Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41595906›Full record

SynthesisInternational journal of environmental research and public health2026

Caries and Socioeconomic Factors in Adults (19-60 Years Old): An Updated Systematic Review of Observational Studies.

Maria Aparecida Gonçalves de Melo Cunha, Alex Junio Silva da Cruz, Carolina Martins-Pfeifer, Simone de Melo Costa, Mauro Henrique Nogueira Guimarães de Abreu

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
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

5 authors.

Maria Aparecida Gonçalves de Melo CunhaGraduate Program in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0002-6488-0516
Alex Junio Silva da CruzGraduate Program in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0003-1905-4124
Carolina Martins-PfeiferCenter for Integrative Global Oral Health, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-9072-3226
Simone de Melo CostaDepartment of Dentistry, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Montes Claros 39401-089, MG, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0002-0266-018X
Mauro Henrique Nogueira Guimarães de AbreuDepartment of Community and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0001-8794-5725

Funding

National Council for Scientific and Technological Development APQ305806/23-8
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Dental caries remains a major global public health problem characterized by pronounced social inequalities. This study aimed to identify, critically appraise, and synthesize the most recent evidence on the relationship between socioeconomic indicators and dental caries among adults aged 19-60 years, providing an updated systematic review that builds upon our previous reviews from 2012 and 2018. Reported following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we conducted a systematic search of eight electronic databases for observational studies published between March 2017 and April 2024 (PROSPERO: CRD42017074434). Two independent reviewers performed study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Due to substantial methodological heterogeneity across the 22 included studies, a narrative synthesis was undertaken. The findings demonstrated a strong inverse association between socioeconomic position and caries experience. Lower income, lower educational attainment, and unemployment or employment in manual/unskilled occupations were associated with a higher overall caries experience. Advanced analytical approaches in recent studies, including life-course, reinforced that education and income are key contributors of these oral health inequalities, with persistent social disadvantage conferring the greatest risk. In conclusion, dental caries in adults aged 19-60 years is a social condition reflecting the cumulative effects of socioeconomic inequality across the life course. Addressing adult dental caries requires integrated approaches that combine clinical prevention with social and public policies aimed at reducing structural inequalities.

Indexed as

Dental CariesSocioeconomic FactorsAdultHumansMiddle AgedObservational Studies as TopicYoung Adultadultscariesepidemiologysocioeconomic status

Identifiers

PMID41595906
PMCPMC12840810

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.