Dental caries (self-reported history) · Japanese adults (present-study direct-to-consumer genetic testing cohort); self-reported disease cases vs controls
Gene-based analysis found ADGRL2 significantly associated with dental caries (FDR q<0.05); ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
pH change or lactic acid production · Streptococcus mutans (in vitro cultures and biofilms)
No meta-analysis was conducted; five included studies reported buffering of pH drop or reduced lactic acid production with cranberry extract or fractions.
1 finding from 1 review
no estimate extracted
5 studies
GRADE not reported
Dental caries · Primary school children in Ethiopia
Acidic bacillary pH on the teeth was associated with higher odds of dental caries (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.494-3.335; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 2.42 [1.494, 3.335]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Caries arrestment at the individual (patient) level · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition)
Compared with other caries-management methods, SDF may increase caries arrestment at the individual level, but the pooled estimate is very imprecise (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Ever utilised dental services · Adult residents of slums and non-slum urban settings of LMICs
Ever-use of dental services is low-to-moderate (17%-71%) and generally lower in slum/rural groups; ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
Change in Mutans streptococci (MS) and Lactobacilli in saliva · Schoolchildren (6-9 years), high caries risk
The single stevia trial (Cocco 2019) reported a significant reduction in salivary Mutans streptococci and lactobacilli, but gave no effect size and was not GRADE-rated.
1 finding from 1 review
Clinical Effects of Sugar Substitutes on Cariogenic Bacteria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. 2024 All outcomes42 days · Schoolchildren in Italy, high caries risk; sweetener delivered as a daily snack · Single study (Cocco 2019); not pooled
Cocco 2019 (the only high-intensity sweetener trial): the stevia snack showed a significant decrease in MS (P < .01) and in lactobacilli (P = .03) versus baseline, whereas the white-sugar snack showed no significant…
1 study · 271 participants
GRADE not reported
Oral health-related quality of life · Persons with disabilities (children and adults with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, hearing impairment, or multiple disabilities)…
Persons with disabilities in Saudi Arabia report poorer overall oral health-related quality of life and greater oral-health impact than those without disabilities, synthesized narratively without a pooled estimate (ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Enamel demineralization (DIAGNOdent score) · Orthodontic patients of any age with fixed braces (new DLs assessed at debond)
ACP adhesive had lower demineralization scores at 1 month, with certainty not graded.
2 findings from 1 review
At T1, the control group had an average demineralization score of 3.39 (±1.29), whereas the ACP group had a notably lower average score of 2.58 (±1.11) (p-value of 0.000).
1 study · 26 participants
GRADE not reported
At T2, the control group had an average score of 4.32 (±2.32), while the ACP group continued to exhibit a lower average score of 3.41 (±1.11) (p-value of 0.000).
1 study · 26 participants
GRADE not reported
Caries arrestment at the individual (patient) level · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition)
In one trial, SDF greatly increased individual-level caries arrestment versus ART/glass ionomer cement (OR 18.03); this subgroup was not separately GRADE-rated.
1 finding from 1 review
Periodontal disease prevalence · Adult residents of slums and non-slum urban settings of LMICs
Periodontal disease prevalence is high (23%-99%) across LMIC urban/slum populations; ungraded.
1 finding from 1 review
Periodontal disease affected all ages, was more pronounced in older groups, and ranged from 23% to 99%, generally higher than dental caries; bleeding gum/gingivitis contributed the largest component.
9 studies
GRADE not reported
Dental caries · Primary school children in Ethiopia
A poor tooth-cleaning habit was associated with higher odds of dental caries (OR 3.90, 95% CI 2.761-5.045; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 3.90 [2.761, 5.045]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Parental concern / caregiver stress indices (parental perception and parenting stress about the child's oral health) · Parents/caregivers of children with disabilities (special needs; autism spectrum disorder or unspecified disability) in Saudi Arabia
Parents of children with disabilities in Saudi Arabia report significantly greater concern/stress about their child's oral health than parents of children without disabilities (pooled SMD 0.43, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.63; I2=0%; 3 studies); not GRADE-rated.
1 finding from 1 review
Periodontitis (prevalence) · adults
Using adjusted ORs, caries remained associated with higher periodontitis odds (OR 1.57).
3 findings from 1 review
Dental caries in children · Children of mothers assessed for smoking status during pregnancy (early childhood dental caries)
In the USA study, maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with increased odds of childhood dental caries (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.38 to 2.49).
15 findings from 1 review
Maternal smoking during pregnancy and early childhood dental caries in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2024 All outcomesExposure during pregnancy; caries assessed in early childhood · Multiple countries (Japan, England, Australia, Poland, USA, Sweden, Italy, Singapore); population/community-based · Study region: USA
OR 1.85 [1.38, 2.49]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Maternal smoking during pregnancy and early childhood dental caries in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2024 All outcomesExposure during pregnancy; caries assessed in early childhood · Multiple countries (Japan, England, Australia, Poland, USA, Sweden, Italy, Singapore); population/community-based · Dental examination: Clinical and radiographic examinations
OR 2.21 [2.09, 2.34]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Maternal smoking during pregnancy and early childhood dental caries in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2024 All outcomesExposure during pregnancy; caries assessed in early childhood · Multiple countries (Japan, England, Australia, Poland, USA, Sweden, Italy, Singapore); population/community-based · Study region: Europe
OR 1.67 [1.40, 1.99]
4 studies
GRADE not reported
Show 12 more findings
Dental caries prevalence · Brazilian children/adolescents in permanent dentition (BMI classified by CDC 2000 growth charts)
The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of overweight/obesity on caries odds in the permanent dentition (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Effects of non-stevia high-intensity sweeteners (aspartame, sucralose, saccharin) on cariogenic bacteria in dental plaque or saliva · healthy people
No eligible studies evaluated high-intensity sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose, or saccharin for their effect on cariogenic bacteria.
1 finding from 1 review
Inter-examiner reliability · Children and adults with primary or permanent dentition
Inter-examiner kappa statistics ranged from 0.44 to 0.91 across 13 studies; no meta-analysis or GRADE rating was reported.
1 finding from 1 review
no estimate extracted
13 studies
GRADE not reported
Spontaneous space closure · Children and adolescents with maxillary permanent first molar extraction
In the maxilla, age 8-10 years was not associated with a statistically significant difference in space closure odds.
1 finding from 1 review
Intervention not reported
Dental caries (early childhood caries)
The intervention led to higher dental caries (early childhood caries); GRADE not reported.
1 finding from 1 review
OR 17.8 [6.3, 50.3]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Preschool children (<6 years)
After excluding one study, nocturnal breastfeeding was associated with higher ECC risk (RR 3.05, 95% CI 2.40 to 3.87; I²=33%).
2 findings from 1 review