title: Evidence of Effectiveness of Current Therapies to Prevent and Treat Early Childhood Caries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this paper was to systematically review the quality of evidence related to self-applied and professionally applied fluorides, antimicrobial agents, fissure sealants, temporary restorations, and restorative care for the prevention and management of early childhood caries (ECC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant papers were selected after an electronic search for literature published in English between 2000 and April 2014. From 877 reports, 33 were included for full review. The quality of evidence was expressed according to the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was moderate and limited quality of evidence in support of fluoride toothpaste and fluoride varnish for ECC prevention, while the evidence for fluoride tablets/drops was insufficient. The support for the use of silver diamine fluoride, xylitol, chlorhexidine varnish/gel, povidone iodine, probiotic bacteria, and remineralizing agents (casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate) was insufficient. There was also insufficient quality of evidence for the use of sealants, temporary restorations, and traditional restorative care to reduce incidence of ECC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results reinforce the need for high quality clinical research and point out the knowledge gaps to be addressed in future studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. stwe@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Svante
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Twetman
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, Md., USA.
authors.forename: Vineet
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dhar
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000067576:Child Health; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D003794:Dental Restoration, Temporary / Q000379:methods; D055094:Evidence-Based Dentistry; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005460:Fluorides, Topical / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D005460:Fluorides, Topical; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D005459:Fluorides