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
Dental caries · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
Among HIV+ children, HAART versus no HAART showed no significant difference in the odds of dental caries by DMFT in cross-sectional studies (OR 1.29, 95% CI 0.59 to 2.84; ungraded).
2 findings from 1 review
Association between antiretroviral therapy and dental caries in children and adolescents with HIV: a systematic review… 2025 All 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; DMFT index
OR 1.29 [0.59, 2.84]
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; deft index
OR 1.09 [0.65, 1.82]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Dental caries in permanent teeth · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
Among HIV+ children, HAART was associated with a significantly higher DMFT index than no HAART in case-control studies (MD 2.02, 95% CI 1.24 to 2.80; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Caries in primary teeth: dmft (3 years) · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
Among HIV+ children, HAART versus no HAART showed no significant difference in the dmft index in case-control studies (MD 0.66, 95% CI -0.26 to 1.58; ungraded).
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
Mucosal (oral) hyperpigmentation · Children or adolescents
CLWH on ART had significantly higher prevalence of mucosal hyperpigmentation than healthy controls (pooled OR 20.35, 95% CI 3.86 to 107.39); the authors described the certainty as low.
1 finding from 1 review
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
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
Recurrent oral ulcerations (WHO clinical stage 2) · Children or adolescents
CLWH on ART had significantly higher prevalence of recurrent oral ulcerations than healthy controls (pooled OR 6.83, 95% CI 1.18 to 39.53).
1 finding from 1 review
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
Dental caries prevalence · Children or adolescents
In permanent dentition, CLWH on ART had higher caries prevalence than healthy controls (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.86 to 3.32; single study).
3 findings 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) · Permanent dentition (DMFT > 0)
OR 2.49 [1.86, 3.32]
1 study · 724 participants
GRADE not reported
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)
OR 2.70 [2.01, 3.62]
2 studies · 1028 participants
GRADE not reported
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) · Primary dentition (dmft > 0)
OR 1.93 [1.34, 2.79]
1 study · 564 participants
GRADE not reported
Mucocele · Children or adolescents
No significant difference in mucocele between groups (OR 3.03, 95% CI 0.12 to 75.37; single study).
1 finding from 1 review
Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis/periodontitis (WHO clinical stage 3) · Children or adolescents
No eligible studies reported acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis/periodontitis.
1 finding from 1 review
Chronic herpes simplex infection (WHO clinical stage 4) · Children or adolescents
No eligible studies reported chronic herpes simplex infection.
1 finding from 1 review
Poor (inadequate) oral hygiene (prevalence) · Children or adolescents
No significant difference in oral hygiene between CLWH on ART and healthy controls (OR 1.23, 95% CI 0.73 to 2.07; single study).
1 finding from 1 review
Persistent parotid enlargement (WHO clinical stage 2) · Children or adolescents
No significant difference in persistent parotid enlargement between groups (OR 10.36, 95% CI 0.53 to 201.45; single study, very imprecise).
1 finding from 1 review
Oral hairy leukoplakia (WHO clinical stage 3) · Children or adolescents
No difference in oral hairy leukoplakia between groups (pooled OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.06 to 16.19); lesion essentially absent in both.
1 finding from 1 review
Angular cheilitis (WHO clinical stage 2) · Children or adolescents
No significant difference in angular cheilitis prevalence between CLWH and healthy controls (pooled OR 1.95, 95% CI 0.16 to 23.65).
1 finding from 1 review
Oral candidiasis (WHO clinical stage 3) · Children or adolescents
CLWH on ART had markedly higher prevalence of oral candidiasis than healthy controls (pooled OR 16.94, 95% CI 5.06 to 56.70).
1 finding from 1 review