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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Slow-release fluoride device (fluoride glass beads) vs Placebo or usual care (control) Use of healthcare resources (cost effectiveness, time taken to fit, number of dental visits) · Children with high risk of dental decay Slow‐release fluoride devices for the control of dental decay (2018) · Cochrane | The study reported no data on use of healthcare resources | 0 studies | No studies |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) 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 |
Low polymerization shrinkage resin composite (silorane, ormocer, bulk-fill or other modified-monomer composite) vs Conventional methacrylate-based resin composite Marginal adaptation (clinically detectable deterioration) · 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 1.77 [1.25, 2.50] | 15 studies · 2280 participants | Ungraded |
Human Development Index vs Not applicable Mean DMFT · Adult participants in HDI-stratified study populations Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review… (2018) | Mean DMFT 11.49 [9.96, 13.03] | 25 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 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) | Sensitivity 39.7 [25, 56] | 11 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 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 5.0 [4.3, 5.8] | 55 studies | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) 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 | No radiological failure in any participant (Aminabadi 2016); not estimable | 1 study · 160 participants | Ungraded |
Medium 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 11.9 [3.7, 20.1] | 1 study · 2041 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) Sensitivity for detecting 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) | Sensitivity 44.4 [38, 51] | 22 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) 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 97.5 | 55 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) 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 75.1 [70, 81] | 55 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 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 12.5 [9.2, 16.9] | 50 studies | Ungraded |
Non-rinse conditioner + acetone-based total-etch adhesive vs Calcium hydroxide (CH) 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 clinical failure in any participant (Demir 2007); not estimable | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |
Medium income vs High income Mean number of decayed teeth (mean DT) · 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 0.2 [0.1, 0.3] | 1 study · 5073 participants | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Calcium hydroxide + sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) 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 0.09 [0.01, 1.58] | 1 study · 62 participants | Ungraded |
Electrosurgery vs Calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) 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, 2.61] | 1 study · 102 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) Sensitivity 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) | Sensitivity 50.8 [43, 59] | 36 studies | Ungraded |
Early extraction of a compromised first permanent molar vs Teeth in the same arch/patient with the first permanent molar present Caries and/or fillings in adjacent teeth · Children aged 5 to 15 years with a compromised first permanent molar · Proximal surfaces (extraction vs FPM present; fewer decayed/filled with extraction) Consequences of early extraction of compromised first permanent molar: a systematic review. (2018) | OR 0.48 [0.33, 0.69] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Slow-release fluoride device (fluoride glass beads) vs Placebo or usual care (control) Participant satisfaction · Children with high risk of dental decay Slow‐release fluoride devices for the control of dental decay (2018) · Cochrane | No RCT evidence found | 0 studies | No studies |
Medium income vs High income Mean number of decayed teeth (mean DT) · 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 0.4 [0.2, 0.5] | 1 study · 3278 participants | Ungraded |
Diode laser vs 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 0.33 [0.01, 7.95] | 1 study · 80 participants | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Simvastatin 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 |
Conventional restorative treatment with resin composite (CRT-RC) vs Sealing (resin sealant over caries) Caries lesion arrestment · 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 1.02 [0.96, 1.08] | 2 studies · 66 participants | 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 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) | Sensitivity 40.5 [33, 48] | 34 studies | Ungraded |
Self-etch adhesive + acetone-based total-etch adhesive vs Non-rinse conditioner + acetone-based total-etch adhesive 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 3.00 [0.13, 69.52] | 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) 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… · Tailored to Egypt Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and… (2018) | Specificity 92.5 [91, 94] | 31 studies | Ungraded |
Populations with a low level of schooling (>=33.60% of the population with low schooling) vs Populations with a higher level of schooling (<33.60% of the population with low schooling) Dental caries experience (DMFT) · Adults aged 19-60 years · Higher schooling (<33.60% with low schooling) Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review… (2018) | MEAN 11.95 [7.26, 16.64] | 6 studies | 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 · Higher SES (<22.4% with low SES) Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review… (2018) | MEAN 5.50 [-1.04, 12.03] | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Ferric sulphate (FS) vs Zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) Clinical 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 1.20 [0.42, 3.43] | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Fluorides combined with CPP-ACP vs Fluorides alone (monotherapy) Total lesion area divided by total surface area (visual) · Patients with early caries lesions in permanent teeth (non-fluoridated water area) · Post-treatment (8-24 weeks), Location of lesions: smooth surfaces Efficacy of fluorides and CPP-ACP vs fluorides monotherapy on early caries lesions: A systematic review and… (2018) | MD 4.37 [-0.51, 9.26] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Medium 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 · 2004-2006, Australia Socioeconomic status, oral health and dental disease in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. (2018) | AD 3.1 [0.9, 5.2] | 1 study · 5073 participants | 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 · 2009, New Zealand Socioeconomic status, oral health and dental disease in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. (2018) | AD 17.46 [8.00, 26.92] | 1 study · 2041 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 · 2007-2009, Canada Socioeconomic status, oral health and dental disease in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. (2018) | AD 16.91 [8.91, 24.91] | 1 study · 3278 participants | Ungraded |
Secondary education vs University education 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 6.7 [-1.3, 14.7] | 1 study · 2041 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) Specificity 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) | Specificity 77.0 [73, 81] | 51 studies | Ungraded |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) vs Ferric sulphate (FS) Clinical 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 0.52 [0.20, 1.39] | 3 studies · 130 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) 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 Germany 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 |
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) + calcium hydroxide vs Formocresol (FC) 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 |
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 · Adjusted (Model 2) Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review… (2018) | Meta-regression coefficient 10.35391 | NR | Ungraded |
Calcium hydroxide (CH) vs Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) + sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) 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 8.00 [1.06, 60.21] | 1 study · 62 participants | Ungraded |
Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) vs 1:5 diluted formocresol (FC) Clinical 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 3.00 [0.13, 70.30] | 2 studies · 150 participants | Ungraded |
Artesunate 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 |
Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) 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 0.14 [0.01, 2.67] | 1 study · 70 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) Specificity for detecting 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) | Specificity 95.5 [94, 97] | 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) 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 Egypt Visual and radiographic caries detection: a tailored meta-analysis for two different settings, Egypt and… (2018) | Positive LR 5.34 [4.2, 6.8] | 31 studies | Ungraded |
Electrofulguration + calcium hydroxide (CH) vs Electrofulguration + zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) 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 0.94 [0.47, 1.88] | 1 study · 47 participants | Ungraded |
Erbium:YAG laser vs Formocresol (FC) 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 1.06 [0.28, 4.01] | 1 study · 97 participants | Ungraded |
Low income vs High income 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 0.22 [0.08, 0.35] | 1 study · 4568 participants | Ungraded |
Zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) vs Formocresol (FC) Clinical 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 0.83 [0.29, 2.38] | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Low socioeconomic status (>22.4% of the population) vs Not applicable Mean DMFT · Adult participants in 25 meta-regression studies · Model 2 adjusted Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review… (2018) | Meta-regression coefficient 10.35391 | 7 studies | Ungraded |