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Caries

106 - Association Between Screen Time and Dental Caries in Children

Friday, May 22, 2026
1:20 PM - 1:35 PM PST
Has Audio

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Francis Paoli, DDS (she/her/hers)

    Pediatric Dental Resident
    NYU Langone Dental Medicine, Brooklyn, NY
    Selah, Washington, United States

    • Research Mentor(s)

  • RH

    Rebecka Haats, DDS

    Pediatric Dentist
    NYU Langone Dental Medicine, Brooklyn, NY
    Yakima, Washington, United States

    • Program Director(s)

  • DK

    Daniel J. Kane, DMD, MA

    Program Director
    NYU Langone Dental Medicine, Brooklyn, NY
    Brooklyn, New York, United States

Abstract:

Purpose: This study seeks to examine the relationship between screen time and dental caries in children, responding to the rising prevalence of digital device use and dental caries in pediatric populations. Given that children in the U.S. spend an average of five hours daily on screens, the study will explore whether increased screen time correlates with higher caries incidence.



Methods: A single-site retrospective chart review was conducted of healthy children aged 5 to 14 at the Lincoln Avenue Medical Dental Clinic. The data collected and analyzed included decayed, missing, and filled surfaces (DMFS) scores, age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and daily screen time exposure.



Results: A total of 258 patient records were reviewed, of which 125 (48%) were female and 133 (52%) were male. The median age was 10 years, with a median DMFS score of 30, and the median daily screen time exposure was 2 hours.



Conclusion: Daily screen time exposure was not a significant predictor of DMFS scores in both unadjusted and adjusted models. Additionally, gender and BMI were not significant predictors of DMFS scores. Conversely, age was inversely associated with DMFS scores (−2.9 per year, P < .001), likely reflecting the exfoliation of primary teeth. These findings suggest that a high screen time exposure may not increase the risk of caries risk in this population, although results should be interpreted considering limitations, including reliance on self-reported screen time, and the single-site study setting.