Aim: To review and update the current knowledge about early childhood caries (ECC) and its etiology, prevalence, risk factors, management, and preventive strategies. Background:Early childhood caries is a disease affecting significantly both well-developed and industrial nations. The ECC can significantly affect the child's quality of life, as it may lead to infection, swelling, pain, and other symptoms. The ECC affects children after eruption of primary teeth until age of around 5 years. Review results:The ECC affects all parts of the tooth including the smooth surface. Upper anterior teeth and primary molars are usually affected. The lower anterior teeth are less likely affected. The risk factors for ECC are diet, bacteria, and host susceptibility. The additional factors, such as presence of enamel defect and the feeding practices also contribute to the initiation and progress of ECC. Conclusion:Dentists must focus on utilizing existing techniques to distinguish indications of right on time and propelled caries and give guidance on the best way to counteract and control caries in children. Approaches should be directed to preventive caries control strategies among children.Clinical significance: Preventing and controlling the development of ECC among children is important to maintain effective eating, speech development, and formation of a positive self-image.

Learning fine motor skills is a pre-requisite for succeeding in dental practice and it is sometimes challenging for dental students. Most of the methods used in the selection process depend on evaluation of intellectual ability or structured interview while manual competence is not. However, no test on aptitude or manual dexterity is used as criteria. Objective:The purpose of the present study intended to evaluate the fine motor skills of beginning dental students which could in turn be used as a method of selection of students for the dental degree admission process. Materials and methods:A study was conducted among 71 second year dental students at College of Dentistry, King Saud University in Riyadh. A test composed of three parts, writing an answer for a question in four lines, drawing a picture of a smile and doing a class 1 amalgam preparation on a plastic molar tooth. The students were evaluated based on their handwriting, basic drawing skills and their skills in performing the tooth preparation by experts in each fields following certain criteria. Results:The results showed a significant correlation between writing and drawing skills and dental skills of the student with p < 0.001. Conclusions:The results of the current study support the use of the writing or drawing test as one of the test used for the applicants for dental school admission. However, the value given to such test in the selection of students needs further investigations and consensus.

The prevalence of use of composite resin to restore primary teeth was higher compared to glass ionomer cements and amalgam whereas a limited use of esthetic pediatric crowns was found among the sample surveyed. Esthetic pediatric crowns were more utilized by male compared to female participants.

Background: Asthma is a long-lasting disease that affects large number of the society and could impact on the oral health leading to increase in the needs of prevention and treatment. Currently, the prevalence of childhood asthma in Saudi Arabia is ranging from 9% to 33%. Objective: the objective was to evaluate dental erosion in control children and those with asthma. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, with a sample of 100 children aged 3–12 years. Equally distribution of subjects was between the asthmatic and non-asthmatic group, at Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University Dental Clinics, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia. The assessment consisted of an oral examination assessing erosive wear according to the American Academy of Pediatrics 2018 guidelines and a questionnaire to the parents/guardians addressing the background details and information about the child asthma. Results: Among 12 (24%) asthmatic children and 9 (18%) non-asthmatic children had dental erosion. In the adjusted analysis, no association was found between asthma and erosion. It has been shown that oral hygiene may have an effect occurrence or severity of erosion; brushing teeth once or more per day appeared to have less incidence of dental erosion compared with those not brushing their teeth regularly. Conclusions: This article provided no additional data than that given earlier, where no correlation was observed between asthma and dental erosion in children aged from 3 to 12 years.

To develop a child centred patient satisfaction questionnaire for use in an Outpatient Paediatric Dental Department.Method: Data from patient satisfaction interviews was used to develop a child satisfaction questionnaire, which was used in two different centres after piloting. Results:The final questionnaire contained 7 questions and a comments section, using writing and facial images used to record children views. The questionnaire was distributed to 203 children; 95% were happy or okay with the waiting area, 69% were happy about seeing the dentist and 77% children were happy overall. Conclusion:Measures of satisfaction of children with regard to dental treatment were very different to those commonly used for adults. Further development and implementation of child satisfaction surveys should be considered.