Nationwide Prevalence of Dental Caries in Turkish Children: A Meta-Analysis
<b>Objectives</b>: This meta-analysis aims to estimate the pooled prevalence of dental caries among children in Turkey by synthesizing national evidence from theses and peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2024. <b>Methods</b>: Studies were retrieved from the YÖK...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Children |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/6/777 |
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| Summary: | <b>Objectives</b>: This meta-analysis aims to estimate the pooled prevalence of dental caries among children in Turkey by synthesizing national evidence from theses and peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2024. <b>Methods</b>: Studies were retrieved from the YÖK Thesis Database and Google Scholar using keywords such as ‘Caries Prevalence’ and ‘Primary Tooth.’ PubMed was used to cross-check peer-reviewed articles. A total of 28 studies and 29 data points including 40,244 children aged approximately 2 to 15 years were included. PRISMA guidelines were followed. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I<sup>2</sup> index, and publication bias was evaluated with an Egger’s test and funnel plots. <b>Results</b>: The pooled prevalence of dental caries among Turkish children was 75.6% (95% CI: 70.8–79.8%). Substantial heterogeneity was observed (I<sup>2</sup> = 98.4%), but no significant publication bias was detected. <b>Conclusions</b>: Dental caries remains a significant public health issue among children in Turkey. Targeted preventive measures—such as nationwide dental screenings and school-based fluoride programs—are urgently needed. |
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| ISSN: | 2227-9067 |