Gender Differences in Dentistry: A Systematic Review of Caries and Periodontitis

Since the 1980s, the World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized the need to explore sex differences across all medical fields. Despite this, the field of gender dentistry continues to suffer from a paucity of comprehensive, evidence-based data, particularly in areas of prevention and treatment. This study aims to systematically review the existing literature on gender differences in dentistry, focusing on periodontal disease and tooth decay, utilizing leading medical databases such as Medline, Embase, BIOSIS Previews, Your Journals@Ovid, and The Cochrane Library. Our findings reveal inconsistent results regarding periodontal disease, with some studies indicating no gender difference, while others show varying prevalence rates between men and women. Similarly, juvenile periodontitis and the bacteria associated with periodontitis yield conflicting data. Tooth decay studies primarily highlight age as a significant factor, but do not provide clear gender-specific insights. The scientific credibility of some studies is questionable due to small sample sizes and outdated data. For effective gender-specific dental treatments, future research must prioritize and critically evaluate gender-related aspects.