ArticleBDJ open2026
The relationship between parental mental health and early childhood caries: a meta-analysis and systematic review.
Article in BDJ open, 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.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Early childhood caries in Africa: prevalence, determinants, and implications for oral health promotion-an umbrella review.Frontiers in oral health · 2026Pooled it
- Comments on: "The relationship between parental mental health and early childhood caries: a meta-analysis and systematic review".BDJ open · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesThis study aimed to systematically evaluate the relationship between parental mental health and early childhood caries (ECC), providing scientific basis for researching the etiology and enabling clinical prediction and prevention of ECC. MATERIALS AND
methodsA comprehensive search was conducted across five databases to identify relevant studies published up to October 2025. Eligible studies were those investigating the relationship between parental mental health and ECC. Data extraction and synthesis were performed following PRISMA guidelines using Stata 16.0. Robustness, heterogeneity, certainty of evidence, and publication bias were evaluated.
resultsOut of 2889 studies, 12 were included in the meta-analysis. From 12 included studies, 3 explored parental depression, 7 explored parental dental anxiety, 4 explored parental stress, and 1 explored parental general anxiety disorder. The meta-analysis results showed that parental mental conditions increased the risk of ECC (ECC prevalence rate: OR = 1.54, 95%CI: 1.12-2.12) and (dmft: SMD = 0.19, 95%CI: 0.13-0.26), significantly.The subgroup results showed that parental dental anxiety and depression were both associated with ECC (OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.00-2.51; OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.09-2.04). There was no relationship between parental stress and ECC (OR = 2.19, 95%CI: 0.36-13.20). The meta-analysis results of adjustment ORs about parental stress were similar to the crude ORs (OR = 0.81, 95%CI: 0.58-1.14).
conclusionsThe results indicated a strong association between parental mental conditions and ECC. Furthermore, higher levels of dental anxiety and depression in parents were associated with a higher prevalence of ECC in their children. However, the relationship between psychological stress and ECC was not observed. Results must be interpreted with caution due to the limitations of the evidence base.
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Registered trials
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.