Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

1,052 questions · 1,797 findings · 134 reviews

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No studies found 10 · 0.6%GRADE not reported 1,630 · 90.7%Very low 95 · 5.3%Low 23 · 1.3%Moderate 22 · 1.2%High 17 · 0.9%

Dental caries assessment (WHO/clinical diagnostic criteria; caries = DMFT>0) vs None (descriptive prevalence review; subgroup analyses by urban/rural status, country and year)

Dental caries prevalence · 12-year-old children (permanent dentition) in Africa

Pooled caries prevalence in Uganda was 0.27 (95% CI 0.126 to 0.418; 3 article(s); not GRADE-rated).

23 findings from 1 review

Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
Uganda (Africa) · Country: Uganda
Prevalence 0.27 [0.126, 0.418]
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
Africa (cross-sectional surveys) · Data collection period: 2005-2009
Prevalence 0.329 [0.111, 0.548]
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
Africa (cross-sectional surveys) · Data collection period: 2000-2004
Prevalence 0.282 [0.227, 0.337]
13 studies
GRADE not reported

Show 20 more findings

Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
Nigeria (Africa) · Country: Nigeria
Prevalence 0.13 [0.106, 0.163]
2 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
Eritrea (Africa) · Country: Eritrea
Prevalence 0.78 [0.724, 0.831]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
South Africa (Africa) · Country: South Africa
Prevalence 0.34 [0.276, 0.401]
5 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
Libya (Africa) · Country: Libya
Prevalence 0.48 [0.45, 0.514]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
African settings with unspecified urban/rural status · Setting: Urban/rural (unspecified)
Prevalence 0.391 [0.305, 0.477]
10 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
Africa (school-based, community, household and national cross-sectional surveys)
Prevalence 0.36 [0.294, 0.417]
25 studies · 18080 participants
GRADE not reported
Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
African rural settings · Setting: Rural
Prevalence 0.314 [0.186, 0.443]
10 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
The Gambia (Africa) · Country: The Gambia
Prevalence 0.30 [0.239, 0.375]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
Zimbabwe (Africa) · Country: Zimbabwe
Prevalence 0.49 [0.42, 0.568]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
Sao Tome (Africa) · Country: Sao Tome
Prevalence 0.73 [0.694, 0.759]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
Sudan (Africa) · Country: Sudan
Prevalence 0.31 [0.279, 0.333]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
Africa (cross-sectional surveys) · Data collection period: 2010-2014
Prevalence 0.346 [0.085, 0.606]
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
Burkina Faso (Africa) · Country: Burkina Faso
Prevalence 0.29 [0.247, 0.326]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
Kenya (Africa) · Country: Kenya
Prevalence 0.33 [0.066, 0.584]
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
Africa (cross-sectional surveys) · Data collection period: >2015
Prevalence 0.574 [0.427, 0.721]
5 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
Tanzania (Africa) · Country: Tanzania
Prevalence 0.34 [0.299, 0.376]
2 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
Algeria (Africa) · Country: Algeria
Prevalence 0.59 [0.523, 0.654]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
Zambia (Africa) · Country: Zambia
Prevalence 0.11 [0.045, 0.26]
1 study
GRADE not reported
Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
African urban settings · Setting: Urban
Prevalence 0.403 [0.233, 0.574]
7 studies
GRADE not reported
Prevalence of dental caries in the permanent dentition amongst 12-year-olds in Africa: a systematic review and… 2022 All outcomes
Malawi (Africa) · Country: Malawi
Prevalence 0.19 [0.168, 0.214]
1 study
GRADE not reported

Cesarean section delivery vs Vaginal delivery

Caries prevalence (early childhood caries) · Toddlers and preschool children, 2 to 6 years of age (primary dentition)

Caesarean section delivery may be associated with a modestly higher prevalence of early childhood caries than vaginal delivery (pooled OR 1.48), but the evidence is inconsistent and of very low certainty.

1 finding from 1 review

Is the mode of childbirth delivery linked to the prevalence of early childhood caries? A systematic review and… 2021 All outcomes
Caries assessed at 8 months to 6 years of age · Community/population-based; studies from Europe, Asia, South America and Israel
OR 1.48 [1.07, 2.05]
11 studies · 58682 participants
Very low

Preterm birth (<37 weeks gestation) vs Full-term birth (37 weeks or more gestation)

Dental caries · Preterm children (about 8 years old) in the United Arab Emirates (Dubai)

Mean DMFT was 1.00 in preterm children versus 0.38 in full-term children.

1 finding from 1 review

Oral Health of Children and Adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: A Systematic Review of the Past Decade. 2021 All outcomes
Preterm children
MEAN 1.00
1 study
GRADE not reported

Dental crowding present vs Dental spacing present

Spontaneous space closure · Children and adolescents after extraction of a mandibular permanent first molar (before eruption of the second molar)

One study found space closure more likely with crowding than spacing (OR 5.9; single study; not GRADE-rated).

1 finding from 1 review

Spontaneous space closure after extraction of permanent first molars in children and adolescents: a systematic review… 2024 All outcomes
Until eruption of the permanent second molar (median follow-up 4.0 years) · University clinics and hospitals in 8 countries (children/adolescents <18 years) · Overall
OR 5.9 [1.3, 27.7]
1 study
GRADE not reported

Polyether impression material vs Polyvinyl siloxane impression material

Pulp necrosis · Vital teeth

The pooled incidence with polyether impression material was 4.02%.

2 findings from 1 review

Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations: a… 2023 All outcomes
Polyether
Proportion 4.02 [2.47, 5.92]
2985 participants
GRADE not reported
Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations: a… 2023 All outcomes
Polyvinyl siloxane
Proportion 3.17 [1.55, 5.34]
636 participants
GRADE not reported

Pre-operative bone level < 35% vs Pre-operative bone level ≥ 35%

Periapical pathosis incidence · Vital teeth

One study reported a 1.4% incidence with bone level < 35%.

2 findings from 1 review

Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations: a… 2023 All outcomes
Bone level < 35%
Proportion 1.4
1 study
GRADE not reported
Incidence and influential factors in pulp necrosis and periapical pathosis following indirect restorations: a… 2023 All outcomes
Bone level ≥ 35%
Proportion 0
1 study
GRADE not reported

Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability

Lumbar spine and pelvis fracture · European GWAS participants

The SVMR Weighted Median interval included the null.

3 findings from 1 review

From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Summary-level GWAS · SVMR Weighted Median
OR 1.058 [0.966, 1.158]
490700 participants
GRADE not reported
From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Summary-level GWAS · SVMR MR-Egger
OR 1.036 [0.956, 1.122]
490700 participants
GRADE not reported
From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Summary-level GWAS · SVMR Maximum Likelihood
OR 1.055 [0.983, 1.132]
490700 participants
GRADE not reported

Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability

Osteoporosis · European GWAS participants

The SVMR MR-Egger interval included the null.

4 findings from 1 review

From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Summary-level GWAS · SVMR MR-Egger
OR 1.001 [0.918, 1.093]
483725 participants
GRADE not reported
From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Summary-level GWAS · SVMR Maximum Likelihood
OR 0.998 [0.934, 1.067]
483725 participants
GRADE not reported
From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Summary-level GWAS · SVMR Weighted Median
OR 1.002 [0.925, 1.086]
483725 participants
GRADE not reported

Show 1 more finding

From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Summary-level GWAS · SVMR IVW
OR 0.998 [0.933, 1.067]
483725 participants
GRADE not reported

Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability

Osteoporosis with pathological fracture · European GWAS participants

The SVMR Weighted Median interval included the null.

3 findings from 1 review

From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Summary-level GWAS · SVMR Weighted Median
OR 0.985 [0.846, 1.146]
376746 participants
GRADE not reported
From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Summary-level GWAS · SVMR Maximum Likelihood
OR 1.003 [0.874, 1.151]
376746 participants
GRADE not reported
From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Summary-level GWAS · SVMR MR-Egger
OR 0.953 [0.813, 1.117]
376746 participants
GRADE not reported

Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability

Forearm fracture · European GWAS participants

The SVMR Weighted Median interval included the null.

3 findings from 1 review

From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Summary-level GWAS · SVMR Weighted Median
OR 0.992 [0.945, 1.042]
490889 participants
GRADE not reported
From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Summary-level GWAS · SVMR MR-Egger
OR 0.994 [0.948, 1.042]
490889 participants
GRADE not reported
From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Summary-level GWAS · SVMR Maximum Likelihood
OR 0.990 [0.950, 1.032]
490889 participants
GRADE not reported

Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability, adjusted for DMFS

Lumbar spine and pelvis fracture · European GWAS participants

The MVMR MR-Egger interval included the null.

1 finding from 1 review

From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Summary-level GWAS · MVMR MR-Egger
OR 1.062 [0.991, 1.137]
490700 participants
GRADE not reported

Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability

Osteoporosis with pathological fracture · European-ancestry adults

Genetically predicted periodontitis had no causal effect on osteoporosis with pathological fracture (single-variable MR, OR 1.003).

2 findings from 1 review

From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Lifelong genetic liability · European-ancestry population (two-sample MR: GLIDE exposures; FinnGen osteoporosis/fractures; GeFOS BMD) · SVMR (IVW), total causal effect
OR 1.003 [0.875, 1.150]
376746 participants
GRADE not reported
From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Lifelong genetic liability · European-ancestry population (two-sample MR: GLIDE exposures; FinnGen osteoporosis/fractures; GeFOS BMD) · MVMR (IVW), adjusted for DMFS
OR 1.003 [0.546, 1.842]
376746 participants
GRADE not reported

Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability, adjusted for DMFS

Lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) · European GWAS participants

The MVMR IVW interval included zero.

1 finding from 1 review

From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Summary-level GWAS · MVMR IVW
BETA 0.047 [-0.002, 0.096]
28498 participants
GRADE not reported

Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability

Lumbar spine and pelvis fracture · European-ancestry adults

Genetically predicted periodontitis had no causal effect on fracture of lumbar spine and pelvis (multivariable MR, OR 1.060).

2 findings from 1 review

From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Lifelong genetic liability · European-ancestry population (two-sample MR: GLIDE exposures; FinnGen osteoporosis/fractures; GeFOS BMD) · MVMR (IVW), adjusted for DMFS
OR 1.060 [0.989, 1.135]
490700 participants
GRADE not reported
From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Lifelong genetic liability · European-ancestry population (two-sample MR: GLIDE exposures; FinnGen osteoporosis/fractures; GeFOS BMD) · SVMR (IVW), total causal effect
OR 1.055 [0.984, 1.130]
490700 participants
GRADE not reported

Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability, adjusted for DMFS

Forearm fracture · European GWAS participants

The MVMR MR-Egger interval included the null.

1 finding from 1 review

From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Summary-level GWAS · MVMR MR-Egger
OR 0.992 [0.950, 1.036]
490889 participants
GRADE not reported

Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability

Femoral neck bone mineral density (FN-BMD) · European-ancestry adults

Genetically predicted periodontitis had no causal effect on femoral neck BMD.

1 finding from 1 review

From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Lifelong genetic liability · European-ancestry population (two-sample MR: GLIDE exposures; FinnGen osteoporosis/fractures; GeFOS BMD) · SVMR and MVMR (IVW)
No causal effect of oral diseases on FN-BMD was found (SVMR and MVMR); no numeric estimate reported in text (see Fig. 3).
32735 participants
GRADE not reported

Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability

Femur fracture · European-ancestry adults

Genetically predicted periodontitis had no causal effect on fracture of femur (multivariable MR, OR 1.034).

2 findings from 1 review

From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Lifelong genetic liability · European-ancestry population (two-sample MR: GLIDE exposures; FinnGen osteoporosis/fractures; GeFOS BMD) · MVMR (IVW), adjusted for DMFS
OR 1.034 [0.963, 1.109]
489106 participants
GRADE not reported
From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Lifelong genetic liability · European-ancestry population (two-sample MR: GLIDE exposures; FinnGen osteoporosis/fractures; GeFOS BMD) · SVMR (IVW), total causal effect
OR 1.044 [0.982, 1.110]
489106 participants
GRADE not reported

Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability

Osteoporosis · European-ancestry adults

Genetically predicted periodontitis had no causal effect on osteoporosis (multivariable MR, OR 1.000).

2 findings from 1 review

From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Lifelong genetic liability · European-ancestry population (two-sample MR: GLIDE exposures; FinnGen osteoporosis/fractures; GeFOS BMD) · MVMR (IVW), adjusted for DMFS
OR 1.000 [0.937, 1.067]
483725 participants
GRADE not reported
From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Lifelong genetic liability · European-ancestry population (two-sample MR: GLIDE exposures; FinnGen osteoporosis/fractures; GeFOS BMD) · SVMR (IVW), total causal effect
OR 0.998 [0.933, 1.067]
483725 participants
GRADE not reported

Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability, adjusted for DMFS

Femur fracture · European GWAS participants

The MVMR MR-Egger interval included the null.

1 finding from 1 review

From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Summary-level GWAS · MVMR MR-Egger
OR 1.024 [0.960, 1.093]
489106 participants
GRADE not reported

Genetically predicted periodontitis vs Lower genetically predicted periodontitis liability, adjusted for DMFS

Postmenopausal osteoporosis with pathological fracture · European GWAS participants

The MVMR MR-Egger interval included the null.

1 finding from 1 review

From teeth to bone: dental caries has causal effects on osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture. 2025 All outcomes
Summary-level GWAS · MVMR MR-Egger
OR 1.012 [0.858, 1.193]
281786 participants
GRADE not reported