Early childhood caries (ECC) · Healthy children under 6 years in South Africa
No significant difference in caries odds was found between bottle-fed-only and breast-fed-only children (meta-analysis reported no difference; pooled estimate in an unavailable supplementary figure; not GRADE-rated).
1 finding from 1 review
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Healthy children under 6 years in South Africa
No significant difference in caries odds was found between children of low- versus high-SES parents (meta-analysis reported no difference; pooled estimate in an unavailable supplementary figure; not GRADE-rated).
1 finding from 1 review
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
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years)
Breastfeeding for more than 12 months is associated with higher ECC prevalence (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 1.86 [1.48, 2.35]
13 studies
Low
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years)
Breastfeeding for more than 24 months is associated with higher ECC prevalence (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
OR 2.99 [1.03, 8.67]
4 studies
Low
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years)
Breastfeeding for 12-24 months is associated with higher ECC prevalence (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
PR 3.32 [1.57, 5.07]
2 studies
Low
Early childhood caries (ECC) - incidence/risk · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years)
Breastfeeding for 12-24 months may not increase ECC risk (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
RR 1.21 [0.82, 1.78]
5 studies
Low
Early childhood caries experience (mean dmft) · Children younger than 71 months (under 6 years)
Mean dmft was lowest (1.62 teeth) in low-inequality countries by Gini index.
16 findings from 1 review
Show 13 more findings
MEAN 3.34 [1.79, 4.88]
13 studies
GRADE not reported
MEAN 4.64 [3.38, 5.91]
19 studies
GRADE not reported
MEAN 3.87 [2.84, 4.91]
30 studies
GRADE not reported
MEAN 3.89 [1.62, 6.16]
7 studies
GRADE not reported
MEAN 4.04 [2.39, 5.68]
9 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomesCountries with 71-75 years life expectancy · Life expectancy: 71-75 years
MEAN 5.18
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
MEAN 4.28 [2.58, 5.97]
10 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomesCountries with no income inequality (Gini) · Gini index: no inequalities
MEAN 3.95
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
MEAN 3.08 [2.42, 3.74]
3 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomes49 countries worldwide; urban and rural communities · Overall (all regions)
MEAN 3.68 [2.99, 4.37]
60 studies
GRADE not reported
MEAN 1.13 [0.72, 1.55]
9 studies
GRADE not reported
MEAN 2.26 [0.69, 3.82]
11 studies
GRADE not reported
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data. 2024 All outcomesCountries with highest life expectancy (>80 years) · Life expectancy: >80 years
MEAN 1.34
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Early childhood caries experience (mean dmft) · Nigerian children with primary dentition (approximately 6 months to 5 years)
In primary dentition, high-frequency sugar consumption was associated with slightly higher, non-significant odds of caries (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.23 to 5.44), with high heterogeneity (I2=83%; ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Severe early childhood caries · Children aged 5-6 years in Ajman schools
High snack consumption was associated with higher odds of severe early childhood caries.
1 finding from 1 review
Severe early childhood caries · Children aged 5-6 years in Ajman schools
Low family income was associated with higher odds of severe early childhood caries.
1 finding from 1 review
Severe early childhood caries · Children aged 5-6 years in Ajman schools
A problem-driven dental visit was associated with higher odds of severe early childhood caries.
1 finding from 1 review
Treatment failure (annual failure rate) · Children (aged 3-5.5 years) with early childhood caries in anterior primary teeth (>=2 carious surfaces), no pulp therapy
Zirconia crowns failed less than composite strip crowns (3.3% vs 15% annual failure) in one RCT; low quality of evidence (ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
Microbial reduction (viable count, log CFU/mL) · Patients with dental caries (in vivo cariogenic microorganisms, including children with early childhood caries)
In randomized clinical trials, photodynamic therapy significantly reduced cariogenic microbial counts versus untreated control (SMD -1.16, 95% CI -2.02 to -0.30; 2 trials), but heterogeneity was high (I2=70%) and considered too high to rely on; certainty was not graded.
1 finding from 1 review
Mean dmft (caries severity) · Children aged 0-5 years in North Africa
The pooled mean dmft was 2.95 (95% CI 1.86-4.67), with very high heterogeneity (I2=99.7%).
1 finding from 1 review
MEAN 2.95 [1.86, 4.67]
13 studies
GRADE not reported
Development of any (cavitated or non-cavitated) carious lesion · Children younger than 6 years with caries-free primary dentition (no cavitated or non-cavitated lesions at baseline)
Preschool children with mutans streptococci at baseline probably have about four times higher odds of developing early childhood caries (OR 4.13; moderate certainty).
10 findings from 1 review
Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and meta-analysis. 2023 All outcomes6 months to 3.5 years · Caries-free preschool children (<6 y), primary dentition; community/clinic; studies from Japan, Finland, USA, Sweden and Singapore · Overall
OR 4.13 [3.33, 5.12]
12 studies · 3010 participants
Moderate
Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and meta-analysis. 2023 All outcomes6 months to 3.5 years · Caries-free preschool children (<6 y), primary dentition; community/clinic; studies from Japan, Finland, USA, Sweden and Singapore · Sample: plaque
OR 5.16 [2.99, 8.91]
5 studies · 736 participants
GRADE not reported
Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and meta-analysis. 2023 All outcomes6 months to 3.5 years · Caries-free preschool children (<6 y), primary dentition; community/clinic; studies from Japan, Finland, USA, Sweden and Singapore · Sample: saliva
OR 3.92 [3.20, 4.80]
9 studies · 2577 participants
GRADE not reported
Show 7 more findings
Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and meta-analysis. 2023 All outcomes1 year · Caries-free preschool children (<6 y), primary dentition; community/clinic; studies from Japan, Finland, USA, Sweden and Singapore · Follow-up: 1 year
OR 4.37 [3.50, 5.45]
4 studies · 2016 participants
GRADE not reported
Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and meta-analysis. 2023 All outcomes2.7 years (31 months median) · Caries-free preschool children (<6 y), primary dentition; community/clinic; studies from Japan, Finland, USA, Sweden and Singapore · Follow-up: 2.7 years (31 months median)
OR 33.00 [3.18, 342.26]
1 study · 28 participants
GRADE not reported
Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and meta-analysis. 2023 All outcomes2 years · Caries-free preschool children (<6 y), primary dentition; community/clinic; studies from Japan, Finland, USA, Sweden and Singapore · Follow-up: 2 years
OR 2.53 [1.22, 5.23]
4 studies · 297 participants
GRADE not reported
Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and meta-analysis. 2023 All outcomes6 months to 3.5 years · Caries-free preschool children (<6 y), primary dentition; community/clinic; studies from Japan, Finland, USA, Sweden and Singapore · Microbiological assessment: quantitative (culture/CFU counting)
OR 3.82 [2.01, 7.26]
6 studies · 732 participants
GRADE not reported
Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and meta-analysis. 2023 All outcomes3.5 years (42 months) · Caries-free preschool children (<6 y), primary dentition; community/clinic; studies from Japan, Finland, USA, Sweden and Singapore · Follow-up: 3.5 years (42 months)
OR 4.23 [2.49, 7.18]
1 study · 366 participants
GRADE not reported
Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and meta-analysis. 2023 All outcomes6 months · Caries-free preschool children (<6 y), primary dentition; community/clinic; studies from Japan, Finland, USA, Sweden and Singapore · Follow-up: 6 months
OR 4.65 [2.01, 10.76]
2 studies · 303 participants
GRADE not reported
Is Mutans Streptococci count a risk predictor of Early Childhood Caries? A systematic review and meta-analysis. 2023 All outcomes6 months to 3.5 years · Caries-free preschool children (<6 y), primary dentition; community/clinic; studies from Japan, Finland, USA, Sweden and Singapore · Microbiological assessment: semi-quantitative (Dentocult/commercial kit)
OR 4.36 [3.53, 5.39]
6 studies · 2278 participants
GRADE not reported
Body‐mass index z score (zBMI) · Children aged 1–6 years
The review reported lower body mass index-for-age z scores in children with mouth pain.
1 finding from 1 review
Body‐mass index z score (zBMI) · Children aged 1–6 years
The review reported lower body mass index-for-age z scores in children with pulp-involved caries.
1 finding from 1 review
Change in height-for-age z score · Preschool children (<6 years)
The review reported an unadjusted negative association between baseline caries and change in height-for-age z score.
1 finding from 1 review
Mean weight‐for‐age z‐score · Children aged 1–6 years
The review reported lower weight-for-age z scores in children with pulp-involved caries.
1 finding from 1 review