Abstract
The latest national survey found that 70% of 5-year-old children in China had dental caries. The prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) may not only be attributed to poor oral hygiene and unhealthy diet, but also to limited access to and availability of dental care. The prevailing preventive measures adopted by industrialised countries for ECC management are neither practical nor affordable in China. Hence, an alternative approach to ECC management is necessary. Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) has been advocated because the simple and short operative time renders ART affordable. However, the success rate of ART in restoring anterior primary teeth is unfavourable. Although there is no water fluoridation in China, topical fluorides may be used to manage ECC. Tooth brushing with fluoride toothpaste is effective for caries control, but not all toothpastes in China are fluoridated. Professionally applied fluorides such as sodium fluoride varnish can be a cost-effective treatment for managing the high prevalence of ECC in China. Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) at 38% is suggested to be effective in arresting ECC in China. It can be a simple, non-invasive and low-cost treatment. However, it stains caries black. Children and their parents must be well informed before SDF treatment.
Highlights
Childhood caries (ECC) is the term used to describe the presence of decayed, missing or restored teeth in primary dentition of children younger than 6 years [1]
This study aimed to discuss the management of Early childhood caries (ECC) using atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) to restore the caries and fluoride agents to arrest the caries of children in China
The prevalence and severity of caries among preschool children are high in China
Summary
Childhood caries (ECC) is the term used to describe the presence of decayed, missing or restored teeth in primary dentition of children younger than 6 years [1]. Back in the 1980s, the WHO set a goal that 50% of 5- to 6-year-old children should be caries-free by the year 2000 [3]. A review in 2017 found that caries prevalence and experience were high among preschool children in Southeast Asia [4]. The median caries prevalence was 79% among 5- to 6-year-old children. ECC is prevalent among young children in China
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