Periodontal pocket (odds), slum vs non-slum residence · Adult residents of slums and non-slum urban settings of LMICs
Slum residents had significantly higher odds of periodontal pocketing than non-slum residents (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.13-1.98; single study); ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
Caries experience (mean DMFT) · Adult residents of slums and non-slum urban settings of LMICs
Mean DMFT ranges from 0.26 to 16.6 across LMIC urban/slum populations; ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
Dental trauma prevalence · Adult residents of slums and non-slum urban settings of LMICs
Dental trauma appears more common in urban and disadvantaged settings; ungraded, few studies.
1 finding from 1 review
Use of toothbrush and toothpaste for mouth cleaning · Adult residents of slums and non-slum urban settings of LMICs
Toothbrush/paste is the commonest cleaning method but is used less in slum/disadvantaged/rural groups than urban/non-slum groups; ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
Gingival index (GI) · Children and/or adolescents (<18 years) without background systemic disease
Probiotics probably make little to no difference to the gingival index versus control (MD 0.04, 95%CI -0.18 to 0.27; low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Overall diagnostic accuracy (agreement) · Children and adults with primary or permanent dentition undergoing dental caries assessment
Where reported (about 5 studies, Table 2), overall diagnostic accuracy was high (about 93% to 97.6%); no pooled estimate and certainty not graded.
1 finding from 1 review
Salivary pH · Children and/or adolescents (<18 years) without background systemic disease
In a subgroup analysis, mouth-rinse probiotics reduced salivary pH (MD -0.40, 95%CI -0.54 to -0.26; p-interaction<0.01); not GRADE-rated.
1 finding from 1 review
Efficacy of Probiotic Consumption on Oral Outcomes in Children and/or Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis. 2024 All outcomesHealthy children and/or adolescents (<18 years) without systemic disease; RCTs from multiple countries (India, Thailand, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Poland, Colombia, Saudi Arabia); mostly school/community and clinic settings · Probiotic presentation: mouth rinse (vs other presentations; p-interaction<0.01)
MD -0.40 [-0.54, -0.26]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Intervention not reported
Correlation between teledentistry and clinical caries assessment
1 finding from 1 review
Dental caries prevalence and severity · Persons with disabilities (children and adults with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, hearing impairment, or multiple disabilities)…
Dental caries prevalence and severity are high among persons with disabilities in Saudi Arabia (60% to over 80%), and the one comparative autism study reported significantly higher caries than controls; synthesized narratively (ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Narrative synthesis (no pooled estimate). High dental caries burden among PWDs: caries prevalence 60% to over 80% (abstract). Alkahtani 2019 (hearing-impaired adults, single-arm): caries prevalence 82.2%, treatment…
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Specificity · Children and adults with primary or permanent dentition undergoing dental caries assessment
Across 13 studies, the specificity of teledentistry caries diagnosis ranged from 83% to 100%; no pooled estimate and certainty not graded.
1 finding from 1 review
Lactobacillus spp. mean levels/counts · Children and adolescents aged 0-18 years with non-syndromic cleft lip and palate (CLP)
No significant difference in Lactobacillus spp. presence was reported; GRADE was not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
Lactobacillus count (CFU/mL) · Children and/or adolescents (<18 years) without background systemic disease
Probiotics may make little to no difference to Lactobacillus count versus control (MD -0.78 CFU/mL, 95%CI -1.65 to 0.09; very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Pattern of dental service utilisation and barriers · Adult residents of slums and non-slum urban settings of LMICs
Dental service use is low, episodic and pain-driven, with widespread self-care and cost/funding barriers; ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
Utilisation was generally low, episodic and mostly problem/pain-driven (pain-driven visits ~70-99%); widespread self-care/home remedies were used as alternatives to professional care; lack of funds/cost, income, age,…
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Frequency of mouth cleaning · Adult residents of slums and non-slum urban settings of LMICs
Twice-daily cleaning (recommended) is uncommon; most clean once, in the morning; ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
Intervention not reported
Cariogenic microbiota counts (Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus spp.)
1 finding from 1 review
Dental caries prevalence · Adult residents of slums and non-slum urban settings of LMICs
Dental caries prevalence in LMIC urban/slum populations ranges widely (13%-76%); not GRADE-rated (narrative synthesis).
1 finding from 1 review
Prevalence of dental caries varied across age, gender and socioeconomic class, ranging from 13% (Nigeria) to 76% (Central India); prevalence >50% reported in India, Brazil, Malaysia and Rwanda; generally higher in…
14 studies
GRADE not reported
Positive predictive value · Children and adults with primary or permanent dentition undergoing dental caries assessment
Positive predictive value was reported in 10 studies and varied widely across studies (about 42% to 99%); no pooled estimate and certainty not graded.
1 finding from 1 review
Salivary pH · Children and/or adolescents (<18 years) without background systemic disease
Probiotics may make little to no difference to salivary pH versus control (MD -0.12 pH units, 95%CI -0.72 to 0.48; very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Sensitivity · Children and adults with primary or permanent dentition undergoing dental caries assessment
Across 13 studies, the sensitivity of teledentistry (photographic) caries diagnosis versus visual examination ranged from 48% to 98.3%; the review pooled no estimate and did not grade certainty.
1 finding from 1 review
Dental caries in children · Children and/or adolescents (<18 years) without background systemic disease
Probiotics probably make little to no difference to the number of dental caries versus control (MD -0.24 carious pieces, 95%CI -0.72 to 0.23; low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review