Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

5 questions · 11 findings · 1 reviews · Dental caries

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No studies found 0 · 0%GRADE not reported 4 · 36.4%Very low 7 · 63.6%Low 0 · 0%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%

Living with HIV and undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART/HAART) vs HIV-negative individuals

Dental caries · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)

In cross-sectional studies, children and adolescents with HIV on antiretroviral therapy had about twice the odds of dental caries versus HIV-negative peers (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.21 to 3.42; very low certainty).

3 findings from 1 review

Association between antiretroviral therapy and dental caries in children and adolescents with HIV: a systematic review… 2025 All outcomes
Not specified (cross-sectional) · Dental examination of children/adolescents with HIV in clinic and community settings; low- and middle-income countries (Brazil, India, Nigeria, Cambodia, Uganda, West Africa) · Cross-sectional studies
OR 2.04 [1.21, 3.42]
6 studies · 2206 participants
Very low
Association between antiretroviral therapy and dental caries in children and adolescents with HIV: a systematic review… 2025 All outcomes
Not specified (case-control) · Dental examination of children/adolescents with HIV in clinic and community settings; low- and middle-income countries (Brazil, India, Nigeria, Cambodia, Uganda, West Africa) · Case-control studies
OR 3.15 [0.98, 10.15]
1 study · 99 participants
Very low
Association between antiretroviral therapy and dental caries in children and adolescents with HIV: a systematic review… 2025 All outcomes
Prospective follow-up (single cohort) · Dental examination of children/adolescents with HIV in clinic and community settings; low- and middle-income countries (Brazil, India, Nigeria, Cambodia, Uganda, West Africa) · Cohort studies
OR 2.11 [1.41, 3.17]
1 study · 544 participants
Very low

Living with HIV and undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART/HAART) vs HIV-negative individuals

Caries in primary teeth: dmft (3 years) · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)

In cross-sectional studies, the dmft (primary dentition) index did not differ significantly between HIV+ children on ART and HIV-negative peers (MD 0.92, 95% CI -0.09 to 1.93; very low certainty).

2 findings from 1 review

Association between antiretroviral therapy and dental caries in children and adolescents with HIV: a systematic review… 2025 All outcomes
Not specified (cross-sectional) · Dental examination of children/adolescents with HIV in clinic and community settings; low- and middle-income countries (Brazil, India, Nigeria, Cambodia, Uganda, West Africa) · Cross-sectional studies; dmft index
MD 0.92 [-0.09, 1.93]
5 studies · 1502 participants
Very low
Association between antiretroviral therapy and dental caries in children and adolescents with HIV: a systematic review… 2025 All outcomes
Not specified (case-control) · Dental examination of children/adolescents with HIV in clinic and community settings; low- and middle-income countries (Brazil, India, Nigeria, Cambodia, Uganda, West Africa) · Case-control studies; dmft index
MD 1.53 [1.39, 1.67]
2 studies · 185 participants
Very low

Living with HIV and undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART/HAART) vs HIV-negative individuals

Dental caries severity (dmfs index, primary dentition) · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)

In case-control studies, HIV+ children on ART had a significantly higher dmfs index than HIV-negative peers (MD 5.15, 95% CI 2.20 to 8.11; not separately GRADE-rated).

2 findings from 1 review

Association between antiretroviral therapy and dental caries in children and adolescents with HIV: a systematic review… 2025 All outcomes
Not specified (case-control) · Dental examination of children/adolescents with HIV in clinic and community settings; low- and middle-income countries (Brazil, India, Nigeria, Cambodia, Uganda, West Africa) · Case-control studies; dmfs index
MD 5.15 [2.20, 8.11]
2 studies · 185 participants
GRADE not reported
Association between antiretroviral therapy and dental caries in children and adolescents with HIV: a systematic review… 2025 All outcomes
Not specified (cross-sectional) · Dental examination of children/adolescents with HIV in clinic and community settings; low- and middle-income countries (Brazil, India, Nigeria, Cambodia, Uganda, West Africa) · Cross-sectional studies; dmfs index
MD 4.00 [2.64, 5.36]
1 study · 564 participants
GRADE not reported

Living with HIV and undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART/HAART) vs HIV-negative individuals

Dental caries in permanent teeth · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)

In cross-sectional studies, the DMFT index did not differ significantly between HIV+ children on ART and HIV-negative peers (MD 0.60, 95% CI -0.53 to 1.72; very low certainty).

2 findings from 1 review

Association between antiretroviral therapy and dental caries in children and adolescents with HIV: a systematic review… 2025 All outcomes
Not specified (cross-sectional) · Dental examination of children/adolescents with HIV in clinic and community settings; low- and middle-income countries (Brazil, India, Nigeria, Cambodia, Uganda, West Africa) · Cross-sectional studies; DMFT index
MD 0.60 [-0.53, 1.72]
4 studies · 1390 participants
Very low
Association between antiretroviral therapy and dental caries in children and adolescents with HIV: a systematic review… 2025 All outcomes
Not specified (case-control) · Dental examination of children/adolescents with HIV in clinic and community settings; low- and middle-income countries (Brazil, India, Nigeria, Cambodia, Uganda, West Africa) · Case-control studies; DMFT index
MD 0.85 [0.04, 1.66]
2 studies · 204 participants
Very low

Living with HIV and undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART/HAART) vs HIV-negative individuals

Dental caries (by severity) · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)

In cross-sectional studies, HIV+ children on ART had a significantly higher DMFS index than HIV-negative peers (MD 2.00, 95% CI 1.54 to 2.46; not separately GRADE-rated).

2 findings from 1 review

Association between antiretroviral therapy and dental caries in children and adolescents with HIV: a systematic review… 2025 All outcomes
Not specified (cross-sectional) · Dental examination of children/adolescents with HIV in clinic and community settings; low- and middle-income countries (Brazil, India, Nigeria, Cambodia, Uganda, West Africa) · Cross-sectional studies; DMFS index
MD 2.00 [1.54, 2.46]
1 study · 778 participants
GRADE not reported
Association between antiretroviral therapy and dental caries in children and adolescents with HIV: a systematic review… 2025 All outcomes
Not specified (case-control) · Dental examination of children/adolescents with HIV in clinic and community settings; low- and middle-income countries (Brazil, India, Nigeria, Cambodia, Uganda, West Africa) · Case-control studies; DMFS index
MD 1.10 [-0.25, 2.45]
1 study · 105 participants
GRADE not reported