Early Childhood Caries: A Preventable Disease

Abstract

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.