Caries distribution (individual/tooth/surface level) · European adolescents aged 12–19 years
Caries distribution was skewed at individual, tooth and surface levels and too heterogeneous to meta-analyze (narrative synthesis of 11 studies; not GRADE-rated).
1 finding from 1 review
No meta-analysis possible; caries distribution reported narratively from 11 studies as skewed at individual, tooth and surface levels, changing with age at tooth and surface level (Results – Caries distribution).
11 studies
GRADE not reported
Oral candidiasis prevalence · Children and adolescents (<18 years) living with HIV (CLWH)
Oral candidiasis prevalence did not differ significantly between treatment-naive CLWH and those on monotherapy or dual therapy (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Pulp exposure during caries removal · Patients with carious teeth, affecting any tooth surface(s), in unrestored primary and permanent teeth
Partial caries removal (single stage; residual dentinal caries… probably leads to lower pulp exposure during caries removal compared with complete caries removal (moderate certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Restoration failure · Patients with carious teeth, affecting any tooth surface(s), in unrestored primary and permanent teeth
It is very uncertain whether partial caries removal (single stage; residual dentinal caries… changes failure of restorations compared with complete caries removal (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Signs or symptoms of pulpal disease · Patients with carious teeth, affecting any tooth surface(s), in unrestored primary and permanent teeth
Partial caries removal (single stage; residual dentinal caries… showed no clear difference in signs or symptoms of pulpal disease compared with complete caries removal (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Caries presence in primary teeth · For interventions, pregnant and lactating women; for outcomes, children up to 6 years of age
Breastfeeding promotion and support (e.g. individually tailored… showed no clear difference in caries presence in primary teeth compared with standard care (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Dental caries · For interventions, pregnant and lactating women; for outcomes, children up to 6 years of age
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
2 findings from 1 review
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
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
Caries arrestment at the individual (patient) level · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition)
Pooling two trials, nano-silver fluoride achieved higher individual-level caries arrestment than SDF (OR 0.39 favoring the comparator; ungraded subgroup).
1 finding from 1 review
Caries arrestment at the individual (patient) level · Children and adults without systemic diseases affecting dental health
SDF showed a higher caries-arrestment proportion at the individual level, but the reported difference was not statistically significant.
1 finding from 1 review
Caries arrestment at the individual (patient) level · Children and adults with active dental caries (aged 1-50; mostly preschool/school children with primary dentition)
Pooling two trials, SDF markedly increased individual-level caries arrestment versus placebo (OR 18.10; ungraded subgroup).
1 finding 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
Mean DMFT (decayed, missing, filled permanent teeth) · Individuals of all ages
Individuals with Down syndrome had a lower mean DMFT in permanent teeth than controls (pooled SMD -0.18, 95% CI -0.35 to -0.02; 6 studies; I2=20%); certainty of evidence not graded.
1 finding from 1 review
Dental caries · Individuals of all ages
Individuals with Down syndrome had a lower prevalence of dental caries than those without (pooled OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.57; 2 studies; I2=0%); certainty of evidence not graded.
1 finding from 1 review
Percentage of bleeding on probing (BOP) · Patients with anorexia nervosa aged >=12 years (mean age ~18.4; entirely female in reported data), general community-dwelling population
Anorexia nervosa is associated with significantly increased bleeding on probing versus healthy controls (MD 16.57%, 95% CI 12.89 to 20.25; low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Gingival index (GI) · Individuals assessed for periodontal health (mainly children and adolescents, age >2 years)
Persons with orofacial cleft have a higher gingival index than healthy controls (MD 0.15, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.19; low certainty).
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
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
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