Cariogenic bacteria (Mutans streptococci) · Orthodontic patients (any age) undergoing orthodontic treatment (mostly fixed appliances)
Probiotic mouthwash has inconsistent effects on Mutans streptococci colony counts versus blank control; the evidence is very uncertain (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Gingival index (GI) · Orthodontic patients (any age) undergoing orthodontic treatment (mostly fixed appliances)
Chlorhexidine mouthwash probably reduces the Gingival Index versus placebo in the short term (WMD -0.45, 95% CI -0.70 to -0.20; low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies)
Herbal mouthwash reduced several plaque-related indices, but certainty is very low.
1 finding from 1 review
Total bacteria (colony count) · Orthodontic patients (any age) undergoing orthodontic treatment (mostly fixed appliances)
Chlorhexidine mouthwash may reduce total bacteria colony counts versus blank control in the short term, but the evidence is very uncertain (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Gingival inflammation-related index · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies)
Herbal mouthwash reduced some gingival inflammation-related indices, but certainty is very low.
1 finding from 1 review
Intervention not reported
Confidence
1 finding from 1 review
Cariogenic bacteria (Mutans streptococci) · People undergoing orthodontic treatment (any age; 9 to 34 years in included studies)
Herbal mouthwash showed mixed effects on Mutans streptococci, with very low-certainty evidence.
1 finding from 1 review
Salivary immunoglobulin A (SIgA) concentration · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
Evidence on salivary IgA in CLWH on versus off ART was divergent and inconclusive (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Intervention not reported
Adverse events
1 finding from 1 review
Dental caries prevalence and severity · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
No significant difference in dental caries/severity between ART regimens (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Kaposi's sarcoma (WHO clinical stage 4) · Children or adolescents
No eligible studies reported Kaposi's sarcoma.
1 finding from 1 review
Salivary immunoglobulin A (SIgA) concentration · Children or adolescents
No significant difference in total salivary IgA between CLWH and healthy controls, though anti-Candida SIgA was higher in HIV groups; narrative only.
1 finding from 1 review
Oral Health Status of Children and Adolescents Living with HIV Undergoing Antiretroviral Therapy: A Systematic Review… 2022 All outcomesCross-sectional (case-control; single time point) · HIV pediatric/ART clinics, AIDS centers, and hospitals in Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia, and West Africa (Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Senegal)
Pomarico 2009 reported no significant difference in total SIgA among HIV-ART, HIV-HAART, and healthy children, but significantly higher anti-Candida albicans SIgA in the two HIV groups; no effect estimate pooled.
1 study
GRADE not reported
Linear gingival erythema prevalence · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
No significant difference in linear gingival erythema between CLWH with and without ART (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 1.29 [0.58, 2.88]
Studies not reported
Very low
Ulcerative stomatitis · Children or adolescents
One study found significantly higher ulcerative stomatitis among CLWH on ART (OR 28.59, 95% CI 1.67 to 490.32), though the estimate is very imprecise.
1 finding from 1 review
Plaque · Adults and children (predominantly adults; one study in children), with natural dentition
Xylitol sugar-free gum significantly reduced plaque quantity versus no-gum/control (SMD -0.743, 95% CI -1.148 to -0.338), with high heterogeneity (I2 = 86.0%; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Dental development / dental age (mineralization chronology) · Children or adolescents
No significant overall difference in dental development between CLWH on ART and healthy controls (three studies, narrative synthesis).
1 finding from 1 review
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
Periodontal disease (gingivitis/periodontitis) · Children or adolescents
CLWH on ART had significantly higher prevalence of periodontal disease than healthy controls (pooled OR 3.11, 95% CI 1.62 to 5.97; moderate heterogeneity).
1 finding from 1 review
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