Learning disability (CLD) vs No learning disability (CNLD): Early childhood caries experience (mean dmft)
In primary teeth, meta-analysis found no evidence of a difference in caries experience (dmft/deft) between children with and without learning disabilities (SMD 0.41, 95% CI -0.14 to 0.96; 8 studies; certainty not graded).
What each review found
Include earlier review versions| Finding | Effect | Studies | GRADE certainty |
|---|---|---|---|
Learning disability (CLD) vs No learning disability (CNLD) Caries experience in primary teeth (dmft/deft) · Children aged 1-18 years · Community and clinical settings (specialist paediatric dental clinics to school classrooms); 25 studies across 18 countries In primary teeth, meta-analysis found no evidence of a difference in caries experience (dmft/deft) between children with and without learning disabilities (SMD 0.41, 95% CI -0.14 to 0.96; 8 studies; certainty not graded). Dental caries experience, care index and restorative index in children with learning disabilities and… (2019) All outcomes | SMD 0.41 [-0.14, 0.96] | 8 studies | GRADE not reported |
Learning disability (CLD) vs No learning disability (CNLD) Caries experience in primary teeth (dmft/deft) · Children aged 1-18 years · Community and clinical settings (specialist paediatric dental clinics to school classrooms); 25 studies across 18 countries, Disability: autism In children with autism, primary-tooth caries experience did not differ from children without learning disabilities (SMD 0.43, 95% CI -0.53 to 1.39; 4 studies; certainty not graded). Dental caries experience, care index and restorative index in children with learning disabilities and… (2019) All outcomes | SMD 0.43 [-0.53, 1.39] | 4 studies | GRADE not reported |
Learning disability (CLD) vs No learning disability (CNLD) Caries experience in primary teeth (dmft/deft) · Children aged 1-18 years · Community and clinical settings (specialist paediatric dental clinics to school classrooms); 25 studies across 18 countries, Disability: Down syndrome In children with Down syndrome, primary-tooth caries experience did not differ from children without learning disabilities (SMD 0.55, 95% CI -0.40 to 1.52; 3 studies; certainty not graded). Dental caries experience, care index and restorative index in children with learning disabilities and… (2019) All outcomes | SMD 0.55 [-0.40, 1.52] | 3 studies | GRADE not reported |
Learning disability (CLD) vs No learning disability (CNLD) Caries experience in primary teeth (dmft/deft) · Children aged 1-18 years · Community and clinical settings (specialist paediatric dental clinics to school classrooms); 25 studies across 18 countries, Disability: mixed learning disabilities For mixed/other learning disabilities, the single primary-teeth estimate showed no difference in caries experience (SMD -0.10, 95% CI -0.34 to 0.14; 1 study; certainty not graded). Dental caries experience, care index and restorative index in children with learning disabilities and… (2019) All outcomes | SMD -0.10 [-0.34, 0.14] | 1 study | GRADE not reported |
Findings are shown side by side, never pooled across reviews.
The reviews
| Review | Searched up to | Included studies | AMSTAR 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental caries experience, care index and restorative index in children with learning disabilities and children without learning… 2019 All outcomes | Database inception to June 2017; search updated December 2018 | 44 | Not applicable |
Studies behind the findings
None of these reviews ties its included studies to this outcome in the data here. Cochrane reviews and reviews with headline outcomes only do not list their studies yet.
How reviews are matched to this question
Reviews word the same question differently. Four decision models (TypeSafe's Jev, Liquid AI's d1-ultra, SubQ Snap and Baseten's Elephant) judged each wording of the population, intervention, comparator and outcome against the others; two wordings count as the same when at least three of them agree and none clearly disagrees, and findings count as this question only when all four elements match. Timing, setting and subgroup never split a question: they are shown on each finding.