Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

7 questions · 25 findings · 3 reviews · Dental caries

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No studies found 0 · 0%GRADE not reported 25 · 100%Very low 0 · 0%Low 0 · 0%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%

Higher dental caries experience vs Caries-free controls

Poor oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) · Children aged 3-12 years

Higher dental caries experience was associated with substantially higher odds of poor OHRQoL (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.43-1.88; 6 studies; high heterogeneity I2=83.5%; ungraded).

1 finding from 1 review

The Association of Oral Health Status, demographic characteristics and socioeconomic determinants with Oral… 2020 All outcomes
Upper-middle-income countries (5 studies) and one high-income country; studies 2011-2017
OR 1.66 [1.43, 1.88]
6 studies
GRADE not reported

Higher per-capita expenditure on dental health care vs Lower per-capita expenditure on dental health care (USD bands: $0-50 / $51-100 / >$100)

Caries experience (mean DMFT) · 12-year-old children across European countries (national/regional epidemiological surveys, 2011-2022)

Countries with higher per-capita dental expenditure had lower mean DMFT (>$100: 0.96; $51-100: 2.14; $0-50: 3.06) (Figure 4); not GRADE-rated.

3 findings from 1 review

Caries status in 12-year-old children, geographical location and socioeconomic conditions across European countries: A… 2025 All outcomes
Cross-sectional (survey data 2011-2022) · European countries stratified by OECD per-capita dental health-care expenditure (USD); test of group differences Q_b(2)=30.51, p<0.01; expenditure-stratified overall pooled DMFT 2.10 (95% CI 1.61-2.59), 32 countries · $0-50 per capita
MEAN 3.06 [2.32, 3.79]
14 studies
GRADE not reported
Caries status in 12-year-old children, geographical location and socioeconomic conditions across European countries: A… 2025 All outcomes
Cross-sectional (survey data 2011-2022) · European countries stratified by OECD per-capita dental health-care expenditure (USD); test of group differences Q_b(2)=30.51, p<0.01; expenditure-stratified overall pooled DMFT 2.10 (95% CI 1.61-2.59), 32 countries · >$100 per capita
MEAN 0.96 [0.64, 1.28]
12 studies
GRADE not reported
Caries status in 12-year-old children, geographical location and socioeconomic conditions across European countries: A… 2025 All outcomes
Cross-sectional (survey data 2011-2022) · European countries stratified by OECD per-capita dental health-care expenditure (USD); test of group differences Q_b(2)=30.51, p<0.01; expenditure-stratified overall pooled DMFT 2.10 (95% CI 1.61-2.59), 32 countries · $51-100 per capita
MEAN 2.14 [1.40, 2.89]
6 studies
GRADE not reported

Populations in countries with a lower Human Development Index (high category, HDI <0.800) vs Populations in countries with a higher Human Development Index (very high, HDI >=0.800)

Caries experience (mean DMFT) · Adults aged 19-60 years

Pooled caries experience (DMFT) was similar in very-high-HDI and high-HDI countries, and meta-regression found no significant association between national HDI and DMFT; ungraded observational evidence with very high heterogeneity.

3 findings from 1 review

Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review and… 2018 All outcomes
Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016) · Very high HDI (>=0.800)
MEAN 11.91 [10.20, 13.63]
19 studies
GRADE not reported
Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review and… 2018 All outcomes
Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016) · Overall (very high + high HDI)
MEAN 11.49 [9.96, 13.03]
25 studies
GRADE not reported
Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review and… 2018 All outcomes
Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016) · High HDI (<0.800)
MEAN 10.01 [5.34, 14.69]
6 studies
GRADE not reported

Populations with low socioeconomic status (>=22.4% of the population with low SES) vs Populations with higher socioeconomic status (<22.4% of the population with low SES)

Caries experience (mean DMFT) · Adults aged 19-60 years

Populations with a higher proportion of people with low socioeconomic status had higher caries experience (pooled DMFT 15.99 vs 5.50), and meta-regression associated low SES with higher DMFT (about 10.35 more DMFT per unit; p=0.050); ungraded observational evidence.

5 findings from 1 review

Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review and… 2018 All outcomes
Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016) · Low SES (>=22.4% with low SES)
MEAN 15.99 [14.35, 17.63]
4 studies
GRADE not reported
Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review and… 2018 All outcomes
Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016) · Unadjusted model
Meta-regression coefficient 10.49365
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review and… 2018 All outcomes
Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016) · Overall
MEAN 11.49 [7.50, 15.48]
7 studies
GRADE not reported

Show 2 more findings

Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review and… 2018 All outcomes
Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016) · Higher SES (<22.4% with low SES)
MEAN 5.50 [-1.04, 12.03]
3 studies
GRADE not reported
Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review and… 2018 All outcomes
Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016) · Adjusted (Model 2)
Meta-regression coefficient 10.35391
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported

Populations with a lower proportion of university-educated people (<33.78% with university level) vs Populations with a higher proportion of university-educated people (>=33.78% with university level)

Caries experience (mean DMFT) · Adults aged 19-60 years

The proportion of university-educated people was not associated with caries experience (DMFT); pooled DMFT was similar across subgroups and the meta-regression was non-significant; ungraded observational evidence.

5 findings from 1 review

Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review and… 2018 All outcomes
Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016) · High university (>=33.78%)
MEAN 10.91 [7.95, 13.87]
9 studies
GRADE not reported
Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review and… 2018 All outcomes
Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016) · Low university (<33.78%)
MEAN 10.62 [7.30, 13.93]
9 studies
GRADE not reported
Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review and… 2018 All outcomes
Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016) · Adjusted (Model 1)
Meta-regression coefficient -4.132903
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported

Show 2 more findings

Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review and… 2018 All outcomes
Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016) · Overall
MEAN 10.78 [8.77, 12.79]
18 studies
GRADE not reported
Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review and… 2018 All outcomes
Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016) · Unadjusted model
Meta-regression coefficient -0.3066788
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported

HDI (quantitative) vs Populations in countries with a higher Human Development Index (very high, HDI >=0.800)

Caries experience (mean DMFT) · Adults aged 19-60 years

3 findings from 1 review

Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review and… 2018 All outcomes
Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016) · Adjusted (Model 1)
Meta-regression coefficient -42.94101
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review and… 2018 All outcomes
Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016) · Unadjusted model
Meta-regression coefficient 20.17878
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review and… 2018 All outcomes
Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016) · Adjusted (Model 2)
Meta-regression coefficient 6.901906
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported

Populations with a low level of schooling (>=33.60% of the population with low schooling) vs Populations with a higher level of schooling (<33.60% of the population with low schooling)

Caries experience (mean DMFT) · Adults aged 19-60 years

Population level of schooling was not significantly associated with caries experience (DMFT) in subgroup meta-analysis or meta-regression; ungraded observational evidence with very high heterogeneity.

5 findings from 1 review

Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review and… 2018 All outcomes
Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016) · Unadjusted model
Meta-regression coefficient -2.301079
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review and… 2018 All outcomes
Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016) · Low schooling (>=33.60% with low schooling)
MEAN 9.63 [4.38, 14.89]
5 studies
GRADE not reported
Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review and… 2018 All outcomes
Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016) · Overall
MEAN 10.87 [7.53, 14.20]
11 studies
GRADE not reported

Show 2 more findings

Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review and… 2018 All outcomes
Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016) · Adjusted (Model 1)
Meta-regression coefficient 7.205453
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported
Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review and… 2018 All outcomes
Population/community-based studies of adults aged 19-60 years across multiple countries (studies published 1975-2016) · Higher schooling (<33.60% with low schooling)
MEAN 11.95 [7.26, 16.64]
6 studies
GRADE not reported