Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39849513›Full record

Observational studyBMC oral health2025

Association of self-reported dental caries with sex, lifestyle, and problematic Internet use among elementary school children in Japan.

Masaaki Yamada, Michikazu Sekine, Takashi Tatsuse, Yukiko Yanai

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC oral health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Masaaki YamadaDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Policy, School of Medicine, University of Toyama, Sugitani, Toyama, 2630, Japan. masaakit@med.u-toyama.ac.jp.
Michikazu SekineDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Policy, School of Medicine, University of Toyama, Sugitani, Toyama, 2630, Japan.
Takashi TatsuseDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Policy, School of Medicine, University of Toyama, Sugitani, Toyama, 2630, Japan.
Yukiko YanaiDivision of Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Human Development and Fostering, Meikai University School Dentistry, 1-1 Keyakidai, Sakado, Saitama, 350-0283, Japan.

Funding

JSPS KAKENHI grants JP22K10579
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDental caries is the most prevalent disease in elementary schoolchildren in Japan. Problematic Internet use (PIU) has increased among children; however, its association with caries has rarely been studied. We aimed to explore (1) sex differences in dental caries and (2) the association of dental caries with lifestyle and PIU among elementary school children in Japan.

methodsFrom 110 elementary schools in Toyama Prefecture, 13,413 children in the 4th-6th grades (mean age, 10.5 years) participated in the Toyama Safe Internet Use Project in 2018. We inquired about lifestyle, anthropometric data, family rules for screen time, PIU, and the number of self-reported treated caries. PIU was assessed using the Young's Diagnostic Questionnaire. We defined children having ≥ 3 caries as having multiple caries. Subsequently, a modified Poisson regression analysis was performed.

resultsOverall, 12,146 children (90.7%) were analyzed. The prevalence of multiple caries was 25.7% (24.4% in boys and 27.0% in girls). In the regression analysis, the presence of multiple caries was significantly associated with being a girl(adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) 1.13), being in higher grades (5th grade: aPR 1.13 and 6th grade: aPR 1.14), skipping breakfast (aPR 1.11), having late bedtime (10 to 11 p.m.: aPR 1.17 and ≥ 11 p.m.: aPR 1.23), tooth brushing (once a day: aPR 1.14 and not every day: aPR 1.41), having no family rules (aPR 1.20), and PIU (YDQ score 3-4: aPR 1.17). When stratified by sex, a dose-response relationship was observed between PIU and the presence of multiple caries in boys (YDQ score 3-4: aPR 1.19 and YDQ score ≥ 5: aPR 1.22).

conclusionBeing a girl, having an undesirable lifestyle, and PIU were significantly associated with multiple self-reported caries. In addition to a having a healthy lifestyle, restricting PIU is recommended to prevent caries in children.

Indexed as

Dental CariesInternet Addiction DisorderInternet UseLife StyleChildFemaleHumansJapanMalePrevalenceSelf ReportSex FactorsAddictionCariesDisorderFamily rulesMedia

Identifiers

PMID39849513
PMCPMC11761200

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.