Stages, risk factors and prevention of early childhood caries (original) (raw)
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Early Childhood Caries: Epidemiology, Aetiology, and Prevention
International Journal of Dentistry, 2018
Early childhood caries (ECC) is one of the most prevalent diseases in children worldwide. ECC is driven by a dysbiotic state of oral microorganisms mainly caused by a sugar-rich diet. Additionally, poor oral hygiene or insufficient dental plaque removal leads to the rapid progression of ECC. ECC leads not only to dental destruction and pain with children, but also affects the quality of life of the caregivers. Children with extensive ECC are at high risk to develop caries with the permanent dentition or will have other problems with speaking and/or eating. To prevent ECC, several strategies should be taken into account. Children should brush their teeth with toothpastes containing gentle ingredients, such as mild surfactants and agents showing antiadherent properties regarding oral microorganisms. Parents/caregivers have to help their children with brushing the teeth. Furthermore, remineralizing and nontoxic agents should be included into the toothpaste formulation. Two promising bi...
Early Childhood Caries: A Preventable Disease
Dentistry - Open Journal, 2015
Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a preventable chronic disease which affects infants and children worldwide. The early detection of ECC can reduce pain, life threatening conditions and helps in the growth and the overall development of the child. The risk factors of ECC include: Mutant Streptococci (MS), dietary and feeding habits, socioeconomic and environmental factors, systemic diseases and certain medications. The aim of this paper is to systematically review the global burden of ECC, contributing risk factors, preventive and treatment strategies. The literature search was based on published systematic reviews which were focused on diseases burden; heterogeneity of research studies on this subject did not allow a meta-analysis.
Prioritizing the Risk Factors of Severe Early Childhood Caries
Dentistry Journal, 2017
Severe early childhood caries remains the most common chronic disease affecting children. The multifactorial etiology of caries has established a controversy about which risk factors were more significant to its development. Therefore, our study aimed through meticulous statistical analysis to arrange the "well agreed upon" common risk factors in order of significance, to aid the clinician in tailoring an adequate preventive program. The study prioritized or reshuffled the risk factors contributing to severe early childhood caries and placed them in the order of their significance as follows: snacking of sugary food several times a day, increased number of siblings to three or more, night feeding, child self-employed brushing, mother's caries experience, two siblings, on demand feeding, once/day sugary food, sharing utensils, one sibling, male gender, father's education, late first dental visit, brushing time, mother's education, no dental visit, decreased brushing frequency, and no night brushing.
Early childhood caries- Etiology, prevention and management: A Review
Archives of Dental Research
Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a severe debilitating disease affecting the primary dentition of young children in both developing and industrialized countries. Historically, the management of ECC has a global scenario showing operative management of the disease. The contemporary method of preventing the carious process mainly focuses on dietary factors, host factors and removal of plaque biofilm. Enamel demineralization is caused by acidogenic and aciduric bacteria. Colonization of microorganisms in the mouth of children can occur via horizontal or vertical transmission or both. The bacteria present in dental plaque metabolize sugars and starches to produce acids, which lowers the pH in the mouth and promotes loss of minerals from the tooth surface. Sucrose is the most common sugar and when metabolized, produces dextrans which promote superior bacterial adhesion to teeth. Visible plaque on the labial surfaces of the maxillary incisors were strongly associated with the caries develo...
Reshuffling the Risk Factors of Severe Early Childhood Caries
2016
Severe early childhood caries remains the most common chronic disease affecting children. Its multifactorial etiology has established a controversy about which risk factors were more significant to its development. Therefore our study aimed through meticulous statistical analysis to arrange the “well agreed upon” common risk factors in order of significance, to aid the clinician in tailoring an adequate preventive program for this affected age group. The study reshuffled the risk factors contributing to severe early childhood caries and placed them in the order of their significance as follows: snacking of sugary food several times a day, increased number of siblings to 3 or more, night feeding, child self-employed brushing, mother caries experience, 2 siblings, on demand feeding, once/day sugary food, sharing utensils, 1 Sibling, male gender, father’s education, late first child dental visit, brushing time, mother’s education, no dental visit, decreased brus...
Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry, 2016
Objectives: The present study evaluated associated factors for developing early childhood caries (ECC) and Severe-ECC (S-ECC) in a group of children aged 24–71 months. Potential positive effects of early dental visit on formation of ECC is investigated as well. Study Design: This was a multicenter, cross-sectional study conducted at three governmental and university pediatric dentistry clinics in 408 preschool children who were randomly selected from a total of 4116 children. The questionnaires administered to the mothers by interview and intraoral examination performed by calibrated pediatric dentists. The children were evaluated in three groups according to their caries experience as who had caries free, ECC and S-ECC. Results: The following factors were significantly associated with caries formation: 1. Prolonged (i.e., >18 months) breastfeeding in preterm babies (OR=2.4) 2. Prolonged breastfeeding in children who started tooth brushing after 1.5 years of age (OR=3.7), 3. Suga...
Risk Factors for Early Childhood Caries in Toddlers: An Institution-based Study
Cureus, 2020
Background Tooth decay experience among toddlers and preschoolers is of epidemic proportions worldwide and dental caries still remains an important childhood disease affecting a considerable part of this population. Though the prevalence of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is associated with several risk factors such as feeding and oral hygiene practices, Streptococcus mutans levels, socioeconomic status (SES), etc., it is suggested that these factors should be studied adequately to aid in the early prevention and management of ECC. Objective The objectives of the study were to: a) evaluate the distribution of ECC, b) study the role of SES in the occurrence of ECC, c) record the variations in feeding and dietary practices along with oral hygiene practices and d) Correlate the sweet score with ECC.
Introduction to the Early Childhood Caries Conference: initial description and current understanding
Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 1998
land. Early childhood caries (ECC) is of epidemic proportions in some US minority populations and in many developing countries. However, the inadequate information and research on dental caries in infants and toddlers appears to have fostered acceptance of some incorrect assumptions regarding its etiology and prevention. To reexamine the current knowledge of ECC, leaders in this field have critically reviewed the biological and psychosocial mechanisms, public health implications, prevention, research and policy needs. An additional goal of the conference was to convey the health implications and societal costs of this highly prevalent childhood disease to the public, health care providers and policy-makers.
Pattern and severity of early childhood caries
Community dentistry and oral …, 2006
Background: This survey was intended to investigate prevalence and severity of early childhood caries (ECC) in a sample of children in Southern Italy and to identify factors that may be related to this condition. Methods: The study was designed as a cross-sectional survey. The study population (children aged 36-71 months) attending thirteen kindergartens was randomly selected through a two-stage cluster sampling procedure. Parents/guardians of all eligible children were invited to participate filling out a structured self-administered questionnaire, and after having returned the informed consent form an oral examination of the child was performed at school. The questionnaire included information on: socio-demographics about parents/guardians and child, pregnancy and newborn characteristics, oral hygiene habits of child, eating habits particularly on consumption of sweets, access to dental services, and infant feeding practices. The WHO caries diagnostic criteria for deciduous decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft) and surfaces (dmfs) were used to record ECC and severe-ECC (S-ECC). Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate statistical associations of social demographics, infant feeding practices, oral hygiene habits, and access to dental services to ECC, S-ECC, dmft and dmfs. Results: 515 children participated in the study. 19% had experienced ECC, and 2.7% S-ECC, with a mean dmft and dmfs scores of 0.51 and 0.99, respectively. Mean dmft was 2.68 in ECC subjects, and 6.86 in S-ECC subjects. Statistical analysis showed that prevalence of ECC significantly increased with age (OR = 1.95; 95% CI = 1.3-2.91) and duration of breastfeeding (OR = 1.26; 95% CI = 1.01-1.57), whereas it was significantly lower in children of more educated mothers (OR = 0.64; 95% CI = 0.42-0.96), and higher in those who had been visited by a dentist in the previous year (OR = 3.29; 95% CI = 1.72-6.33). Conclusions: Results of our study demonstrate that even in Western countries ECC and S-ECC represent a significant burden in preschool children, particularly in those disadvantaged, and that most of the known modifiable associated factors regarding feeding practices and oral hygiene are still very spread in the population.
International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry
Background: This paper is a summary of the proceedings of the International Association of Paediatric Dentistry Bangkok Conference on early childhood caries (ECC) held in 3-4 November 2018. Aim: The paper aims to convey a global perspective of ECC definitions, aetiology, risk factors, societal costs, management, educational curriculum, and policy. Design: This global perspective on ECC is the compilation of the state of science, current concepts, and literature regarding ECC from worldwide experts on ECC. Results: Early childhood caries is related to frequent sugar consumption in an environment of enamel adherent, acid-producing bacteria in a complex biofilm, as well as developmental defects of enamel. The seriousness, societal costs, and impact on quality of life of dental caries in preschool children are enormous. Worldwide data show that ECC continues to be highly prevalent, yet infrequently treated. Approaches to reduce the prevalence include interventions that start in the first year of a child's life, evidence-based and risk-based management, and reimbursement systems that foster preventive care. Conclusions: This global perspective on ECC epidemiology, aetiology, risk assessment, global impact, and management is aimed to foster improved worldwide understanding and management of ECC.