Keyi Zhu, Fei Gao, Junzhu Yue, Miaoxin Yang, Jingyang Wu, Ruyi Zhao, Duo Li
The meta-analysis indicated that the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index for permanent teeth was notably higher in children with T1DM compared to the control group, yielding a pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.19 (95% CI: 0.06-0.31; I2 = 26.6%). However, the MR analysis did not reveal a significant causal relationship between T1DM and the prevalence of dental caries in children and adolescents (OR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.94-1.02, P = 0.308).
INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to examine the relationship between type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and dental caries among children and adolescents through a meta-analysis, and to assess the potential causal link between these conditions using Mendelian randomization (MR) techniques.
METHODS: A comprehensive literature review was carried out to identify relevant studies, and meta-analyses were conducted utilizing Stata statistical software. For the MR analyses, summary-level data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) regarding T1DM and dental caries in childhood and adolescence were gathered.
RESULTS: The meta-analysis indicated that the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index for permanent teeth was notably higher in children with T1DM compared to the control group, yielding a pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.19 (95% CI: 0.06-0.31; I2 = 26.6%). However, the MR analysis did not reveal a significant causal relationship between T1DM and the prevalence of dental caries in children and adolescents (OR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.94-1.02, P = 0.308).
DISCUSSION: While children and adolescents with T1DM are at an elevated risk for dental caries, no statistically significant causal link was observed.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/177851 identifier CRD2020177851.