Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Descriptive studies of BMP were eligible for inclusion, whereas studies of the other therapies were required to have a control group. Descriptive studies which should have conducted a statistical analysis but did not were excluded. Studies were also excluded if the conclusions were deemed to be based on inappropriate statistics.
Specific interventions included in the review
Studies of partitioned toothpaste, laser treatment, fluoride-releasing dental materials and bone morphogenic protein (BMP) therapy were eligible for inclusion. Only fluoride-releasing dental materials that had gained some acceptance by the dental profession were eligible for inclusion.
Participants included in the review
Studies of humans, animals and laboratory studies were eligible for inclusion. Only the clinical studies involving human participants are summarised here.
Outcomes assessed in the review
The outcomes of interest were the remineralisation of dentin or enamel and increased resistance to demineralisation for partitioned dentifrice, laser therapy and fluoride-releasing dental materials, and tubular dentin formation for BMP therapy. The clinical studies detected caries using visual examination, microradiography, staining with erythrocin, by assessing the colour and consistency of dentin, and by using Pitts diagnostic criteria.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
Two reviewers independently assessed studies for relevance (except for studies of BMP therapy, which were assessed by one reviewer) and any disagreements were resolved by consensus.