From proof to practice: The state of evidence-based pediatric dentistry

Objectives: To identify and summarize high-certainty evidence-based treatment conclusions in pediatric dentistry derived from high-quality systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across four electronic databases from inception to June 2025. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses with high certainty of evidence were selected and assessed using the AMSTAR-2 tool. Treatment recommendations were extracted and synthesized. Results: High-quality evidence supported the effectiveness of resin infiltration combined with non-invasive therapies for managing proximal carious lesions in children. Rotary instrumentation during biomechanical preparation was also shown to improve obturation quality in primary teeth compared to hand instrumentation. Conclusions: Integration of evidence-based strategies such as resin infiltration and rotary instrumentation can enhance treatment predictability and outcomes in pediatric dentistry.