DMFT/DMFS index (dental caries experience) · Children aged 0-12 years (studies published 2015 or later)
In studies published from 2015 onward, OHPPs were associated with lower DMFT (OR 0.08, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.53; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
DMFT/DMFS index (dental caries experience) · Children aged 0-12 years in Finland
The single Finnish study showed lower DMFT/S with OHPP (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.56; ungraded, single study).
1 finding from 1 review
DMFT/DMFS index (dental caries experience) · Children aged 0-12 years (studies published before 2015)
In studies published before 2015, OHPPs were associated with lower DMFT (OR 0.01, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.13; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Correlation of Veillonella spp. with acidogenic streptococci · Young children with early childhood caries and caries-free controls
Veillonella spp. levels were correlated with acidogenic streptococci in white spot lesions (r²=0.38); no CI was reported.
1 finding from 1 review
Relative abundance of S. mutans in saliva · Individuals assessed for dental caries, predominantly children with early childhood caries (ECC) or severe ECC (age about 1 to 4 years)
A few small studies report Streptococcus mutans relative abundance in caries versus caries-free children without pooling; the evidence is ungraded and not meta-analyzed.
1 finding from 1 review
Relative abundance of Veillonella spp. · Individuals assessed for dental caries, predominantly children with early childhood caries (ECC) or severe ECC (age about 1 to 4 years)
Evidence on whether Veillonella spp. relative abundance is higher or lower in children with dental caries than caries-free controls is inconsistent across 7 small observational studies; no pooled estimate was produced and the evidence is ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
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
Dental caries (by severity) · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
In cross-sectional studies, HIV+ children on ART had a significantly higher DMFS index than HIV-negative peers (MD 2.00, 95% CI 1.54 to 2.46; not separately GRADE-rated).
2 findings from 1 review
CA VI concentration · Individuals assessed for dental caries (mainly children aged 2-9 years; one study in adults aged 18-24 years)
Salivary CA VI concentration is significantly lower in individuals with dental caries than in caries-free individuals (SMD -0.672, 95% CI -1.011 to -0.332; not GRADE-rated).
1 finding from 1 review
Access to/visited dental services prevalence · Children (deciduous and/or permanent dentition) in low- and middle-income countries
About 44% of children in LMICs had access to or had visited dental services (pooled prevalence 0.444, 95% CI 0.277 to 0.618; 5 studies; not GRADE-rated).
1 finding from 1 review
Salivary IL-6 level (pg/mL) · Children and young adults (3-25 years)
Salivary IL-6 levels are significantly higher in children and young adults with active dental caries than in caries-free or mild-caries controls (SMD 11.60 pg/mL, 95% CI 6.27 to 16.94; 11 studies); ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
Salivary IL-8 level (pg/mL) · Children and young adults (3-25 years)
Salivary IL-8 levels are higher in children and young adults with active dental caries than in controls but the difference is not statistically significant (SMD 57.20 pg/mL, 95% CI -18.60 to 133.00; 7 studies); ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
TNF-α level · Children and young adults (3-25 years)
Salivary TNF-α levels are significantly higher in children and young adults with active dental caries than in caries-free or mild-caries controls (SMD 14.81 pg/mL, 95% CI 4.76 to 24.86; 7 studies); ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
Relative abundance of Veillonella spp. · Young children with early childhood caries and caries-free controls
Veillonella spp. mean relative abundance was higher in ECC children, without a comparative effect estimate or CI.
Mean relative abundance (%) ECC 3.29 (SD 6.83) vs caries-free 2.13 (SD 2.30)
1 study · 87 participants
GRADE not reported
Meta-Analysis Using NGS Data: The Veillonella Species in Dental Caries. 2022 All outcomesSaliva and supragingival biofilm (pooled) · Overall (all sample types)
MD 2.22 [0.54, 3.90]
6 studies · 319 participants
Very low
MD -1.05 [-7.67, 5.57]
2 studies · 161 participants
GRADE not reported
Show 1 more finding
Dental caries · Children (<18 years) with vs without dental caries
In the PCR-RFLP genotyping subgroup, TaqI(rs731236) recessive model: TT vs TC+CC showed no significant association with caries (OR 1.49); ungraded.
8 findings from 1 review
Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with caries risk in children: a systematic review and… 2024 All outcomesRecessive model (TT vs TC+CC) · Children under 18 years; case-control and cross-sectional studies (China, Czech Republic, Turkey, Brazil, India) · PCR-RFLP genotyping
OR 1.49 [0.97, 2.27]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with caries risk in children: a systematic review and… 2024 All outcomesRecessive model (TT vs TC+CC) · Children under 18 years; case-control and cross-sectional studies (China, Czech Republic, Turkey, Brazil, India) · Permanent dentition
OR 1.36 [0.89, 2.08]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with caries risk in children: a systematic review and… 2024 All outcomesRecessive model (TT vs TC+CC) · Children under 18 years; case-control and cross-sectional studies (China, Czech Republic, Turkey, Brazil, India) · Caucasian ethnicity
OR 1.05 [0.56, 1.98]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Show 5 more findings
Dental caries · Children (<18 years) with vs without dental caries
In the Caucasian ethnicity subgroup, TaqI(rs731236) dominant model: TT+TC vs CC showed no significant association with caries (OR 0.84); ungraded.
8 findings from 1 review
Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with caries risk in children: a systematic review and… 2024 All outcomesDominant model (TT+TC vs CC) · Children under 18 years; case-control and cross-sectional studies (China, Czech Republic, Turkey, Brazil, India) · Caucasian ethnicity
OR 0.84 [0.50, 1.39]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with caries risk in children: a systematic review and… 2024 All outcomesDominant model (TT+TC vs CC) · Children under 18 years; case-control and cross-sectional studies (China, Czech Republic, Turkey, Brazil, India) · Primary dentition
OR 1.25 [0.08, 20.04]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with caries risk in children: a systematic review and… 2024 All outcomesDominant model (TT+TC vs CC) · Children under 18 years; case-control and cross-sectional studies (China, Czech Republic, Turkey, Brazil, India) · PCR-RFLP genotyping
OR 0.70 [0.47, 1.05]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Show 5 more findings
Dental caries · Children (<18 years) with vs without dental caries
TaqI/BglI(rs739837) recessive model: TT vs TG+GG was not significantly associated with dental caries (OR 0.93); ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review