Global trends in incidence of caries in permanent teeth of children aged 5 through 14 years, 1990 through 2019

Abstract

Background: School-aged children are in the stage of permanent tooth eruption to replace primary teeth and this can be reached at a life stage when their health habits are being formed due to a large amount of time in school. However, data on the global trend in incidence of caries in permanent teeth in school-aged children are sparse. This study aimed to assess the trends in incidence of caries in permanent teeth in children aged 5 through 14 years from 1990 through 2019 at the global, regional, and national levels.

Methods: The authors collected data on incidence of caries in permanent teeth in children aged 5 through 14 years from 1990 through 2019 from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) to assess trends at the global, regional, and national levels.

Results: Globally, incident cases of caries in permanent teeth in children aged 5 through 14 years increased by 15.25% from 1990 through 2019, and the incidence rate remained stable during this period, with incidence rates of 34.04% in 1990 and 33.93% in 2019. The incidence rate increased at an average annual percentage change of 0.08% (95% CI, 0.06% to 0.10%) and 0.07% (95% CI, 0.05% to 0.09%) from 1990 through 2019 in low and low-middle sociodemographic index regions, respectively. An increasing trend also was observed in nearly one-half of GBD regions and more than one-half of the world's countries from 1990 through 2019 (P < .05).

Conclusions: Global incidence of caries in permanent teeth remained stable at a high level in children aged 5 through 14 years, but there was a trend toward increasing rates in nearly one-half of sociodemographic index or GBD regions and more than one-half of the world's countries and territories from 1990 through 2019. These findings suggest that caries in permanent teeth is a priority health issue in school-aged children worldwide.

Practical implications: Reducing free sugar intake and implementing school-based effective caries prevention programs, such as school water fluoridation, provision of fluoride tablets at school, and school dental sealant programs, are needed for school-aged children.

Keywords: Children; caries in permanent teeth; incidence; trend.