title: Early childhood caries: risk-based disease prevention and management.
abstract: Early childhood caries (ECC), common in preschoolers, can lead to pain and infection if left untreated. Yet, ECC is largely preventable, and if it is identified early and the responsible risk factors are addressed, its progression can be halted or slowed. This article reviews the rationale for a first dental visit by age 1 year, caries risk assessment, and risk-based prevention and management of ECC and discusses strategies for providers to implement these contemporary evidence-based concepts into clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Manwai.ng@childrens.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Man Wai
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chase
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000379:methods*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003792:Dental Records; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000379:methods; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000009:adverse effects; D061345:Early Medical Intervention; D005460:Fluorides, Topical / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000379:methods; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014993:Xylitol / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D005460:Fluorides, Topical; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D014993:Xylitol