofloxacin + metronidazole + minocycline) vs 3Mixtatin 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 4.00 [1.22, 13.11] | 1 study · 160 participants | Low |
Prenatal passive tobacco exposure (maternal smoking during pregnancy / in the womb) vs No passive tobacco exposure (non-exposed children) Dental caries in primary dentition (presence) · Children (primary dentition) · Prenatal exposure; primary dentition Association between passive tobacco exposure and caries in children and adolescents. A systematic review and… (2018) | OR 1.463 [1.405, 1.523] | 4 studies | Ungraded |
Diode laser + mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Formocresol (FC) + zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) Clinical failure · Children with extensive decay involving the dental pulp in primary teeth · mean 15.7 months Pulp treatment for extensive decay in primary teeth (2018) · Cochrane | No clinical failure in any participant (Saltzman 2005); not estimable | 1 study · 52 participants | Ungraded |
Calcium hydroxide/iodoform (CH/iodoform) vs Full strength 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 9.11 [3.04, 27.31] | 1 study · 67 participants | Ungraded |
Fluorides combined with CPP-ACP vs Fluorides alone (monotherapy) Laser fluorescence (LF) change · Patients with early caries lesions in permanent teeth (non-fluoridated water area) · Post-treatment (3-12 weeks), Location of lesions: occlusal surfaces Efficacy of fluorides and CPP-ACP vs fluorides monotherapy on early caries lesions: A systematic review and… (2018) | MD -21.02 [-27.94, -14.10] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Portland cement (PC) vs Enamel matrix derivative (EMD) 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 0.67 [0.12, 3.75] | 1 study · 70 participants | 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) 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 Egypt Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and… (2018) | Positive LR 3.73 [3.1, 4.4] | 51 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) 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 5.56 [3.7, 8.5] | 12 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) proximal caries · Proximal 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 4.89 [3.9, 6.2] | 34 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) Negative LR for detecting advanced proximal caries · Proximal 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 0.58 [0.52, 0.65] | 22 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) Sensitivity 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) | Sensitivity 52.3 [44, 60] | 44 studies | Ungraded |
Vitapex (calcium hydroxide/iodoform) 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 1.00 [0.07, 15.12] | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Metapex (calcium hydroxide/iodoform) vs Endoflas (CH + ZOE + iodoform) 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 | RR 0.33 [0.01, 7.58] | 2 studies · 92 participants | 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) | Negative LR 0.58 [0.52, 0.65] | 22 studies | Ungraded |
Post-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 0.2 [0.1, 0.2] | 1 study · 4568 participants | Ungraded |