Association between parental migration and dental caries of 3-12-year-old children in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim: This review sought to examine the prevalence of dental caries in left-behind children (LBC) and explore the association between parental migration and dental caries among children in China. Materials and Methods: Web of Science, PubMed, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Weipu, and Wanfang were searched about the LBC and dental caries in China from 2000 to May 2021. The primary outcome was the prevalence of dental caries in primary and permanent dentition among LBC. The number of children with dental caries among LBC and non-LBC (NLBC) was pooled, and the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the relationship between parental migration and children’s dental caries were determined. Result: These included a total sample of 8275 children aged 3–12 years from a total of 11 studies, of which 4547 were LBC and 3728 were NLBC. The pooled prevalence of dental caries among Chinese LBC aged 3–12 years was 64%. Parental migration was significantly associated with the prevalence of dental caries. LBC has a 1.61 times higher risk of having dental caries than NLBC (95% CI: 1.47–1.77). LBC living in the countryside has a higher prevalence (68%) and higher risk of developing dental caries (OR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.48–1.82) than those living in the city. The prevalence of dental caries is notably elevated among LBC in China. Conclusion: Parental migration stands out as a significant risk factor for dental caries in children aged 3–12 years, particularly in rural or countryside regions. The results call attention to the oral health problems among the LBC.