Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40564650›Full record

ArticleChildren (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries in 3- to 6-Year-Old Children in Serbia: A National Pathfinder Study.

Tamara Peric, Evgenija Markovic, Jovan Markovic, Bojan Petrovic, Biljana Kilibarda, Ana Vukovic, Dejan Markovic

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Children (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing 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

6 citing papers in PubMed.

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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

7 authors.

Tamara PericClinic of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0001-8474-1567
Evgenija MarkovicClinic of Orthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
Jovan MarkovicClinic of Orthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0003-0321-6272
Bojan PetrovicDepartment of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Dentistry Clinic of Vojvodina, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0002-3575-3921
Biljana KilibardaInstitute of Public Health of Serbia "Dr. Milan Jovanovic Batut", 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0002-8059-814X
Ana VukovicClinic of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0002-6880-6153
Dejan MarkovicClinic of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.ORCID 0000-0002-4297-6744

Funding

This research was funded by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia document 500-01-49-3/2019-07).
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study aimed to assess dental caries status of 3- to 6-year-old preschool children in the Republic of Serbia. Stratified cluster sampling was implemented. Children were examined in four administrative regions of Serbia. Dental caries indices (decayed, missing, and filled) for deciduous teeth and the first permanent molar were recorded at the tooth level (dmft, DMFT) and surface level (dfs, DFS). In addition to cavitated caries lesions (ICDAS 3-6), visual changes in enamel (ICDAS 1-2) were recorded. This study included 1060 3-year-old and 1820 6-year-old children in Serbia. Fifty-six percent of 3-year-olds and 21% of 6-year-olds were caries-free. The mean dmft was 2.11 ± 3.45 for 3-year-olds and 4.46 ± 3.69 for 6-year-olds. The mean dfs was 2.62 ± 5.56 for 3-year-olds and 6.06 ± 6.33 for 6-year-olds. The decayed component was dominant in dmft/dfs. The prevalence of surfaces with initial lesion was 8% for 3-year-olds and 13% for 6-year-olds. Among children diagnosed with early childhood caries, 54% of 3-year-olds and 37% of 6-year-olds had a severe form. The mean DMFT was 0.15 ± 0.55, with only the first permanent molars being affected. Dental caries remains a significant public dental health issue among preschool children in Serbia. There is a noticeable trend of increasing numbers of decayed teeth as children progress through their preschool years. It is imperative to take corrective action enhance the existing oral health prevention program in Serbia with the aim of achieving better dental health among preschool children.

Indexed as

caries experienceoral healthpreschool childrenSerbia

Identifiers

PMID40564650
PMCPMC12190662

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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.