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Search review questions
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Post-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 · 2004-2006, Australia Socioeconomic status, oral health and dental disease in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. (2018) | AD 4.1 [2.0, 6.3] | 1 study · 5073 participants | Ungraded |
Fluoride in varnish 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 |
Zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) 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 1.67 [0.71, 3.89] | 1 study · 50 participants | Ungraded |
Diode laser vs Electrosurgery 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 0.64 [0.19, 2.18] | 2 studies · 50 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Dental caries (presence; primary or 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 1.50 [1.36, 1.64] | 21 studies | Ungraded |
Non-rinse conditioner + acetone-based total-etch adhesive vs 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 3.00 [0.13, 69.52] | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |
Low level of schooling (>33.60% of the population) vs Not applicable Mean DMFT · Adult participants in 25 meta-regression studies · Model 1 adjusted Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review… (2018) | Meta-regression coefficient 7.205453 | 6 studies | Ungraded |
Visual caries detection vs Reference standard (often histological; also invasive opening) Advanced occlusal 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) | Specificity 90.9 [88, 93] | 94 studies | Ungraded |
Fluoride in varnish vs Placebo 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 |
Calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) cement vs Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) 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 3.00 [0.13, 69.70] | 1 study · 42 participants | Very low |
Sealapex (eugenol-free calcium hydroxide) vs Zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE) 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 5.00 [0.26, 98.00] | 1 study · 40 participants | Ungraded |
ART using resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RM-GIC) vs Conventional treatment using RM-GIC Participant experience · Older adults with root caries in permanent (mature) teeth (mean age 75 years) Atraumatic restorative treatment versus conventional restorative treatment for managing dental caries (2017) · Cochrane | No studies reported on participant experience for this comparison. | 0 studies | No studies |
Metal-free implant-supported FDPs (zirconia-toughened alumina; In-Ceram Zirconia) vs Metal-free implant-supported FDPs (yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia; Denzir) Periodontal/peri-implant status (secondary outcomes) · Adults (18 years or older) needing an implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis in the posterior region Metal‐free materials for fixed prosthodontic restorations (2017) · Cochrane | No data were presented for any of the pre-specified secondary outcomes. Follow-up visits registered pocket depth, bleeding on probing and mobility but the data were not reported. | 0 studies | No studies |
Metal-free FDPs (lithium disilicate) vs Metal-ceramic FDPs Aesthetic evaluation · Adults (18 years or older) needing a three-unit fixed dental prosthesis (FDP) Metal‐free materials for fixed prosthodontic restorations (2017) · Cochrane | No data were presented with regard to aesthetics. | 0 studies | No studies |
ART using high-viscosity glass ionomer cement (H-GIC), hand instruments vs Conventional treatment using H-GIC (rotary instruments) Participant experience (discomfort during procedure) · People with dental caries in primary teeth (mainly children) · Multiple lesions, children 6 to 8 years Atraumatic restorative treatment versus conventional restorative treatment for managing dental caries (2017) · Cochrane | OR 0.95 [0.51, 1.79] | 1 study · 220 participants | Ungraded |
ART using composite resin vs Conventional treatment using composite resin Participant experience (dental anxiety) · Children with dental caries in primary teeth (mean age 7 years) Atraumatic restorative treatment versus conventional restorative treatment for managing dental caries (2017) · Cochrane | MD 0.00 [-0.52, 0.52] | 1 study · 57 participants | Ungraded |
Metal-free FDPs (zirconia ceramic) vs Metal-ceramic FDPs Bridge failure · Adults (18 years or older) needing a three-unit fixed dental prosthesis (FDP) · 12 and 36 months Metal‐free materials for fixed prosthodontic restorations (2017) · Cochrane | At 12 months and at 36 months 34 participants were available for analysis. No FDP failure was reported in either treatment approach at either time. | 1 study · 34 participants | Very low |
Metal-free implant abutments (zirconia) vs Metal implant abutments (titanium) Marginal bone level change (MBLC) · Adults (18 years or older) with one missing tooth in the aesthetic zone needing an implant-supported single crown on… · 12 months, Distal Metal‐free materials for fixed prosthodontic restorations (2017) · Cochrane | MD -0.05 [-0.15, 0.04] | 2 studies · 47 participants | Ungraded |
Metal-free implant-supported FDPs (zirconia-toughened alumina; In-Ceram Zirconia) vs Metal-free implant-supported FDPs (yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia; Denzir) Bridge complications · Adults (18 years or older) needing an implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis in the posterior region · 60 months Metal‐free materials for fixed prosthodontic restorations (2017) · Cochrane | OR 0.02 [0.00, 0.42] | 1 study · 18 participants | Very low |
Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) vs Placebo or no treatment Adverse effects (apart from fluorosis) · Pregnant women (for preventing dental caries in the primary teeth of their children) Fluoride supplementation (with tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) in pregnant women for preventing… (2017) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study | Ungraded |
ART using H-GIC vs Conventional treatment using amalgam Restoration failure (primary teeth) · Children with dental caries in primary teeth · Single and multiple lesions Atraumatic restorative treatment versus conventional restorative treatment for managing dental caries (2017) · Cochrane | OR 2.15 [0.73, 6.35] | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Metal-free cantilevered FDPs (feldspathic-veneered zirconia) vs Metal-ceramic cantilevered FDPs Plaque index (PI) · Adults (18 years or older) needing replacement of one premolar or incisor with a cantilevered fixed dental prosthesis · 24 months Metal‐free materials for fixed prosthodontic restorations (2017) · Cochrane | MD -0.10 [-1.04, 0.84] | 1 study · 19 participants | Ungraded |
Resin-based fissure sealant (2nd/3rd/4th generation) vs No sealant (control/no treatment) Adverse effects · Children and adolescents (general population, aged under 20 years) Pit and fissure sealants for preventing dental decay in permanent teeth (2017) · Cochrane | Two trials measured adverse effects. None were reported. | 2 studies | Ungraded |
Metal-free single crowns (full-contour zirconia) vs Cast gold (conventional metal) single crowns Crown failure · Adults (18 years or older) needing a single crown in the molar or premolar region · 12 months Metal‐free materials for fixed prosthodontic restorations (2017) · Cochrane | OR 0.83 [0.05, 13.44] | 1 study · 194 participants | Very low |
ART using H-GIC vs Conventional treatment using composite (with local anaesthetic) Restoration failure (primary teeth) · Children with dental caries in primary teeth · Multiple lesions Atraumatic restorative treatment versus conventional restorative treatment for managing dental caries (2017) · Cochrane | OR 8.00 [1.24, 51.48] | 1 study · 30 participants | Ungraded |
New types of fissure sealant (e.g. ormocer-based) vs No sealant (control) Outcome NR · Children and adolescents (general population, aged under 20 years) Pit and fissure sealants for preventing dental decay in permanent teeth (2017) · Cochrane | No studies comparing new types of fissure sealants with no sealant were included. | NR | No studies |
ART using high-viscosity glass ionomer cement (H-GIC), hand instruments vs Conventional treatment using H-GIC (rotary instruments) Pain (during procedure, primary dentition) · People with dental caries in primary teeth (mainly children) · During procedure Atraumatic restorative treatment versus conventional restorative treatment for managing dental caries (2017) · Cochrane | MD -0.65 [-1.38, 0.07] | 1 study · 40 participants | Low |
Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) vs Placebo or no treatment Filled primary surfaces at 5 years · Pregnant women (for preventing dental caries in the primary teeth of their children) · 5 years Fluoride supplementation (with tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) in pregnant women for preventing… (2017) · Cochrane | MD 0.03 [-0.28, 0.34] | 1 study · 798 participants | Ungraded |
Metal-free cantilevered FDPs (feldspathic-veneered zirconia) vs Metal-ceramic cantilevered FDPs Cantilevered bridge failure · Adults (18 years or older) needing replacement of one premolar or incisor with a cantilevered fixed dental prosthesis · 12, 24 and 36 months Metal‐free materials for fixed prosthodontic restorations (2017) · Cochrane | At 12 months 19 participants were available; no failure and no complication were reported in either group. No failure was reported at 24 or 36 months. | 1 study · 19 participants | Very low |
Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) vs Placebo or no treatment Children with caries in the primary teeth at 3 years · Pregnant women (for preventing dental caries in the primary teeth of their children) · 3 years Fluoride supplementation (with tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) in pregnant women for preventing… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.46 [0.75, 2.85] | 1 study · 938 participants | Very low |
Metal-free cantilevered FDPs (feldspathic-veneered zirconia) vs Metal-ceramic cantilevered FDPs Gingival index (GI) · Adults (18 years or older) needing replacement of one premolar or incisor with a cantilevered fixed dental prosthesis · 24 months Metal‐free materials for fixed prosthodontic restorations (2017) · Cochrane | MD 0.03 [-0.75, 0.81] | 1 study · 19 participants | Ungraded |
ART using high-viscosity glass ionomer cement (H-GIC), hand instruments vs Conventional treatment using H-GIC (rotary instruments) Costs (direct and indirect) · People with dental caries in primary teeth (mainly children) Atraumatic restorative treatment versus conventional restorative treatment for managing dental caries (2017) · Cochrane | No studies reported on costs for this comparison. | 0 studies | No studies |
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) · 5 years Fluoride supplementation (with tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) in pregnant women for preventing… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.79 [0.95, 3.40] | 1 study · 798 participants | Very low |
ART using H-GIC vs Conventional treatment using composite (with local anaesthetic) Pain (primary dentition) · Children with dental caries in primary teeth Atraumatic restorative treatment versus conventional restorative treatment for managing dental caries (2017) · Cochrane | OR 2.22 [0.51, 9.61] | 1 study | Ungraded |
Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) vs Placebo or no treatment Decayed, missing and filled primary teeth (dmft) · Pregnant women (for preventing dental caries in the primary teeth of their children) Fluoride supplementation (with tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) in pregnant women for preventing… (2017) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Metal-free implant-supported single crowns (zirconia veneered with feldspathic ceramic) vs Metal-ceramic implant-supported single crowns Marginal bone level (first bone to implant contact, FBIC) · Adults (18 years or older) with one missing tooth in the aesthetic zone needing an implant-supported single crown · 24 months, Mesial to crown Metal‐free materials for fixed prosthodontic restorations (2017) · Cochrane | MD -0.01 [-0.93, 0.91] | 1 study · 18 participants | Ungraded |
ART using glass ionomer cement (GIC) vs Conventional treatment using amalgam Restoration failure (primary teeth) · Children and adolescents with dental caries (primary teeth and permanent immature teeth) · Lesion type not reported Atraumatic restorative treatment versus conventional restorative treatment for managing dental caries (2017) · Cochrane | OR 0.78 [0.30, 2.02] | 1 study · 80 participants | Ungraded |
Dementia (any type or severity) vs Older people without dementia Retained roots (mean number) · Older people (aged 60 years or older) with dementia Oral health and orofacial pain in older people with dementia: a systematic review with focus on dental hard… (2017) | no estimate extracted | 3 studies | Ungraded |
Resin-based fissure sealant (2nd/3rd/4th generation) vs No sealant (control/no treatment) Caries on occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (36 months) · Children and adolescents (general population, aged under 20 years) · 36 months Pit and fissure sealants for preventing dental decay in permanent teeth (2017) · Cochrane | OR 0.17 [0.11, 0.27] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
ART using high-viscosity glass ionomer cement (H-GIC), hand instruments vs Conventional treatment using H-GIC (rotary instruments) Adverse events · People with dental caries in primary teeth (mainly children) Atraumatic restorative treatment versus conventional restorative treatment for managing dental caries (2017) · Cochrane | Adverse events: Not measured. | 0 studies | No studies |
ART using resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RM-GIC) vs Conventional treatment using RM-GIC Costs (direct and indirect) · Older adults with root caries in permanent (mature) teeth (mean age 75 years) Atraumatic restorative treatment versus conventional restorative treatment for managing dental caries (2017) · Cochrane | No studies reported on costs for this comparison. | 0 studies | No studies |
Metal-free tooth-supported FDPs (pressed veneering ceramic) vs Metal-free tooth-supported FDPs (layered veneering ceramic) Aesthetic evaluation · Adults (18 years or older) needing a three-unit tooth-supported fixed dental prosthesis Metal‐free materials for fixed prosthodontic restorations (2017) · Cochrane | No comparative data were presented with regard to aesthetics. Aesthetics evaluated by the patient was reported dichotomously (yes/no) in the trial but no between-group estimate was presented. | 1 study | Ungraded |
Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) vs Placebo or no treatment Missing primary surfaces (ms) · Pregnant women (for preventing dental caries in the primary teeth of their children) Fluoride supplementation (with tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) in pregnant women for preventing… (2017) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Metal-free implant abutments (zirconia) vs Metal implant abutments (titanium) Gingival/mucosal recession (REC) · Adults (18 years or older) with one missing tooth in the aesthetic zone needing an implant-supported single crown on… · 12 months Metal‐free materials for fixed prosthodontic restorations (2017) · Cochrane | MD 0.00 [-0.22, 0.22] | 2 studies · 47 participants | Ungraded |
Resin-based fissure sealant (2nd/3rd/4th generation) vs No sealant (control/no treatment) Caries on occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (48-54 months) · Children and adolescents (general population, aged under 20 years) · 48-54 months Pit and fissure sealants for preventing dental decay in permanent teeth (2017) · Cochrane | OR 0.21 [0.16, 0.28] | 4 studies | Ungraded |
ART using composite resin vs Conventional treatment using composite resin Pain · Children with dental caries in primary teeth (mean age 7 years) Atraumatic restorative treatment versus conventional restorative treatment for managing dental caries (2017) · Cochrane | Pain: Not measured. | 0 studies | No studies |
Dementia (any type or severity) vs Older people without dementia DMFT index (mean) · Older people (aged 60 years or older) with dementia Oral health and orofacial pain in older people with dementia: a systematic review with focus on dental hard… (2017) | no estimate extracted | 8 studies | Ungraded |
Dementia (any type or severity) vs Older people without dementia Denture use (prevalence) · Older people (aged 60 years or older) with dementia Oral health and orofacial pain in older people with dementia: a systematic review with focus on dental hard… (2017) | no estimate extracted | 12 studies | Ungraded |
Resin-based fissure sealant (2nd/3rd/4th generation) vs No sealant (control/no treatment) Caries on occlusal surfaces of permanent molars (12 months) · Children and adolescents (general population, aged under 20 years) · 12 months Pit and fissure sealants for preventing dental decay in permanent teeth (2017) · Cochrane | OR 0.17 [0.10, 0.30] | 7 studies | Ungraded |
Fluoride supplementation (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) vs Placebo or no treatment Children with caries in the primary teeth at 5 years · Pregnant women (for preventing dental caries in the primary teeth of their children) · 5 years Fluoride supplementation (with tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) in pregnant women for preventing… (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.84 [0.53, 1.33] | 1 study · 798 participants | Very low |