Table 3.

Summary characteristics table of quantitative studies.

First Author, Pub. Year (Ref.)	Study Population (Which Countries Included as South Asian)	The Country the Study Was Conducted in (South Asians Were Migrants or Ethnic Group Within This Region, State or Country) and Period of Data Collection	Number of Adults in the Sample. Stratified by South Asian Region and Age Group	Survey Instrument	Aim of the Study	The Outcome That the Study Was Assessing and Whether They Stratified by Asian Status	Brief Description of Differences of What They Found Between the South Asian Groups Studied
Arora 2017 [8]	Out of five groups, they included Indian and combined Pakistani/Bangladeshi as two groups as South Asians	UK, study conducted in 2009 to 2010	N = 10,435 total N = 272 Indians N = 165 Pakistani/Bangladeshi Age group > 16	Validated instrument Adult Dental Health Survey (ADHS)	To examine oral health differences among different ethnic groups. Really trying to ascertain whether the lifestyle factors and use of dental services contribute to the oral health disparities.	They conducted a logistic regression analysis of clinical outcomes. They presented descriptive tables on behaviors such as frequency of teeth cleaning, visits to dentist, and use of dental hygiene products by various ethnic groups. They also depicted the differences in the perception of oral health among different ethnic groups.	South Asians were less likely to consume sweets, cakes, and fizzy drinks but more likely to add sugar to hot drinks and this pattern was similar among all South Asian subgroups. A higher proportion (71.5%) of Pakistanis/Bangladeshis than Indians (64.2%) reported brushing twice a day. However, 20.4% of Pakistanis/Bangladeshis and 19.4% of Indians visit the dentist only if they have a symptom. Majority of South Asians do not use other oral hygiene products.
Robinson 2000 [13]	Out of seven groups, Pakistani, Indian, and Bangladeshi represented three groups as South Asians	South Thames, UK	N = 1113 total N = 123 Pakistani N = 190 Indian N = 78 Bangladeshi Age group > 16	Questionnaire	To assess the oral health status and its determinants among various ethnic groups.	Descriptive statistics of oral health-related behaviors such as daily cleaning of teeth, the frequency of visit to the dentist, and sugar intake, were stated according to various ethnic groups.	A higher percentage of Indians reported cleaning teeth daily (98.9%) and visiting the dentist annually (99.5%) followed by Bangladeshi and Pakistani. Sugar exposure was almost comparable among all the groups.
Taylor 1983 [20]	Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi as South Asians	Britain	N = 231 total N = 109 adults N = 45 Bangladeshi N = 34 Indian N = 30 Pakistan Age group > 14	Questionnaire	To explore the number of aspects in regard to dental awareness, dietary patterns, and dental care amongst the Asian community.	Descriptive information of the population is provided according to various variables such as dietary patterns, tooth brushing, visits to a dentist, and dental awareness, and tabulated according to the country of origin.	Pakistani and Bangladeshi had high mean sugar intake score. Very few individuals among all the groups reported twice brushing as a habit. Majority of Pakistanis and Indians visited the dentist when in pain.
Qui 2003 [29]	Out of 8 groups, Asian Indians were only representing South Asians	The United States during 1997–2000	N = 110,844 total N = 798 Asian Indians Age group > 18	National Health Interview Surveys (NHISs)	To present the national estimates of dental service utilization by various ethnic groups.	Estimates of dental care utilization were provided for Asians and for Asian Indians. Furthermore, the percentage of Asians who had visited the dentist in the past year by various characteristics was also available, but not stratified for Asian Indians.	Asian Indians (8.1%) had never visited the dentist. Compared to other groups, d Asian Indians were least likely to visit the dentist.
Soh 1992 [30]	Out of three, Indians were only group of South Asians	Singapore	N = 446 total N = 34 Indian Age group > 18	Telephone interview survey	To examine the racial difference in knowledge of preventive measures for oral health and use of the preventive services.	Chi-squared test was used to assess the racial differences for the knowledge and the behaviors of oral health such as tooth brushing, flossing, regular check-up, fluoride, and dental sealants.	Importance of flossing was less evident for Indians (64.7%) compared to other groups. Dental check-ups were considered unnecessary for the majority of Indians (88.9%) with no dental care. All Indians were found to appreciate the benefits of effective brushing and had good knowledge of the role of fluoridated toothpaste in oral health.
Kavathe 2018 [16]	Out of four groups, Indian and Pakistani as South Asians	New York, USA	N = 169 total N = 165 Indian N = 4 Pakistani Age group > 18	A validated survey instrument adapted from the National Health Interview Survey, National Health and Nutrition examination survey, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance system, and New York City Community Health Survey.	To describe how oral health was identified as a priority for Sikh Asian Indian population by the United Sikhs through the community needs and resource assessment (2010) conducted for diabetes prevention. Furthermore, how they used it to develop a curriculum for the population.	Descriptive statistics were provided from community need and resource assessment to form the basis for oral health priority (2010) such as frequency of dental check-ups. Further, results of a descriptive study of oral conditions (2013) such as availability of dental insurance in the population and frequency of visiting the dentist were presented. Results not categorized by the place of birth.	According to community needs and resource assessment (2010), the majority (57%) never had a screening or check-up by the dentist. Descriptive study (2013), higher percentage (80.2%) were without dental insurance, a regular dentist (64.6%) or needed dental care (72.9%).
Jones 1987 [27]	Only Indian as South Asians	England	N = 231 total Age group = 15–59	Structured questionnaire	To determine the oral hygiene practices among migrant Asian females of Indian origin.	Oral hygiene practices such as agents used for tooth cleaning, interdental, mouth, and tongue cleaning were determined and categorized according to age group.	A vast number of females reported the use of toothpaste (68.4%) and a toothbrush (67.5%) with the majority in the age group (20–29 years). Few (17.3%) used their finger and 1.3% used datun. Only 6.9% were found using floss as an interdental aid. Tooth cleaning appeared in only 24.2% of the sample.
Selikowitz 1986 [9]	Only Pakistani as South Asians	Norway, 1982	N = 96 total Age group > 20	Structured questionnaire	To observe the pattern of utilization of dental services among Pakistani migrants with regards to migration variables.	Statistical analysis was employed (Chi-squared test) to investigate the differences in utilization of services by the population according to various variables such as the number of years in Norway, knowledge of causes of oral diseases, and belief about consequences of dental diseases.	Utilization of dental services was observed to be similar among all the age groups. Immigrants who lived in Norway for 1–6 years were found to use more services compared to those with more than 9 years in Norway, but the difference was not statistically significant. Those who believed (55.0%) that dental diseases are dangerous were in the category of high utilization of services compared to those who did not believe (p < 0.05).
Williams 1996 [10]	Only Bangladeshi as South Asians	West Yorkshire, UK	N = 246 total Age group > 25 years.	Interview	To assess the oral health status of Bangladeshi-born women and the relationship with various social, demographic, and behavioral variables.	Comparison of Bangladeshi women socio-demographic variables with oral hygiene practices categorized into traditional (finger, chewing stick, soot, tobacco powder), conventional (toothpaste and toothbrush) and combination category and further with dental visiting habits.	A large number of participants were observed to follow the traditional method of tooth cleaning and never visited a dentist. Years lived in the UK was found to be positively associated with dental attendance but not associated with practices. Traditional methods were more prevalent among the ones who never visited the dentist (p < 0.01).
Ghiabi 2013 [21]	Only Bhutanese as South Asians	Nova Scotia, Canada	N = 96 total N = 41 Bhutanese Age group = 18–67 years.	2008 Canadian Health Measures Survey (oral health module)	To describe the findings of oral health survey among the group of recent migrants and Bhutanese refugees in Canada.	Self-reported oral health, including the frequency of oral care such as tooth brushing, flossing, and dental visits were compared between Bhutanese refugees and other migrants in Canada.	Significant numbers of Bhutanese never floss (95.1%) and visit the dentist only in an emergency (53.7%). None of the refugees had dental insurance, however, a higher proportion was found to brush twice a day.
Cruz 2009 [28]	The only group as South Asians were Indian	New York, 1996–2001	N = 1318 total N = 196 Indian Age group = 18–65 years	Validated structured questionnaire	To ascertain the relationship of oral health of immigrants with various demographic and risk factors.	Descriptive analysis of the study population sub-classified by ethnic group (Asian Indian) presented with regard to frequency of brushing, flossing, visiting a dentist, length of stay in the USA, oral health knowledge, and attitude score.	About 84.7% Asian Indians were described to have dental insurance, daily brushing practice (95.9%), and high knowledge and attitude score (58.7% and 79.1%, respectively). Around 27% visited the dentist once a year.
Kay 1990 [22]	Indian were only group as South Asians	Glasgow, UK	N = 69 total Age group = 18–68 years.	Semi-structured questionnaire	To explore the knowledge, attitude, and behavior with regards to oral health among Asians residing in Glasgow.	Sample assessed for their knowledge (steps to take to reduce caries, deleterious effects of sweets on teeth and related to fluoride), attitude (reasons, cost, and frequency to visit dentist) and behavior (diet, oral hygiene, and dental health).	Harmful effects of sweets were appreciated by 64% of the sample whereas 66% consume the cariogenic diet. Knowledge in relation to fluoride was low (63%) and the population only received fluoride through the paste. All respondents acknowledged the importance of oral health but the majority (48%) mentioned cost as a potential barrier and 44 participants attended the dentist when in trouble. Around 41% of the population was found to brush twice and 68% rinsed their mouth after every meal.