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Search review questions

Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.

Limit to evidence status or GRADE (optional)

175 questions in 21 reviews · cluster CL0065

current versions
No studies 0 · 0%Ungraded 170 · 97.1%Very low 2 · 1.1%Low 1 · 0.6%Moderate 0 · 0%High 2 · 1.1%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

Intervention categories, outcome domains and clusters are a proposed key pending human validation. Clear all filters

QuestionEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence)
Early childhood caries experience (mean dmft) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years) · Region: Central/South America
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. (2024)
MEAN 3.08 [2.42, 3.74]3 studiesUngraded
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence)
Early childhood caries experience (mean dmft) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years) · Overall (all regions)
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. (2024)
MEAN 3.68 [2.99, 4.37]60 studiesUngraded
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence)
Early childhood caries experience (mean dmft) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years) · GNI $20000-$39999
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. (2024)
MEAN 1.13 [0.72, 1.55]9 studiesUngraded
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence)
Early childhood caries (ECC) prevalence (%, dmft>0) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years) · GNI $10000-$19999
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. (2024)
Prevalence 55 [42, 68]9 studiesUngraded
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence)
Early childhood caries (ECC) prevalence (%, dmft>0) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years) · Gini index: low inequality
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. (2024)
Prevalence 39NRUngraded
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence)
Early childhood caries (ECC) prevalence (%, dmft>0) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years) · Life expectancy: highest (>80 years)
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. (2024)
Prevalence 28NRUngraded
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence)
Early childhood caries (ECC) prevalence (%, dmft>0) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years) · GNI $5000-$9999
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. (2024)
Prevalence 53 [41, 65]14 studiesUngraded
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence)
Early childhood caries experience (mean dmft) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years) · Region: Europe
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. (2024)
MEAN 2.26 [0.69, 3.82]11 studiesUngraded
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence)
Early childhood caries (ECC) prevalence (%, dmft>0) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years) · Region: Middle East
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. (2024)
Prevalence 72 [58, 85]7 studiesUngraded
Institutionalization (living in an orphanage/institution) vs Parented children living with their families
Primary-teeth caries experience (dmf/dmft, mean score) · Institutionalized orphan children (roughly 3 to 18 years) · Overall (pooled)
Caries in orphan children: prevalence and determinants-a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2024)
MD 0.64 [-0.74, 2.01]4 studies · 1028 participantsVery low
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence)
Early childhood caries (ECC) prevalence (%, dmft>0) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years) · Region: North America
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. (2024)
Prevalence 57 [36, 77]5 studiesUngraded
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence)
Early childhood caries (ECC) prevalence (%, dmft>0) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years) · Region: Central/South America
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. (2024)
Prevalence 34 [20, 48]6 studiesUngraded
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence)
Early childhood caries (ECC) prevalence (%, dmft>0) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years) · GNI $20000-$39999
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. (2024)
Prevalence 30 [22, 38]11 studiesUngraded
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence)
Early childhood caries (ECC) prevalence (%, dmft>0) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years) · GNI <$5000
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. (2024)
Prevalence 57 [47, 67]19 studiesUngraded
Not applicable (single-group prevalence) vs Not applicable (single-group prevalence)
Early childhood caries experience (mean dmft) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years) · Life expectancy: >80 years
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. (2024)
MEAN 1.34NRUngraded
Growth stunting (linear growth retardation, low height-for-age) vs Children without growth stunting (normal height-for-age)
Early childhood caries (def-t/dmft caries experience) · Children in early childhood (0-6 years) · Folayan et al. 2019 (Nigeria; adjusted, model 3)
The bi-directional relationship between growth stunting and early childhood caries: a rapid review. (2023)
APR 0.14 [0.03, 0.69]1 study · 370 participantsUngraded
Growth stunting (linear growth retardation, low height-for-age) vs Children without growth stunting (normal height-for-age)
Early childhood caries (def-t/dmft caries experience) · Children in early childhood (0-6 years) · Vieira et al. 2020 (Brazil)
The bi-directional relationship between growth stunting and early childhood caries: a rapid review. (2023)
Correlation (r) -0.0911 study · 82 participantsUngraded
Growth stunting (linear growth retardation, low height-for-age) vs Children without growth stunting (normal height-for-age)
Early childhood caries (def-t/dmft caries experience) · Children in early childhood (0-6 years) · 2-year follow-up, Sokal-Gutierrez et al. 2016 (Ecuador; pre vs post intervention)
The bi-directional relationship between growth stunting and early childhood caries: a rapid review. (2023)
Pre/post ECC prevalence, dmft, and deep-caries proportion (2-year follow-up) Age 1: prevalence 53.8% to 30.3%, dmft 2.1 to 0.9; Age 2: prevalence 82% to 60%, dmft 5.3 to 3.0, deep caries 19% to 12% (pre vs post)1 study · 1575 participantsUngraded
Growth stunting (linear growth retardation, low height-for-age) vs Children without growth stunting (normal height-for-age)
Early childhood caries (def-t/dmft caries experience) · Children in early childhood (0-6 years) · Achmad et al. 2020 (Indonesia)
The bi-directional relationship between growth stunting and early childhood caries: a rapid review. (2023)
MEAN 7.371 study · 208 participantsUngraded
Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) vs No cleft lip and/or palate (non-CL/P)
Caries experience in the primary dentition (dmft/dmfs/dfs/deft/ds; pooled as standardized mean difference) · Children in the primary dentition with non-syndromic cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) and comparable children without CL/P · Primary and mixed dentition
Caries in children with and without orofacial clefting: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022)
SMD 0.09 [-0.59, 0.76]5 studies · 708 participantsUngraded
Isolated cleft palate (CP) or other specific cleft type vs Cleft lip and palate (CLP) or other cleft type
Caries experience by cleft type · Children in the primary dentition with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P)
Caries in children with and without orofacial clefting: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022)
Five studies investigated caries experience by cleft type (Howe 2017; Kirchberg 2014; Mutarai 2008; Sunderji 2017; Zhu 2010). A subgroup analysis comparing CP and CL/P as different entities was not possible due to the…5 studiesUngraded
Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) vs No cleft lip and/or palate (non-CL/P)
Caries experience in the primary dentition (dmft/dmfs/dfs/deft/ds; pooled as standardized mean difference) · Children in the primary dentition with non-syndromic cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) and comparable children without CL/P · Mixed dentition
Caries in children with and without orofacial clefting: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022)
SMD 1.74 [0.24, 3.25]4 studies · 789 participantsUngraded
Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) vs No cleft lip and/or palate (non-CL/P)
Caries experience in the primary dentition (dmft/dmfs/dfs/deft/ds; pooled as standardized mean difference) · Children in the primary dentition with non-syndromic cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) and comparable children without CL/P · Primary dentition
Caries in children with and without orofacial clefting: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022)
SMD 0.27 [0.06, 0.49]10 studies · 2366 participantsUngraded
Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) vs No cleft lip and/or palate (non-CL/P)
Caries experience in the primary dentition (dmft/dmfs/dfs/deft/ds; pooled as standardized mean difference) · Children in the primary dentition with non-syndromic cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) and comparable children without CL/P · Overall (all dentition groups)
Caries in children with and without orofacial clefting: A systematic review and meta-analysis. (2022)
SMD 0.46 [0.15, 0.77]16 studies · 3863 participantsUngraded
High snack consumption vs Low snack consumption
Mean DMFT · Children aged 5-6 years in Ajman schools · Overall
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
ARR 1.46 [1.26, 1.70]1 study · 1036 participantsUngraded
Private day care vs Public day care
Mean dmft · Preschool children in Sharjah day cares · Private day-care residents
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
MEAN 8.11 study · 435 participantsUngraded
Emirati nationality vs Non-Emirati nationality
Mean dmft · Preschool children in Abu Dhabi nurseries · Emirati children
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
MEAN 2.601 study · 186 participantsUngraded
Observed population vs Not applicable
Mean dmft · Preschool children attending Al Ain pediatric dentistry department · Overall
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
MEAN 10.91 study · 176 participantsUngraded
Arab ethnicity vs Reference ethnicity not stated
Mean DMFT · School children aged 11-17 years in Sharjah · Overall
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
Regression coefficient 0.74 [0.32, 1.17]1 study · 803 participantsUngraded
Observed population vs Not applicable
Mean dmft/DMFT · School children aged 15-17 years in Dubai schools · Overall
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
MEAN 2.701 study · 2063 participantsUngraded
Special health care needs vs Not applicable
Mean dmft/DMFT · Arab children with special health care needs in Ras Al Khaimah · Overall
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
MEAN 5.671 studyUngraded
Observed population vs Not applicable
Mean dmft/DMFT · School children aged 12-14 years in Dubai schools · Overall
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
MEAN 1.831 study · 2237 participantsUngraded
Observed population vs Not applicable
Mean DMFT · School children aged 11-17 years in Sharjah · Overall
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
MEAN 3.191 study · 803 participantsUngraded
Incarcerated mother vs Comparison children
Mean dmft · Preschool children of incarcerated mothers in UAE prison nurseries · Overall
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
MEAN 4.971 studyUngraded
Snacking at least 3 times daily vs Snacking once daily
Mean DMFT · Children aged 5-6 years in Ajman schools · Overall
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
ARR 1.25 [1.00, 1.57]1 study · 1036 participantsUngraded
Preterm birth vs Full-term birth
Mean DMFT · Preterm children aged 5-10 years in Dubai · Preterm children
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
MEAN 1.001 studyUngraded
Higher paternal education vs Lower paternal education
Mean DMFT · School children aged 11-17 years in Sharjah · Overall
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
Regression coefficient -0.35 [-0.53, -0.17]1 study · 803 participantsUngraded
Systemic sclerosis (SSc / scleroderma) vs SSc-free individuals (controls)
DMFT index · Adults (general and hospital populations assessed in case-control studies)
Oral manifestations of patients with systemic sclerosis: a meta-analysis for case-controlled studies. (2021)
SMD -0.025 [-0.296, 0.247]3 studiesUngraded
Observed population vs Not applicable
Mean dmft · Five-year-old preschool children in Sharjah · Males
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
MEAN 6.411 study · 403 participantsUngraded
Soft drink consumption vs Reference consumption not stated
Mean DMFT · School children aged 11-17 years in Sharjah · Overall
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
Regression coefficient 0.31 [0.14, 0.47]1 study · 803 participantsUngraded
Cerebral palsy vs Healthy age- and sex-matched controls
Mean DMFT · Children with cerebral palsy in Dubai · Overall
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
MEAN 2.831 studyUngraded
Highest plaque category vs Lowest plaque category
DMFT (association with plaque) · Children aged 5-6 years in Ajman schools · Highest versus lowest plaque category
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
ARR 4.77 [3.67, 6.19]1 study · 1036 participantsUngraded
Emirati nationality vs Non-Emirati nationality
Mean dmft, overall · Preschool children in Abu Dhabi nurseries · Overall
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
MEAN 1.681 study · 186 participantsUngraded
Observed population vs Not applicable
Mean dmft/DMFT · School children aged 5-7 years in Dubai schools · Overall
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
MEAN 3.871 study · 1317 participantsUngraded
Beta-thalassemia major vs Healthy Emirati children
Mean DMFT · Children with beta-thalassemia major in Dubai · Children with beta-thalassemia major
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
MEAN 1.491 studyUngraded
Observed population vs Not applicable
Mean dmft · Emirati preschool children in Ras Al Khaimah nurseries · Overall
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
MEAN 3.07 [2.81, 3.34]1 study · 540 participantsUngraded
Older age vs Younger age
Mean DMFT · School children aged 11-17 years in Sharjah · Overall
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
Regression coefficient 0.42 [0.27, 0.567]1 study · 803 participantsUngraded
Female sex vs Male sex
Mean DMFT · School children aged 11-17 years in Sharjah · Overall
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
Regression coefficient 0.41 [0.01, 0.81]1 study · 803 participantsUngraded
Down syndrome vs Healthy controls
Mean DMFT · Children with Down syndrome in Dubai · Children with Down syndrome
Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. (2021)
MEAN 2.731 studyUngraded
Illicit drug use vs People who do not use drugs
DMFT index (dental caries experience) · People who use drugs (PWUD): methamphetamine, heroin, opiate, cannabis and cocaine users
Dental caries and periodontal disease among people who use drugs: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2020)
OR 4.11 [2.07, 8.15]7 studiesUngraded