IADR Abstract Archives
Adverse Birth Outcomes and Dental Caries -a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Objectives: Studies on the association between adverse birth outcomes and dental caries in children have shown conflicting results, so the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the association between adverse birth outcomes and dental caries in children.
Methods: We systematically searched articles in four electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase) published prior to November 2019. The odds ratio (OR) (or converted OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were processed. Random effects model was used for this meta-analysis.
Results: A total of twenty-five observational studies met the inclusion criteria and twenty-four for meta-analysis. The pooled estimates indicated that children exposed to LBW/PTB did not experience higher primary dental caries than normal birth weight/full-term birth. Subgroup analyses showed that children with LBW (OR: 1.32, 95%CI: 1.02-1.70)/PTB (OR: 1.40, 95%CI: 1.00-1.96) were prone to have dental caries in primary teeth for cross-sectional studies, but no significant differences were found for prospective studies.
Conclusions: In conclusion, this systematic review and meta-analysis suggested that no significant association between LBW/PTB and dental caries in children for primary teeth. No conclusion could be drawed on the association between adverse birth outcomes and dental caries in the permanent dentition because of the limited studies. Further prospective studies should adjust for confounding factors such as age, oral health, and family finances to determine the definitive association between LBW/PTB and dental caries.
Methods: We systematically searched articles in four electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase) published prior to November 2019. The odds ratio (OR) (or converted OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were processed. Random effects model was used for this meta-analysis.
Results: A total of twenty-five observational studies met the inclusion criteria and twenty-four for meta-analysis. The pooled estimates indicated that children exposed to LBW/PTB did not experience higher primary dental caries than normal birth weight/full-term birth. Subgroup analyses showed that children with LBW (OR: 1.32, 95%CI: 1.02-1.70)/PTB (OR: 1.40, 95%CI: 1.00-1.96) were prone to have dental caries in primary teeth for cross-sectional studies, but no significant differences were found for prospective studies.
Conclusions: In conclusion, this systematic review and meta-analysis suggested that no significant association between LBW/PTB and dental caries in children for primary teeth. No conclusion could be drawed on the association between adverse birth outcomes and dental caries in the permanent dentition because of the limited studies. Further prospective studies should adjust for confounding factors such as age, oral health, and family finances to determine the definitive association between LBW/PTB and dental caries.