Early childhood caries update: A review of causes, diagnoses, and treatments

Abstract

Dental caries (decay) is an international public health challenge, especially amongst young children. Early childhood caries (ECC) is a serious public health problem in both developing and industrialized countries. ECC can begin early in life, progresses rapidly in those who are at high risk, and often goes untreated. Its consequences can affect the immediate and long-term quality of life of the child's family and can have significant social and economic consequences beyond the immediate family as well. ECC can be a particularly virulent form of caries, beginning soon after dental eruption, developing on smooth surfaces, progressing rapidly, and having a lasting detrimental impact on the dentition. Children experiencing caries as infants or toddlers have a much greater probability of subsequent caries in both the primary and permanent dentitions. The relationship between breastfeeding and ECC is likely to be complex and confounded by many biological variables, such as mutans streptococci, enamel hypoplasia, intake of sugars, as well as social variables, such as parental education and socioeconomic status, which may affect oral health. Unlike other infectious diseases, tooth decay is not self-limiting. Decayed teeth require professional treatment to remove infection and restore tooth function. In this review, we give detailed information about ECC, from its diagnosis to management.

Recruitment for Health Disparities Preventive Intervention Trials: The Early Childhood Caries Collaborating Centers

“…Children who have early childhood caries may experience pain, difficulty chewing, problems sleeping, trouble concentrating, missed school days, fatigue, irritability, depressive symptoms, behavioral issues, reduced self-esteem, and even reluctance to smile or laugh (5,6). Early childhood caries can also cause early tooth loss, which may affect speech development, nutrition, and permanent tooth eruption patterns (7). …”

Scardovia wiggsiae and its potential role as a caries pathogen

“…A higher prevalence was observed for 3-year-olds, which ranged from 36 to 85% in the Asian countries of Taiwan, the Philippines and Korea [3]. Caries results from bacterial acid-induced demineralization of tooth enamel and dentin following ingestion of dietary fermentable carbohydrates.…”

Immediate Postoperative Pain and Recovery Time after Pulpotomy Performed under General Anaesthesia in Young Children

“…Young children who are frequently exposed to sugary liquids, poor oral hygiene, breast feeding, fruit juices, and other sweet liquids for long periods are particularly at risk of suffering from extensive caries. Children with untreated caries may experience infection, pain, disturbed sleep, speech and communication problems, and inability to eat leading to weight loss [1]. …”