Caries experience (mean DMFT) · 12-year-old children across European countries (national/regional epidemiological surveys, 2011-2022)
Mean DMFT is lowest in West Europe (0.88) and North Europe (1.34) and highest in East Europe (2.76) and South Europe (2.61) (Figure 3); not GRADE-rated.
4 findings from 1 review
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Caries experience (mean DMFT) · 12-year-old children across European countries (national/regional epidemiological surveys, 2011-2022)
The overall pooled mean DMFT was 2.10 across all GNI strata.
1 finding from 1 review
Caries experience (mean DMFT) · 12-year-old children across European countries (national/regional epidemiological surveys, 2011-2022)
The overall pooled mean DMFT was 2.10 across all M49 regions.
1 finding from 1 review
Caries experience (mean DMFT) · 12-year-old children across European countries (national/regional epidemiological surveys, 2011-2022)
Mean DMFT in 12-year-olds rises as national income falls: 0.90 (very high income), 2.38 (high income), 3.30 (middle income) (Figure 2); not GRADE-rated.
3 findings from 1 review
Caries status in 12-year-old children, geographical location and socioeconomic conditions across European countries: A… 2025 All outcomesCross-sectional (survey data 2011-2022) · European countries stratified by World Bank GNI per capita (modified 3-category); test of group differences Q_b(2)=51.35, p<0.01 · Very high income (GNI >$25,000)
MEAN 0.90 [0.66, 1.15]
14 studies
GRADE not reported
Caries status in 12-year-old children, geographical location and socioeconomic conditions across European countries: A… 2025 All outcomesCross-sectional (survey data 2011-2022) · European countries stratified by World Bank GNI per capita (modified 3-category); test of group differences Q_b(2)=51.35, p<0.01 · High income (GNI $15,001-25,000)
MEAN 2.38 [1.78, 2.97]
8 studies
GRADE not reported
Caries status in 12-year-old children, geographical location and socioeconomic conditions across European countries: A… 2025 All outcomesCross-sectional (survey data 2011-2022) · European countries stratified by World Bank GNI per capita (modified 3-category); test of group differences Q_b(2)=51.35, p<0.01 · Middle income (GNI <=$15,000)
MEAN 3.30 [2.57, 4.03]
12 studies
GRADE not reported
Caries experience (mean DMFT) · 12-year-old children across European countries (national/regional epidemiological surveys, 2011-2022)
Mean DMFT was higher in high-HDI (3.41) than very-high-HDI (1.73) countries (ANOVA p<.01); descriptive country-level means only, not meta-analyzed or GRADE-rated.
2 findings from 1 review
Caries experience (mean DMFT) · 12-year-old children across European countries (national/regional epidemiological surveys, 2011-2022)
Across European countries the overall pooled mean DMFT in 12-year-olds was 2.10 (95% CI 1.63 to 2.57), with very high between-country heterogeneity (I2=100%); not GRADE-rated.
1 finding from 1 review
Early childhood caries experience (mean dmft) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years)
Mean dmft was lowest (1.62 teeth) in low-inequality countries by Gini index.
16 findings from 1 review
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MEAN 3.34 [1.79, 4.88]
13 studies
GRADE not reported
MEAN 4.64 [3.38, 5.91]
19 studies
GRADE not reported
MEAN 3.87 [2.84, 4.91]
30 studies
GRADE not reported
MEAN 3.89 [1.62, 6.16]
7 studies
GRADE not reported
MEAN 4.04 [2.39, 5.68]
9 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomesCountries with 71-75 years life expectancy · Life expectancy: 71-75 years
MEAN 5.18
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
MEAN 4.28 [2.58, 5.97]
10 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomesCountries with no income inequality (Gini) · Gini index: no inequalities
MEAN 3.95
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
MEAN 3.08 [2.42, 3.74]
3 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes49 countries worldwide; urban and rural communities · Overall (all regions)
MEAN 3.68 [2.99, 4.37]
60 studies
GRADE not reported
MEAN 1.13 [0.72, 1.55]
9 studies
GRADE not reported
MEAN 2.26 [0.69, 3.82]
11 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomesCountries with highest life expectancy (>80 years) · Life expectancy: >80 years
MEAN 1.34
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
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
Caries experience (mean DMFT) · Brazilian children in primary dentition (BMI classified by CDC 2000 growth charts)
Overweight may make little or no difference to caries experience (dmft) in the primary dentition of Brazilian children (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Caries experience (mean DMFT) · Brazilian children/adolescents in permanent dentition (BMI classified by CDC 2000 growth charts)
Overweight may make little or no difference to caries experience (DMFT) in the permanent dentition (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Mean DMFT (decayed, missing, filled permanent teeth) · Institutionalized orphan children (roughly 3 to 18 years)
Permanent-teeth caries experience (DMF) was marginally higher in institutionalized children but essentially similar to parented children (pooled MD 0.09, not significant; very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Caries experience (mean DMFT) · Brazilian children in primary dentition (BMI classified by CDC 2000 growth charts)
Obesity may make little or no difference to caries experience (dmft) in the primary dentition (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Dental caries in permanent teeth · Nigerian individuals with permanent dentition (approximately 12 years and older)
In permanent dentition, high-frequency sugar consumption was associated with non-significant 15% higher odds of caries (OR 1.15, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.52), with no heterogeneity (I2=0%; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Caries experience (mean DMFT) · Brazilian children/adolescents in permanent dentition (BMI classified by CDC 2000 growth charts)
Normal-weight adolescents may have higher caries experience (DMFT) than obese peers in the permanent dentition, but the evidence is very uncertain (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Caries in primary teeth: dmft (3 years) · Institutionalized orphan children (roughly 3 to 18 years)
Primary-teeth caries experience (dmf) was higher in institutionalized children than parented children but not significantly so (pooled MD 0.64; very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Dental caries prevalence · Nigerian individuals, including children and adults, with primary or permanent dentition
High-frequency sugar consumption was associated with 18% higher but non-significant odds of dental caries in Nigeria (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.59; I2=36%; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children aged ≤6 years (early childhood)
One Nigerian cross-sectional study reported a significant adjusted association between nutritional (stunting) status and ECC (APR 0.14, 95% CI 0.03-0.69); ungraded.
4 findings from 1 review
APR 0.14 [0.03, 0.69]
1 study · 370 participants
GRADE not reported
Correlation (r) -0.091
1 study · 82 participants
GRADE not reported
The bi-directional relationship between growth stunting and early childhood caries: a rapid review. 2023 All outcomes2-year follow-up · Ecuador (rural) · Sokal-Gutierrez et al. 2016 (Ecuador; pre vs post intervention)
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 participants
GRADE not reported
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Early childhood caries experience (mean dmft) · Children in the primary dentition with non-syndromic cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) and comparable children without CL/P
In the combined primary and mixed dentition, there was no evidence of a difference in caries experience between children with and without CL/P (SMD 0.09, 95% CI -0.59-0.76; 5 studies; ungraded).
4 findings from 1 review
Caries in children with and without orofacial clefting: A systematic review and meta-analysis. 2022 All outcomesChildren with CL/P and comparable non-CL/P children across 12 countries (India, Brazil, China, Sweden, UK, USA, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Jordan, Thailand); studies published 1989-2021 · Primary and mixed dentition
SMD 0.09 [-0.59, 0.76]
5 studies · 708 participants
GRADE not reported
Caries in children with and without orofacial clefting: A systematic review and meta-analysis. 2022 All outcomesChildren with CL/P and comparable non-CL/P children across 12 countries (India, Brazil, China, Sweden, UK, USA, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Jordan, Thailand); studies published 1989-2021 · Mixed dentition
SMD 1.74 [0.24, 3.25]
4 studies · 789 participants
GRADE not reported
Caries in children with and without orofacial clefting: A systematic review and meta-analysis. 2022 All outcomesChildren with CL/P and comparable non-CL/P children across 12 countries (India, Brazil, China, Sweden, UK, USA, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Jordan, Thailand); studies published 1989-2021 · Primary dentition
SMD 0.27 [0.06, 0.49]
10 studies · 2366 participants
GRADE not reported
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Intervention not reported
Caries experience - % with caries (descriptive), primary dentition
1 finding from 1 review
Intervention not reported
Caries experience - mean dft (descriptive), primary dentition
1 finding from 1 review