Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Participant

Participants with WSLs (including post-orthodontic WSLs and non-post-orthodontic WSLs), ECLs, active caries lesions (ACLs) without symptoms, and other superficial demineralization lesions; Artificial lesions with defined in vitro/in vivo demineralization procedures. The lesions mentioned in the text need to meet the definition of WSLs in ICDAS II

Deep caries, root caries, dental fluorosis, as well as other types of dental defects. Participants were found to have congenital or systemic conditions

Interaction & Control

Various therapies for WSLs and ECLs: Resin infiltration; Fluoride varnish; Self-assembling peptide P11-4 with/without fluoride varnish; CPP-ACP; CPP-ACFP; placebo or various control measures. Fluoridated kinds of toothpaste are identified as standard oral health guidelines and are not considered to be specific interventions

Composite resin filler therapy; Fluoride concentration and frequency related therapy; and specific therapies that are either not widely used in the medical field or are only used by individual academics

Outcome

Changes in the values of lesions such as QLF (quantitative light induced fluorescence) and LF (DIAGNOdent measuring pen) or changes in the area of lesion were measured by image analysis, as well as any measurements that indicates the extent of the lesion

Outcome indicators from count data such as progression or completion of caries. Outcome of the color change or visual evaluation of the lesion area like visual analog scale (VAS)

Study design

RCT designed; Completed and published

Retrospective clinical studies, cohort studies and case–control studies, case reports, or reviews

Additional Criteria

Trials were excluded from the analysis if they had no at least 2-week follow-up. Trials were excluded from the analysis if they had no data available for analysis. Trials were excluded from the review if they were found to be plagiarized