Early childhood caries prevalence among children with cleft lip and palate at padjadjaran university dental hospital

Abstract

Background: Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) is a congenital abnormality that can be a risk factor for Early Childhood Caries (ECC). ECC is caries that occur in children aged 0-71 months. Poor oral hygiene often found in CL/P patients due to anatomic defects, treatment devices, and surgical scars that can facilitate the colonization of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli as caries-causing bacteria.