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This study investigated the role of a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor (CHX 2%) in the development of secondary caries wall lesions in different interface conditions with small (run 1) and wider gaps (run 2). Dentin discs were restored and pretreated with or without CHX 2%. In run 1, interfaces were made with gaps of 30, 60, or 90 µm. Interfaces with composite placed directly onto the dentin were either bonded (Adper Single Bond 2) or not bonded. In run 2, interfaces were made with gaps of 100 µm, with or without adhesive on the composite side (CLEARFIL SE Bond). Interfaces were either bonded or not bonded, as in run 1. Microcosm biofilms were grown on dentin-composite samples for 14 days. Caries lesion outcomes were analyzed by transversal wavelength-independent microradiography at 3 locations: the outer surface, and the interface wall at a distance of 200 and 500 µm from the gap entrance. Linear regression analyses showed that pretreatment with MMP inhibitor did not influence progression of the wall lesion at any location (p ≥ 0.218). Interfaces with intentional gaps showed positive and significant effect on the wall lesion progression at 200 µm from the gap entrance (p ≤ 0.005). A small trend of increase in wall lesion development was observed at the 200-µm location when bonding was present on the composite side. In conclusion, the dentin pretreatment with CHX 2% was not able to slow down the development of secondary caries wall lesions in small and wide gaps in this biofilm model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in speech characteristics and self-perceived quality of speech in tooth wear patients, after occlusal rehabilitation. Materials and methods: Patients with tooth wear were included in this study after informed consent. The amount of tooth wear was scored with Tooth Wear Evaluation System (TWES). To assess the perspective of the patient, the Dutch Speech Handicap Index was used (SHI). Acoustic analysis was performed to evaluate changes with the use of voice recordings. These were made before treatment, T0; directly after treatment, T1; 1 month after treatment, T2. With the use of PRAAT software, the spectral characteristic centre of gravity (COG) was evaluated for the sounds /s/, /f/, /v/, /d/, /t/, /m/. Results: Recordings of 17 patients (14 men, 3 women, mean age 41.2 ± 10.4 years) were included. SHI scores did not change significantly between T0 and T2 (p = 0.054). A multiple regression model showed that for all sounds the intercept was negative, but statistically significant only for /s/ and /f/ between T0 and T1. The effect of the initial change (between T0 and T1) on the change between T1 and T2 was clearly negative for all sounds (p < 0.001), showing a rebound effect ranging between 29 and 68% of the initial change. Conclusion: Tooth wear patients perceive improvement in speech function after treatment. Clinical significance: Clinicians may explain to patients that speech is likely to alter for a short period due to treatment but that there will be a good adaption to the new situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ caries research serves as a bridge between clinical research and laboratory studies. In this kind of research, volunteers wear a removable intraoral splint or prosthesis containing research samples. Many different in situ models exist to investigate secondary caries. This systematic review compared currently existing secondary caries models and their lesion progression per day values.Materials and Methods: Three databases (Medline, Embase, and Cochrane) were searched for relevant literature. Bias risk was assessed and model parameters and caries-related outcomes were extracted by 2 independent researchers. Where possible, caries-related outcomes were normalized by estimating lesion progression per day by dividing lesion depth extracted from microradiographic or microhardness data by the number of days the study lasted.Results: The literature search identified 335 articles. After eliminating duplicates and selection, 31 articles were included. The models differed greatly on factors such as sample location, presence of fluoride in the model, and analysis methods. Three main groups could be identified by sample placement; 68% of models placed samples palatally in the upper jaw, and the lower jaw model could be divided into the buccal (26%) and approximal (6%) areas. Average lesion progression in enamel next to composite was 4.3 ± 2.8 µm (range1.1-8.8 µm/day).Discussion: Studies conducted with palatal models showed caries progression rates 2-5 times higher than the estimated clinical progression rates. Lesion progression per day could be a useful tool for future comparison of models and establishing a standardized model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective clinical study was to evaluate the performance of direct composite restorations that were placed in patients with severe tooth wear requiring an increase of the occlusal vertical dimension. Methods and Materials: Eighteen patients with severe tooth wear, who had been treated in a private practice between April 1996 and July 2007, were selected. All subjects had been treated with direct composite resin restorations in increased vertical dimension using a three-step etch-and-rinse adhesive system and a hybrid composite resin. From the dental records, information about re-intervention and replacement of restorations was obtained. Patients were then clinically examined to evaluate the status of the restorations and interviewed about their satisfaction with the restorative treatment using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results: Eighteen patients (16 male, 2 female with an average age of 44.8 years) with severe tooth wear were included in the study. Time since treatment ranged from 6 months to 12 years and the mean observation time was 3.98 years. Of the 332 restored teeth, 23 restorations showed failures (6.9%). Eight restorations (2.4%) showed major fractures, 11 restorations (3.3%) showed minor fractures, and four restorations (1.2%) failed due to secondary caries. VAS data on a scale of 0 to 10 revealed high patient satisfaction with this type of restoration (mean 9.0). Conclusion: Treatments with direct hybrid composite restorations placed in an increased occlusal vertical dimension showed good clinical performance in patients with severe tooth wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of remaining buccal cavity wall, remaining cervical tissue, and post on the fracture strength of endodontically treated restored premolars.Materials and Methods: Teeth were randomly allocated to 10 experimental groups (n=10) according to cavity design and presence or absence of post or to a control group. After thermal and mechanical aging, ramped loading until fracture was performed.Results: A high cervical outline (417 N) and the presence of a post (189 N) increased fracture strength, but both factors together had an antagonistic effect of -218 N, resulting in a higher strength of not 606 N (417+189) but 388 N. The risk of catastrophic failure increased (OR=3.17) when a post was present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of artificial demineralization upon color change of dentin in contact with dental amalgam. Methods: Sound human molars (n= 34) were embedded in resin and coronal enamel was removed. Dentin was exposed to artificial caries gel (pH 5.5) at 37°C for 12 weeks (n= 24). Non-demineralized teeth served as controls (n= the 10). A dispersive high-Cu amalgam or conventional low-Cu amalgam was condensed onto dentin surfaces of all groups. After 10 weeks storage in saline, amalgam was removed and teeth were cut into three slices. Surfaces were inspected under optical microscopy and photographed. Results: Penetration of black pigments was observed in dentin underneath both high-Cu and low-Cu amalgams in demineralized specimens. Black deposits were unevenly distributed and observed predominantly in dentin near to pulp horns. Discoloration was not limited to outer demineralized dentin but extended beyond this zone. Evenly distributed bluish-green discoloration was observed underneath all high-Cu amalgam specimens independent of demineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Oral focus screening is recommended before HCT (haematopoietic cell transplantation). Acute foci are generally treated pre-HCT. However, it is unclear whether chronic foci should be treated pre-HCT. This study aimed to evaluate the association between number of foci and early post-HCT morbidity and mortality. Methods: Patients who received an oral screening pre-HCT at Radboudumc between 2013 and 2023, with a recent panoramic radiograph, were included. Foci were defined as teeth or implants with deep pockets, furcation radiolucencies, periapical radiolucencies, deep caries, partial eruption or retained roots. Dental interventions were provided pre-HCT if deemed necessary and possible. Hospital length of stay (LOS), mortality and oral exacerbations were assessed in the first hundred days post-HCT. Hospital LOS was log-transformed to normalize its skewed distribution. Multivariate regression analyses were performed. Results: Five hundred patients were included (median age 58 years, 37% female, 56% allogeneic). Four acute foci in two patients remained untreated pre-HCT. Forty-eight percent had at least one untreated chronic focus pre-HCT (mostly furcation radiolucencies and post-endodontic periapical lesions). Mean LOS was 22 days; 20 patients died, and four patients had an oral exacerbation before HCT day + 100. After adjustment for conditioning intensity, age, socioeconomic status and number of teeth, HCT recipients with ≥ 3 foci had five additional days in the hospital compared to those without foci (ratio of means 1.21; 95% CI 1.00 – 1.46). The number of foci was not associated with early post-HCT mortality. Conclusion: The presence of ≥ 3 oral foci is associated with extended hospital LOS in the first hundred days post-HCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro diagnostic performance for approximal caries and occlusal dentine caries diagnosis of the Digora® system for digital radiography in relation to the exposure time. Radiographs were made of 220 extracted human posterior teeth and cuspids at exposure time levels of 3%, 6%, 10%, 20%, and 78% of the exposure time needed for E-speed film (image sets I, II, III, IV, and V, respectively). The image sets were put in random order (III, I, IV, II, V) and assessed independently by 3 observers using a 5-point confidence scale. True caries status was determined histologically after sectioning of the teeth. Evaluated parameters were: interexaminer K, sensitivity, specificity, Dz¾ (the distance of one operating point to the diagonal in the ROC domain) and area under the ROC curve. The Spearman correlation coefficients between the parameters and both exposure time and order of viewing of the sets were calculated. For approximal surfaces, the ranges of mean parameter values were: sensitivity 26-33%, specificity 93-95%, Dz¾ 0.63-0.84, area 0.61-0.69. For occlusal surfaces, the ranges were: sensitivity 52-60%, specificity 91-95%, Dz¾ 1.03-1.34, area 0.79-0.87. Out of 24 pairwise comparisons between sets V and I, 5 were significant. Out of 24 comparisons between set V and II, only 2 were significant. It was concluded that diagnostic performance is unlikely to be impaired for an exposure time as short as 6% of E-speed film exposure. When reducing the exposure time to 3% of E-speed him exposure, caries diagnosis may be impaired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite the notable progress in developing artificial intelligence-based tools for caries detection in bitewings, limited research has addressed the detection and staging of secondary caries. Therefore, we aimed to develop a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based algorithm for these purposes using a novel approach for determining lesion severity. Methods: We used a dataset from a Dutch dental practice-based research network containing 2,612 restored teeth in 413 bitewings from 383 patients aged 15–88 years and trained the Mask R-CNN architecture with a Swin Transformer backbone. Two-stage training fine-tuned caries detection accuracy and severity assessment. Annotations of caries around restorations were made by two evaluators and checked by two other experts. Aggregated accuracy metrics (mean ± standard deviation – SD) in detecting teeth with secondary caries were calculated considering two thresholds: detecting all lesions and dentine lesions. The correlation between the lesion severity scores obtained with the algorithm and the annotators’ consensus was determined using the Pearson correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman plots. Results: Our refined algorithm showed high specificity in detecting all lesions (0.966 ± 0.025) and dentine lesions (0.964 ± 0.019). Sensitivity values were lower: 0.737 ± 0.079 for all lesions and 0.808 ± 0.083 for dentine lesions. The areas under ROC curves (SD) were 0.940 (0.025) for all lesions and 0.946 (0.023) for dentine lesions. The correlation coefficient for severity scores was 0.802. Conclusion: We developed an improved algorithm to support clinicians in detecting and staging secondary caries in bitewing, incorporating an innovative approach for annotation, considering the lesion severity as a continuous outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This consensus paper provides recommendations for oral health professionals on why and how to assess caries activity and progression with special respect to the site of a lesion. Methods: An expert panel was nominated by the executive councils of the European Organization for Caries Research (ORCA) and the European Federation of Conservative Dentistry (EFCD). The steering committee built three working groups that were asked to provide recommendations on (1) caries detection and diagnostic methods, (2) caries activity and progression assessment, and (3) obtain individualized caries diagnoses. The experts of work group 2 phrased and agreed on provisional general and specific recommendations on caries lesion activity and progression, based on a review of the current literature. These recommendations were then discussed and refined in a consensus workshop followed by an anonymous Delphi survey to determine the agreement on each recommendation. Results: The expert panel agreed on general (n = 7) and specific recommendations (n = 6). The specific recommendations cover coronal caries on pits and fissures, smooth surfaces, proximal surfaces, as well as root caries and secondary caries/caries adjacent to restorations and sealants. 3/13 recommendations yielded perfect agreement. Conclusion: The most suitable method for lesion activity assessment is the visual-tactile method. No single clinical characteristic is indicative of lesion activity; instead, lesion activity assessment is based on assessing and weighing several clinical signs. The recall intervals for visual and radiographic examination need to be adjusted to the presence of active caries lesions and recent caries progression rates. Modifications should be based on individual patient characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The oral cavity is a common site of complications related to the cytotoxic effect of high-dose chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Considering our limited understanding of the burden of illness in the oral cavity from various cytotoxic therapies, it is difficult to produce evidence-based, preventive and management protocols. A prospective multicenter study is necessary to collect data on the burden of illness from various cytotoxic regimens. Objective: The objectives of this prospective international observational multicenter study in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients are to establish the nature, incidence and temporal relationship of oral complications related to conditioning regimens (chemotherapy with or without total body irradiation), stem cell transplantation and the immunologic reactions (mainly graft-vs-host-disease) that may follow, and to determine what subjective and objective oral complications related to treatment can predict negative clinical and economic outcomes and reduced quality of life. Methods: Adult patients at six study sites receiving full intensity conditioning, reduced intensity conditioning or nonmyeloablative conditioning, followed by autologous or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell infusion, are included. A pre-treatment assessment includes medical conditions, planned chemo- and radiation therapy regimen, medications, allergies, social history, patient report of oral problems, dental history, subjective oral complaints, objective measures of oral conditions, current laboratory values, dental treatment recommended and untreated dental disease. Starting 1-3 days after hematopoietic stem cell infusion, a bedside assessment is completed 3 days per week until resolution of neutropenia. A patient questionnaire is also completed during hospitalization. Beyond this time, patients with continued oral mucositis or other oral problems are followed 1 day per week in an inpatient or outpatient setting. Additional visits for urgent care for acute oral problems after hospitalization are documented. Autologous transplant patients are being followed up at 100 days (SD 30 days) and at 1 year (SD 30 days) post-transplantation to identify any long-term side effects. Patients treated with allogeneic transplantation are being followed at 100 days (SD 30 days), 6 months (SD 30 days), and 12 months (SD 30 days). The follow-up assessments include cancer response to therapy, current medical conditions, medications, subjective and objective oral findings, quality of life measures and laboratory values. The targeted enrollment is 254 patients who have received HSCT. Results: A total of 260 participants have been enrolled, with 233 (91%) who have received HSCT. We anticipate enrollment of 20-30 additional participants to obtain the sample size of 254 enrolled participants who have received HSCT. Conclusions: The results of the ongoing prospective study will provide a unique dataset to understand the impact of oral complications on patients undergoing HSCT and provide needed evidence for guidelines regarding the management of this patient cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of the present consensus paper was to provide recommendations for clinical practice considering the use of visual examination, dental radiography and adjunct methods for primary caries detection. Materials and methods: The executive councils of the European Organisation for Caries Research (ORCA) and the European Federation of Conservative Dentistry (EFCD) nominated ten experts each to join the expert panel. The steering committee formed three work groups that were asked to provide recommendations on (1) caries detection and diagnostic methods, (2) caries activity assessment and (3) forming individualised caries diagnoses. The experts responsible for “caries detection and diagnostic methods” searched and evaluated the relevant literature, drafted this manuscript and made provisional consensus recommendations. These recommendations were discussed and refined during the structured process in the whole work group. Finally, the agreement for each recommendation was determined using an anonymous Delphi survey. Results: Recommendations (N = 8) were approved and agreed upon by the whole expert panel: visual examination (N = 3), dental radiography (N = 3) and additional diagnostic methods (N = 2). While the quality of evidence was found to be heterogeneous, all recommendations were agreed upon by the expert panel. Conclusion: Visual examination is recommended as the first-choice method for the detection and assessment of caries lesions on accessible surfaces. Intraoral radiography, preferably bitewing, is recommended as an additional method. Adjunct, non-ionising radiation methods might also be useful in certain clinical situations. Clinical relevance: The expert panel merged evidence from the scientific literature with practical considerations and provided recommendations for their use in daily dental practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Salivary flow rate is decreased after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). • Protein composition of saliva changes after HSCT. • Salivary proteins are differently expressed in chronic graft-versus-host disease. Severe oral problems, including oral mucositis (OM) and xerostomia, often occur after conditioning therapy for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Saliva plays a major role in protecting the oral mucosa and teeth. Alterations in salivary flow rate or salivary components resulting in decreased salivary defence mechanisms may affect oral/mucosal health and may influence the severity of OM. A systematic review was conducted to assess the current scientific knowledge on changes in salivary function and composition before and after HSCT. All English or Dutch articles examining salivary flow rate or salivary components before and after HSCT were included after title/abstract selection by 2 independent reviewers (weighted κ =.91). After quality assessment and exclusion of all research groups with both children age <14 years and adults, 33 articles were included for data analysis. Overall, the salivary flow rate was decreased at several days and months after HSCT. Although several salivary components were studied, most components were examined in only 1 or 2 studies with different patient populations or at different time points after HSCT. At 7 days after HSCT, albumin and proinflammatory cytokines were increased, whereas secretory IgA and components of the salivary antioxidant system were decreased. Secretory IgA levels were still reduced at 1 month after HSCT but returned to pre-HSCT values at 6 months after HSCT. Lactoferrin, secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor, and β 2 -microglobulin levels were increased at 6 months after HSCT. Our findings show that changes in saliva reflect an inflammatory response occurring immediately after HSCT, followed by evidence of increased salivary antimicrobial defense mechanisms by 6 months after HSCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a letter to the editor in response to the article "Construct and Predictive Validity of Clinical Caries Diagnostic Criteria Assessing Lesion Activity," by Bente Nyvad, Vita Machiulskiene and Vibeke Baelum in volume 82, issue 2 as well as a response by the authors.

Objectives: Haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) preceded by a conditioning regimen is an established treatment option for (non)malignant haematologic disorders. We aim to describe the development of hyposalivation over time in HCT recipients, and determine risk indicators. Materials and methods: A multi-centre prospective longitudinal observational study was conducted. Unstimulated (UWS) and stimulated (SWS) whole saliva was collected before HCT, early post-HCT, and after 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. The effect of type of transplantation (allogeneic vs autologous) and intensity (full vs reduced) of the conditioning regimen on hyposalivation (UWS < 0.2 mL/min; SWS < 0.7 mL/min) was explored. Results: A total of 125 HCT recipients were included. More than half of the patients had hyposalivation early post-HCT; a quarter still had hyposalivation after 12 months. The conditioning intensity was a risk indicator in the development of hyposalivation of both UWS (OR: 3.9, 95% CI: 1.6–10.6) and SWS (OR: 8.2, 95% CI: 2.9–24.6). After 3 and 12 months, this effect was not statistically significant anymore. Conclusions: Hyposalivation affects the majority of patients early post-HCT. The conditioning intensity and the type of transplantation were significant risk indicators in the development of hyposalivation. The number of prescribed medications, total body irradiation as part of the conditioning regimen and oral mucosal graft-versus-host disease did not influence hyposalivation significantly. Clinical relevance: Because of the high prevalence of hyposalivation, HCT recipients will have an increased risk of oral complications. It might be reasonable to plan additional check-ups in the dental practice and consider additional preventive strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the present systematic review is to assess the prevalence and severity of and distress caused by xerostomia over time in adult hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched for papers published between January 2000 and May 2022. Clinical studies were included if patient-reported subjective oral dryness was reported in adult autologous or allogeneic HSCT recipients. Risk of bias was assessed according to a quality grading strategy published by the oral care study group of the MASCC/ISOO, resulting in a score between 0 (highest risk of bias) and 10 (lowest risk of bias). Separate analysis focused on autologous HSCT recipients, allogeneic HSCT recipients receiving a myeloablative conditioning (MAC), and those receiving a reduced intensity conditioning (RIC). Results: Searches yielded 1792 unique records; 22 studies met the inclusion criteria. The quality scores ranged between 1 and 7, with a median score of 4. The prevalence, severity, and distress of xerostomia increased shortly after HSCT. Severity of xerostomia in allogeneic MAC recipients was higher compared to allogeneic RIC recipients 2–5 months post-HSCT (mean difference: 18 points on 0–100 scale, 95% CI: 9–27); after 1–2 years, there was no significant difference anymore. Conclusion: The prevalence of xerostomia in HSCT recipients is high in comparison to the general population. The severity of complaints is raised during the first year post-HSCT. The intensity of the conditioning plays a key role in the short-term development of xerostomia, while factors affecting the recovery in the long term remain largely unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Deterioration in anterior resin composite restorations placed in tooth wear patients was investigated after 36 months. Materials and methods: Data collected prospectively for 47 participants of the Radboud Tooth Wear Project were used (41 ± 8 years, 90% male, n = 270 restorations). Restorations were individually evaluated using intraoral photographs and 3D scans to rate modified FDI scores and to record the presence of degradation features. Four groups with distinct combinations of composites and techniques were assessed, and multivariable logistic regression models were used to analyze the data (p < 0.05). Results: For all groups together, early degradation signs were present at 1 month: irregularities (41.5%) and ditching (7.4%) were observed at the surface and adhesive interfaces. The frequency of irregularities decreased in the 36-month evaluation (37%), but ditching (12.2%) and fractures (10.7%) were more common. The most frequent deterioration (based on photographs) was observed for staining (44%) and loss of luster (31%). In 3D scans, the most frequent were for wear (25%), marginal adaptation (24%), and the presence of irregularities (19%). Canines had 5.5 times more chances of deterioration by ditching than incisors (p < 0.001). The differences between composites and restorative techniques were minor. Conclusions: A continuous degradation process of restorations placed in tooth wear patients was observed in anterior teeth restored with different composites, with a progression of the deterioration over 36 months. Clinical relevance: When placing anterior resin composite restorations in tooth wear patients, it could be important to establish realistic expectations and the need for checkup appointments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this paper is to present recommendations from an international workshop which evaluated the methodology and reporting of caries diagnostic studies. As a unique feature, this type of studies is focused on caries lesion detection and assessment, and many of them are carried out in vitro, because of the possibility of histological validation of the whole caries spectrum. This feature is not well covered in the existing reporting STARD guideline within the EQUATOR Network. Participants and methods: An international working group of 13 cariology researchers was formed. The STARD checklist was reviewed and modified for caries detection and diagnosis purposes, in a three-step process of evaluation, consensual modification, and delivery during three 2-day workshops over 18 months. Special attention was paid to reporting requirements of caries studies that solely focus on reliability. Results: The STARD checklist was modified in 14/30 items, with an emphasis on issues of sample selection (tooth selection in in vitro studies), blinding, and detailed reporting of results. Conclusion: Following STARCARDDS (STAndard Reporting of CAries Detection and Diagnostic Studies) is expected to result in complete reporting of study design and methodology in future caries diagnosis and detection experiments both in vivo and in vitro, thus allowing for better comparability of studies and higher quality of systematic reviews. Clinical relevance: Standardization of caries diagnostic studies leads to a better comparability among future studies, both in vivo and in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy and reliability of commonly used caries detection methods for proximal caries diagnostics. Visual examination (VE), bitewing radiography (BWR), laser fluorescence (LF), and fibre-optic transillumination (FOTI) were considered in detail. Material and methods: PRISMA guidelines for the reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses were applied. The mnemonic PIRDS (problem, index test, reference test, diagnostic and study type) concept was used to guide the literature search. Next, studies that met the inclusion criteria were stepwise selected and evaluated for their quality with a risk of bias (RoB) assessment tool. Studies with low/moderate bias and sufficient reporting were considered for meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the ROC curve (AUC) were calculated. Results: From 129 studies meeting the selection criteria, 31 in vitro studies and five clinical studies were finally included in the meta-analysis. The AUC values for in vitro VE amounted to 0.84 (caries detection) and 0.85 (dentin caries detection). BWR ranged in vitro from 0.55 to 0.82 (caries detection) and 0.81–0.92 (dentin caries detection). LF showed higher AUC values for overall caries detection (0.91) and dentin caries detection (0.83) than did other methods. Clinical data are limited. Conclusion: The number of diagnostic studies with low/moderate RoB was found to be low and indicates a need for high-quality, well-designed caries diagnostic studies. Clinical relevance: BWR and LF showed good diagnostic performance on proximal surfaces. However, because of the low number of includable clinical studies, these data should be interpreted with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]