Acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis prevalence · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
Acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis was significantly more prevalent in treatment-naive CLWH than in those on ART (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 0.00 [0.00, 0.02]
Studies not reported
Very low
Parotid hypertrophy prevalence · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
Parotid hypertrophy was significantly more prevalent in treatment-naive CLWH than in those on ART (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 0.01 [0.00, 0.05]
Studies not reported
Very low
Dental development and maturation · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
A single small study suggested delayed dental development in CLWH on ART, but the evidence was insufficient to draw conclusions (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Oral hygiene · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
Oral hygiene status did not differ significantly between CLWH with and without ART (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 0.73 [0.13, 4.26]
0 studies
GRADE not reported
Mucocele prevalence · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
No significant difference in mucocele between CLWH with and without ART (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 0.02 [0.00, 1.09]
Studies not reported
Very low
Angular cheilitis prevalence · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
No significant difference in angular cheilitis between CLWH with and without ART (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 0.58 [0.17, 1.99]
Studies not reported
Very low
Ulcerative stomatitis prevalence · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
Ulcerative stomatitis was significantly more prevalent in treatment-naive CLWH than in those on ART (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 0.03 [0.02, 0.07]
Studies not reported
Very low
Periodontal disease prevalence · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
ART was not associated with a significant difference in periodontal disease prevalence among CLWH (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Kaposi's sarcoma prevalence · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
Kaposi's sarcoma was significantly more prevalent in treatment-naive CLWH than in those on ART (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 0.00 [0.00, 0.03]
Studies not reported
Very low
Recurrent oral ulceration prevalence · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
No significant difference in recurrent oral ulceration between CLWH with and without ART (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 1.50 [0.72, 3.13]
Studies not reported
Very low
Oral hairy leukoplakia prevalence · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
No significant difference in oral hairy leukoplakia between CLWH with and without ART (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 2.75 [0.39, 19.43]
Studies not reported
Very low
Mucosal hyperpigmentation prevalence · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
No significant difference in mucosal hyperpigmentation between CLWH with and without ART (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 1.79 [0.89, 3.61]
Studies not reported
Very low
Chronic herpes simplex infection prevalence · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
No significant difference in chronic herpes simplex infection between CLWH with and without ART (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 2.47 [0.88, 6.97]
Studies not reported
Very low
Caries experience · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
ART was not associated with a significant difference in dental caries experience among CLWH (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Dental caries · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
HIV-infected children on ART had higher odds of dental caries than HEU children in a cohort study (OR 2.88, 95% CI 1.71 to 4.84; ungraded).
2 findings from 1 review
Association between antiretroviral therapy and dental caries in children and adolescents with HIV: a systematic review… 2025 All outcomesProspective follow-up · 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 2.88 [1.71, 4.84]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Association between antiretroviral therapy and dental caries in children and adolescents with HIV: a systematic review… 2025 All outcomesNot 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 3.73 [1.88, 7.40]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Dental caries · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
HIV-infected children on ART had higher odds of dental caries than HUU children in case-control studies (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.56; ungraded).
2 findings from 1 review
Association between antiretroviral therapy and dental caries in children and adolescents with HIV: a systematic review… 2025 All outcomesNot 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 1.61 [1.02, 2.56]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Association between antiretroviral therapy and dental caries in children and adolescents with HIV: a systematic review… 2025 All outcomesNot 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 1.80 [0.98, 3.28]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
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 outcomesNot 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 outcomesNot 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 outcomesProspective 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
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 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