Prevalence of root caries in Indian population – a systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim To evaluate the pooled prevalence of root caries among Indian population through systematic review and meta-analysis. Materials and methods The study protocol adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022367365). Research articles published in English language till July 2022 were evaluated with the use of databases like PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Cochrane, and Scopus and employed standard Boolean operators. Results The search turned up a total of 194 articles; however, only 14 of those matched the requirements for inclusion and were used to compile the meta-analysis. MedCalc ® Statistical Software version 20.2 was used to determine the pooled estimates. Using the random effect model, the analysis was carried out. By estimating the heterogeneity using Higgins’ I 2 statistics, the extent and importance of differences between the chosen studies were ascertained. Publication bias was assessed using the funnel plot and Egger’s test. The random effects model yielded a pooled prevalence of 27.617 (95% CI = 17.422–39.154). Conclusion Three out of ten persons in India may be affected by root caries, which is a serious health issue. To enhance the quality of life for the aged population, oral health policies and preventive actions should concentrate on this issue.