Prevalence of gingival and periodontal diseases in Indian children and adolescents: A systematic review

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of gingival and periodontal diseases among Indian children and adolescents under 18 years of age. Methods: A PROSPERO-registered systematic review was conducted using multiple electronic databases and grey literature sources. Screening, data extraction, and quality assessment were independently performed using Joanna Briggs Institute appraisal tools. Results: Fifty-four studies were included. Gingivitis prevalence ranged from 27.3% to 99.6% (median 59%), while periodontitis ranged from 0.4% to 50% (median 3%). Community Periodontal Index and OHI-S were the most frequently used assessment tools. Considerable methodological heterogeneity and risk of bias were observed. Conclusions: Gingival and periodontal diseases are highly prevalent among Indian children, particularly adolescents and rural populations, indicating the need for strengthened preventive public health strategies.