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Meta-Analysis
. 2025 May 2:28:e250018.
doi: 10.1590/1980-549720250018. eCollection 2025.

Impact of dental caries on the quality of life of adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Carlos Roberto Botelho-Filho  1 , Giuliana Martina Bordin  1 , Isabela Cristina Santos Freire de Paula  2 , Jeferson Luis de Oliveira Stroparo  1 , Samantha Schaffer Pugsley Baratto  3 , Pablo Guilherme Caldarelli  1 , Flares Baratto-Filho  4 , Juliana Schaia Rocha  2 , Marilisa Carneiro Leão Gabardo  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Impact of dental caries on the quality of life of adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Carlos Roberto Botelho-Filho et al. Rev Bras Epidemiol. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: To evaluate the impact of dental caries on daily activities, assessed by the Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (OIDP) and Child-OIDP in adolescents.

Methods: Studies published in any language mentioning the relationship between dental caries and OIDP or Child-OIDP were included. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS/BBO, and grey literature were assessed to identify relevant studies published up until March 2024. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool for cross-sectional studies. For the meta-analysis and the leave-one-out sensitivity analysis, the R software was used. The subgroup analysis was conducted considering the version of the tool (OIDP or Child-OIDP) and the outcome (presence or experience of dental caries).

Results: Of the 1,663 studies, 20 were included, all cross-sectional, with 17 of them conducted in schools. A total of 16 studies were considered to have high methodological quality. Individuals in the Child-OIDP and experience of dental caries subgroups showed a worse impact (PR=1.66; 95%CI 1.19-2.31; and PR=1.72; 95%CI 1.23-2.43, respectively). The heterogeneity of the studies was high (I2=97%; T2=0.17; p<0.01), and we did not identify any single study as the main source for this fact in the sensitivity analysis.

Conclusion: Dental caries negatively affect adolescents' daily activities. Despite nonsignificant differences between instruments and dental caries classifications, variations in effect estimates highlight the need for further research. New studies are suggested to confirm these findings, given the high heterogeneity found (PROSPERO CRD42021247951).

Objetivo:: Esta revisão sistemática e metanálise teve como objetivo avaliar o impacto da cárie dentária nas atividades diárias, avaliada pelo Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (OIDP) e Child-OIDP em adolescentes.

Métodos:: Estudos publicados em qualquer idioma mencionando a relação entre cárie dentária e OIDP ou Child-OIDP foram incluídos. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde/Bibliografia Brasileira de Odontologia e literatura cinzenta foram acessadas para identificar estudos relevantes publicados até março de 2024. Estudos que atenderam aos critérios de inclusão foram incluídos. A qualidade dos estudos foi avaliada pela ferramenta do Joanna Briggs Institute para estudos transversais. Para metanálise e análise de sensibilidade leave-one-out, foi utilizado o software R. A análise de subgrupos foi realizada considerando o instrumento (OIDP ou Child-OIDP) e o desfecho (presença ou experiência de cárie dentária).

Resultados:: Dos 1.663 estudos, 20 foram incluídos, todos transversais, sendo 17 realizados em escolas. Dezesseis estudos foram considerados de qualidade metodológica alta. Indivíduos nos subgrupos Child-OIDP e experiência de cárie apresentaram pior impacto (razão de prevalência — RP=1,66; intervalo de confiança de 95% — IC95% 1,19–2,31; e RP=1,72; IC95% 1,23–2,43, respectivamente). A heterogeneidade foi alta (I 2=97%; T2=0,17; p<0,01), e a análise de sensibilidade não identificou nenhum estudo individual como principal fonte disso.

Conclusão:: A cárie dentária afeta negativamente as atividades diárias dos adolescentes. Apesar das diferenças não significativas entre os instrumentos e as classificações de cárie dentária, variações nas estimativas de efeito ressaltaram a necessidade de mais pesquisas. São recomendados novos estudos para confirmar esses achados, considerando a alta heterogeneidade encontrada (PROSPERO CRD42021247951).

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS: nothing to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Flowchart of literature search and selection criteria.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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