Early Childhood caries

Question 1

Define Early Childhood Caries (ECC)

Answer 1

Presence of 1 or more decayed, missing, or filled tooth due to cavity. (71 months of age or younger.)

Question 2

Discuss the prevalence of ECC in Australia and worldwide

Answer 2

Australia: The prevalence of tooth decay increased with age. Children aged 7–8 and 9–10 were more likely to have experienced decay in their primary teeth (45% and 46%, respectively) than younger children aged 5–6 (34%).
Worldwide: dental caries in primary teeth in children in the world with a sample size of 80,405 was 46.2% (95% CI: 41.6-50.8%), and the prevalence of dental caries in permanent teeth in children in the world with a sample size of 1,454,871 was 53.8% (95% CI

Question 3

Predict the possible oral health implications for the child diagnosed with ECC and S-ECC

Answer 3

Question 4

Describe the role of the Oral Health Therapist, in the prevention of ECC and S-ECC

Answer 4

Question 5

Outline clinical considerations the Oral Health Therapist will consider when managing ECC

Answer 5

Question 6

Identify the clinical signs and symptoms of ECC

Answer 6

Question 7

Identify and discuss alternate treatment options

Answer 7

Question 8

Formulate a preventive home care regimen for the ‘at risk’ patient

Answer 8

Brushing and flossing your child’s teeth daily is important to prevent them from getting tooth decay.
However, managing their diet, especially their snacking habits and how much sugar they consume, is also an important factor in helping to prevent tooth decay.