Development of >=1 new carious lesion (caries incidence) · Caries-free children to young adults with premolars/molars requiring pit-and-fissure sealants
In the single study reporting it, caries incidence was 0% in both the laser-alone and acid-etching groups (ungraded, single study).
1 finding from 1 review
Karaman 2013 (Er,Cr:YSGG laser vs acid-etching): incidence of caries was 0% in both groups; not meta-analyzed.
1 study · 16 participants
GRADE not reported
Development of >=1 new carious lesion (caries incidence) · Children (high caries risk) with permanent molars requiring pit-and-fissure sealants
Caries incidence was 10% with laser-plus-acid versus 22% with acid-etching at 18 months, a non-significant difference (ungraded, single study).
1 finding from 1 review
Durmus 2017 (Er:YAG laser+acid vs acid-etching): caries incidence 10% (n=8) in the laser-plus-acid group vs 22% (n=18) in the acid-etching group at 18 months; difference not statistically significant (P > 0.05).
1 study · 51 participants
GRADE not reported
Mean DMFT (decayed, missing, filled permanent teeth) · Individuals of all ages
Individuals with Down syndrome had a lower mean DMFT in permanent teeth than controls (pooled SMD -0.18, 95% CI -0.35 to -0.02; 6 studies; I2=20%); certainty of evidence not graded.
1 finding from 1 review
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
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
Dental caries increment, DMFT/dmft (whole-tooth level) · Children in school or kindergarten settings (aged 3-14 years)
School-based supervised toothbrushing has no statistically significant effect on whole-tooth caries (DMFT/dmft SMD 0.05, 95% CI -0.27 to 0.37; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Caries in primary teeth: dmft (3 years) · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
Among HIV+ children, HAART versus no HAART showed no significant difference in the dmft index in case-control studies (MD 0.66, 95% CI -0.26 to 1.58; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
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
Caries increment on tooth surfaces (dmfs/DMFS) (prevented fraction) · Children in school or kindergarten settings (aged 3-14 years)
School-based supervised toothbrushing produces a small but statistically significant reduction in tooth-surface caries (DMFS/dmfs SMD -0.22, 95% CI -0.42 to -0.01; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Dental caries in permanent teeth · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
Among HIV+ children, HAART was associated with a significantly higher DMFT index than no HAART in case-control studies (MD 2.02, 95% CI 1.24 to 2.80; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
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
Dental caries susceptibility · Institutionalized orphan children (roughly 3 to 18 years)
Male institutionalized children had a marginally higher caries risk than females (RR 1.02), a non-significant difference (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Dental caries susceptibility · Institutionalized orphan children (roughly 3 to 18 years)
Primary teeth may carry a higher caries risk than permanent teeth in institutionalized children (RR 1.31), but the difference is not statistically significant (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Dental caries · Adults (≥18 years)
After adjustment for confounders, obesity/overweight was not associated with dental caries (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.12; ungraded).
9 findings from 1 review
Multimorbidity patterns of dental caries and obesity/overweight among adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomesPopulation-based cross-sectional studies; adults ≥18 years; 6 countries (Turkey, Portugal, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, South Korea) · By confounder adjustment: adjusted
OR 1.00 [0.89, 1.12]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Multimorbidity patterns of dental caries and obesity/overweight among adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomesPopulation-based cross-sectional studies; adults ≥18 years; 6 countries (Turkey, Portugal, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, South Korea) · By region: West Asia
OR 1.23 [0.96, 1.50]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Multimorbidity patterns of dental caries and obesity/overweight among adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2025 All outcomesPopulation-based cross-sectional studies; adults ≥18 years; 6 countries (Turkey, Portugal, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, South Korea) · By BMI classification: overweight (vs study-defined non-overweight: normal or low weight)
OR 0.99 [0.98, 1.00]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Show 6 more findings
Early childhood caries experience (mean dmft) · Nigerian children with primary dentition (approximately 6 months to 5 years)
In primary dentition, high-frequency sugar consumption was associated with slightly higher, non-significant odds of caries (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.23 to 5.44), with high heterogeneity (I2=83%; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Preschool children (<6 years)
After excluding one study, nocturnal breastfeeding was associated with higher ECC risk (RR 3.05, 95% CI 2.40 to 3.87; I²=33%).
2 findings from 1 review
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Preschool children (<6 years)
After excluding Peres et al. (2017), breastfeeding for less than 24 months was associated with fewer caries (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.62; I²=6%).
2 findings from 1 review
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Preschool children (<6 years)
After excluding five studies, breastfeeding was associated with lower ECC risk in cohort studies (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.95; I²=0%).
3 findings from 1 review
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Preschool children (<6 years)
Breastfeeding for <12 vs ≥12 months was associated with significantly fewer caries (RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.50-0.86), indicating breastfeeding beyond 12 months increases ECC risk (substantial heterogeneity; ungraded).
2 findings from 1 review
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Preschool children (<6 years)
Breastfeeding for <18 vs ≥18 months was associated with significantly fewer caries (RR 0.41, 95% CI 0.18-0.92; substantial heterogeneity; ungraded).
2 findings from 1 review