Comparison 1. Fluoride gel versus placebo or no treatment.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1.1 D(M)FS increment ‐ nearest to 3 years (25 trials)	25	8479	Prevented Fraction (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.28 [0.19, 0.36]
1.1.1 Placebo control	15	5671	Prevented Fraction (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.21 [0.15, 0.28]
1.1.2 No‐treatment control	10	2808	Prevented Fraction (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.38 [0.24, 0.52]
1.2 D(M)FT increment ‐ nearest to 3 years (10 trials)	10	3198	Prevented Fraction (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.32 [0.19, 0.46]
1.2.1 Placebo control	4	1525	Prevented Fraction (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.18 [0.09, 0.27]
1.2.2 No‐treatment control	6	1673	Prevented Fraction (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.43 [0.29, 0.57]
1.3 d(e/m)fs increment ‐ nearest to 3 years (3 trials)	3	1254	Prevented fraction (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.20 [0.01, 0.38]
1.3.1 Placebo control	3	1254	Prevented fraction (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.20 [0.01, 0.38]
1.3.2 No‐treatment control	0	0	Prevented fraction (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Not estimable
1.4 Signs of acute toxicity ‐ nausea, vomiting (2 trials)	2	490	Risk Difference (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.01 [‐0.01, 0.02]
1.5 Dropouts or withdrawals	19	8695	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.03 [0.89, 1.19]
1.5.1 Placebo control	11	6067	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.05 [0.91, 1.22]
1.5.2 No‐treatment control	8	2628	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.03 [0.73, 1.47]