Serum 25(OH)D Levels and Dental Caries Experience in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

PURPOSE: The relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and dental caries in children remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between current serum 25(OH)D levels and dental caries experience in children.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included children aged 3 to 15 years without systemic disease who presented to the Department of Pediatrics, Ordu University Training and Research Hospital, Ordu, Turkey, between November and December 2023. Serum 25(OH)D levels obtained from routine blood tests and intraoral examinations performed on the same day were evaluated retrospectively. Dental caries experience was assessed using dmft and DMFT indices according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and caries experience.

RESULTS

A total of 326 children were included (172 girls, 52.8%; 154 boys, 47.2%). The mean serum 25(OH)D level was 50.08 ± 16.68 nmol/l, and the mean combined caries index (decayed, missing, and filled primary teeth [dmft] and decayed, missing, and filled permanent teeth [DMFT]) was 3.66 ± 3.44. No statistically significant relationship was observed between serum 25(OH)D levels and caries experience (P > 0.05). Girls had statistically significantly lower serum 25(OH)D levels than boys (46.03 ± 15.21 nmol/l vs. 54.63 ± 17.10 nmol/l, P 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Within the limitations of this cross-sectional study, no statistically significantly relationship was found between current serum 25(OH)D levels and dental caries experience in children. Further longitudinal studies with comprehensive assessment of potential confounding factors are needed to better clarify this relationship.