A MODERN VIEW ON THE PROBLEM OF DENTAL CARIES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD

Abstract

Because of the rapid development of dental science and modern technologies, World Health Organization (WHO) included dental caries as one of the six modern diseases, prevention of which is the main aspect of nowadays. Initial caries is one of the few diseases that can accompany a person throughout their life, starting from early childhood. Early childhood caries is an international health problem in both developing and industrial countries. The most important aspect is the high prevalence of dental caries in children that makes a necessity to develop and implement, effective modern methods of prevention of this pathology, which would have a positive effect on the dental health of the child, and would ensure a low cost compared to treatment. Given the availability of a number of endogenous and exogenous methods of caries prevention, it remains relevant to improve, further develop and study complex individual treatment and prevention schemes to ensure a high reduction of initial caries. The combination of exogenous and endogenous prophylactic methods would increase the resistance of the oral cavity tissues and whole body to harmful exposure. The prevention of caries in children of young ages is main task of dental caries prevention, especially in children of the risk group, who are exposed by many risk factors that complicates the carious process. This topic is not only about the health of the oral cavity, but also about the health of the child’s entire body. Therefore, it is necessary to develop complexes of individual preventive measures by taking into account general and local risk factors for the occurrence of caries. Key words: caries, prevalence of caries, intensity of caries, measures and means of caries prevention.