Methods for prevention of early childhood caries: Overview of systematic reviews

Abstract

Early childhood caries (ECC) is a global problem, disproportionately affecting disadvantaged populations. The aim of this study was to evaluate systematically the available scientific evidence on the effectiveness of methods for ECC prevention. Six electronic databases were searched. Two independent reviewers selected the publications and analysed the quality of the included systematic reviews. Thirteen studies were included. Overall, eight reviews were classified with methodological quality critically low using the AMSTAR 2, whereas five reviews achieved a high risk of bias using the ROBIS tool. The methods identified that were positively related to the prevention of ECC were as follows: preventive dental programmes for pregnant women; advice on diet and feeding; prenatal oral health care; integration of maternal and children's oral health promotion into nursing practice; maternal oral health programmes undertaken by non‐dental health professionals; dental health education in combination with the use of fluoride for children; early preventive dental visits; and the use of fluoride varnish and toothpastes with more than 1000 ppm of fluoride. The currently available evidence supporting the effectiveness of methods for prevention of ECC, although suggesting some methods of greater potential, is still lacking due to the methodological quality of the systematic reviews and the included primary studies.

Parents’ Willingness to Invest in Primary Oral Health Prevention for Their Preschool Children

“…As a result, this group of children does not receive individual primary prevention and have an increased chance to visit a dentist only when caries or pain occurs. A systematic review of Soares et al [ 15 ] and Riggs et al [ 16 ] emphasise the increasing amount of evidence that an early visit to an oral healthcare professional is beneficial for children’s oral health. In January 2021, a renewed clinical practice guideline on preventing dental caries in children was introduced in the Netherlands, requiring primary care providers at well-baby clinics to refer children to oral healthcare professionals around the first tooth’s eruption [ 20 ].…”

“…Only one UK study performed a public preference survey that included the WTP of preschool children’s parents and found that parents’ valuation for dental caries prevention was higher if it concerned permanent teeth compared to primary teeth [ 13 ]. With the growing amount and quality of evidence for beneficial effects of starting oral health prevention early in life, preferably around first tooth eruption [ 14 , 15 , 16 ], it is interesting to investigate WTP and WTIT for primary prevention among parents of preschool children. Therefore, this study aims to explore the WTP and WTIT for primary prevention in parents of preschool children and to describe whether these are related to the parents’ demographic and socio-economic characteristics and behavioural attributes.…”

Oral Health Related Behaviors in Relation to DMFT Indexes of Teenagers in an Urban Area of North-West Poland—Dental Caries Is Still a Common Problem

“…Modern preventive programs are directed at children and adolescents and focus on the formation of correct eating habits, including the limitation of sugar consumption together with the promotion of anti-plaque cleaning activities. The most important are regular tooth brushing with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning the proximal surfaces of the teeth [10,11].…”

Pre-schoolers’ tooth brushing behaviour and association with their oral health: a cross sectional study

“…When compared to our study, the use of fluoridated toothpaste among preschoolers, was reportedly more in Trinidad (80%) [ 34 ], and less in Hispanics (71%) [ 35 ]. Higher fluoride containing toothpaste (F > 1000 ppm) had a significant effect on dental caries status and plaque score change in the present study [ 36 ]. This may also explain why children in our study using full-length toothpaste had lesser dental caries.…”