Is dental caries associated with liver transplantation? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the experience of dental caries in individuals pre- or postliver transplant.

Materials and methods: Searches in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Ovid, and Lilacs from databases' inception date up to April 2020 were undertaken. Gray literature and manual searches were also conducted. Observational studies were eligible. The retrieved references were evaluated by two independent reviewers. Meta-analysis and risk of bias assessment using the University of Adelaide tool were conducted. The strength of the evidence was assessed with GRADE.

Results: The search retrieved 1990 references. Twenty-four cross-sectional studies were included. One subgroup analysis demonstrated no significant difference in the number of teeth with dental caries between pre-liver transplant and healthy individuals (mean difference = 1.65, confidence interval = -0.87 to 4.17). The prevalence of dental caries among pre-liver transplant individuals was 73.82% and in the post-transplant individuals was 72.83%. In the included studies, the main concern regarding risk of bias was the absence of control for confounding variables. The strength of the evidence was very low.

Conclusions: Dental caries may be a relevant issue in pre- and postliver transplant individuals. Oral health counseling should be included in the care of pre- and/or postliver transplant individuals.