Children with early childhood caries were more likely to have iron-deficiency anemia than caries-free children (OR 2.74, 95% CI 2.41 to 3.11); ungraded.
Serum ferritin levels did not differ significantly between children with ECC and caries-free children (mean difference -5.80, 95% CI -11.97 to 0.37); ungraded.
Mean corpuscular volume was significantly lower in children with ECC than in caries-free children (mean difference -3.72, 95% CI -6.65 to -0.79); ungraded.
For early enamel lesions, annual SDF+KI was significantly LESS effective than twice-daily tricalcium silicate paste (54.8% vs 100% arrested; p<0.001; ungraded).
For early enamel lesions, annual SDF+KI was significantly less effective than twice-daily CPP-ACP (54.8% vs 100% arrested; p<0.001; ungraded).
Professionally applied 5% sodium fluoride varnish remineralised about two-thirds of early enamel caries lesions in children (pooled proportion 63.6%, 95% CI 36.0% to 91.2%; 4 studies); certainty was not GRADE-rated and heterogeneity was very high (I2=96%).
In one trial, professionally applied sodium fluoride varnish significantly reduced the size of early enamel caries lesions compared with no fluoride treatment; ungraded.
One trial found acidulated phosphate fluoride gel did not remineralise early enamel caries; ungraded.
One trial found sodium fluoride gel significantly remineralised early enamel caries; ungraded.
One pilot study found 10% silver diamine fluoride worked about as well as glass ionomer restoration and tooth-brushing for remineralising early enamel caries; ungraded.
One trial found 6% sodium fluoride plus 6% calcium fluoride varnish significantly reversed early enamel caries versus no treatment; ungraded and not meta-analysed.
Preschool children with ECC had significantly lower serum 25(OH)D than caries-free children (WMD -13.96 nmol/l; ungraded).
In Asia, children with S-ECC had lower serum 25(OH)D than caries-free children (WMD -19.25 nmol/l; ungraded).
In North America, children with S-ECC had lower serum 25(OH)D than caries-free children (WMD -13.28 nmol/l; ungraded).
Children with severe ECC had significantly lower serum 25(OH)D than caries-free children (WMD -18.64 nmol/l; ungraded).
Root closure and eruption of the second permanent molar appeared accelerated on the extraction side in a single case-control study; ungraded and not statistically tested.
One study found fewer decayed or filled proximal surfaces but more decayed or filled occlusal surfaces in arches with an extracted first permanent molar; ungraded.
Early extraction of a compromised first permanent molar is followed by variable spontaneous closure of the post-extraction space (about 45.5% to 85.2% of cases); certainty was not GRADE-rated (Shekelle category III).
Early childhood caries increases the likelihood of caries in permanent teeth roughly three-fold, but the certainty of evidence is very low (OR 3.22, 95% CI 2.80 to 3.71).
Development and eruption of the third molar appeared accelerated after early first permanent molar extraction in two studies (e.g., eruption OR 2.86, 95% CI 1.37 to 5.96); ungraded.