Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries in Children of West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, South India: An Epidemiological Study

Prevalence of early childhood caries in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

Early Childhood Caries (ECC) poses a major challenge to young children's oral health worldwide. Therefore, it is of interest to explore the prevalence of early childhood (between 3-6 years) caries in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. An oral examination of 460 children, chosen using a random sampling, revealed a 54.78% prevalence of early childhood caries. Data underscore the need for community-based prevention, public health education targeting parents and caregivers through integrating oral health promotion into primary healthcare to combat early childhood caries effectively in Bhubaneswar.

Managing Early Childhood Caries: A Comparative Review of Preventive and Restorative Approaches

Early childhood caries (ECC), one of the most common health problems among children aged six years and below, is considered present when one or more surfaces of a tooth are decayed, missing, or filled. Not only does ECC cause pain for a long time, but it also has short- and long-term health consequences in children. In order to treat ECC, holistic management that includes preventive, restorative, and prosthetic intervention is necessary. This review, a key aspect of which is preventive strategy, stresses the need to lessen the rate of incidence of such conditions as ECC. In case preventive measures do not work, restorative care is considered. The paper discusses all of the available restoration options for paediatric patients. Furthermore, this review includes a detailed analysis of the different types of crowns used in the treatment of ECC, such as stainless-steel crowns (SSCs), resin-composite crowns, and zirconia crowns, and considers their advantages and disadvantages relevant to clinical practice. Overall, this article calls for a well-rounded approach to treating the child's dental cavity as an emerging progression of ECC. Through this interdisciplinary approach, dentists can significantly enhance oral health among children and help prevent the negative impact of caries on their quality of life.

The prevalence of early childhood caries and treatment needs among children attending Anganwadi centers in Goa state: A cross-sectional survey

CONTEXT

The prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) is widespread, as reported in studies conducted in various states across India. Many children residing in the rural areas attend Anganwadi centers for preprimary education, nourishment, and health care.

AIM

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of ECC among children attending Anganwadi centers in the state of Goa and their treatment needs.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

The study was approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee of Goa Dental College and Hospital. The study was carried out in Anganwadi centers spanning the various districts and talukas of Goa state.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) index was recorded in 3-5-year-old children along with treatment needs as per the modified WHO pro forma.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Statistical software (STATA) for data science by StataCorp LLC (version 17), descriptive statistics, and Chi-square test.

RESULTS

A total of 386 children were examined, out of which 47% had ECC. The prevalence of ECC was highest in Canacona and the least in Tiswadi talukas. The severity and occurrence of ECC were found to the proportional to age. With regard to treatment needs, 8.55% needed restoration of at least one surface, 10.88% needed restoration of 2 or more surfaces, 5.44% required a crown, 11.4% needed pulpal treatment, and 6.74% needed extractions. Within the dmft component, the percentage of decayed teeth was 46.89%, followed by filled (0.52%) and missing (0.52%) teeth.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence and severity of ECC in children attending Anganwadi centers in Goa were found to be large and proportional with increasing age.

Current knowledge about early childhood caries in the gulf cooperation council with worldwide reflection: Scoping review of the scientific literature (2010-2021)

Early childhood caries (ECC) is one of the most prevalent chronic childhood diseases affecting the primary teeth of children younger than 6 years of age. The disease etiology is complex and includes social, biological, and dietary factors. This review aims to explore the knowledge of ECC prevalence globally and locally within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries during the years 2010-2021. Another aim is to explore oral health promotion programs with more focus on the GCC region. A search was conducted in PubMed, Medline, Scopus, the Cochrane Collaboration database, and Google Scholar to identify relevant studies published between 2010 and 2021 using specific keywords. Studies that utilized both the World Health Organization criteria and International Caries Detection and Assessment System for dental caries assessment were included. The included studies indicated considerable variation in the reported prevalence of ECC. While developed countries show low prevalence, countries in the GCC and other Arab countries show a high prevalence of ECC. Many oral health promotion programs were identified globally including oral health education, nutritional programs, the use of fluoride and pit-and-fissure sealants, and inter-professional population-based oral health promotion and prevention programs such as school-based oral health programs, motivational interviewing, and anticipatory guidance. ECC remains a significant problem in many parts of the world including the GCC region. Oral health prevention programs have been established within the GCC region. Nevertheless, the GCC region has some unique characteristics that need to be investigated to contextualize the western model of the dynamics of ECC prevention and promotion programs locally.

Association of Early Childhood Caries and Multiple Variable Factors in 3-6-year-old Children

Introduction

Dental caries is a globally prevailing condition. It is a common finding in all age-groups, whether it is young children or adults. Caries not only affects the oral health of an individual, but also the overall health of the individual.

Aims and Objectives

This article focuses on the association of ECC with BMI, SES status, maternal education, birth order, and number of siblings in age group of 3 to 6 year old children.

Material and methods

The study was planned and conducted in the Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Government College of Dentistry, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India. The study consisted of 200 samples, including both groups. Group I included 100 patients with ECC and group II included 100 patients caries free. Children of age 3-6 years were randomly selected and evaluated for ECC and parameters like weight, height, number of siblings, birth order, SES status, and mothers' education.

Results

Body mass index (BMI) had no significant association with the occurrence of ECC. Statistical significant association was observed between the number of siblings and ECC. The "no caries" was significantly associated with "no sibling" or "one sibling". A significant association between SES status and ECC was observed. The upper and upper middle class had more number of caries free children, whereas the number of participants with ECC was significantly more in the upper lower class. There was a pronounced association between ECC and maternal education.

Conclusion

Researches like these help us to broaden our aspects of understanding that caries is not caused by only one factor but a magnitude of factors. It's prevention should take into consideration not only the dietary habits but also on increasing awareness about importance of oral hygiene and how it can be affected by other social varients.This article focuses on the association of ECC with BMI, SES status, maternal education, birth order, and number of siblings in 3-6-year-old children.

How to cite this article

Sahu P, Agrawal A, Jain D, et al. Association of Early Childhood Caries and Multiple Variable Factors in 3-6-year-old Children. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(1):42-47.

Prevalence of Dental Caries in Children in Mymensingh and Its Associated Risk Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Children suffer from various oral and periodontal diseases. Dental caries is one of the most prevalent oral diseases among children in the world. This study was conducted to identify the prevalence and risk factors of dental caries in children in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 362 pediatric patients who attended the Dental Unit of Mymensingh Medical College from March to September 2019. The sample size was calculated using a statistical formula and the children were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Children and their guardians were interviewed and data were recorded using a structured questionnaire. Risk factors were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Results: The overall prevalence of dental caries was 82.7%. The prevalence of caries was significantly higher in aged children (8–10 years) and also in rural, low-income, and illiterate families. Seven significant risk factors were identified that included residence in the rural area (OR: 7.31 [1.73–30.83]), a parental income of BDT ≤ 20,000 per month (OR: 4.75 [1.49–15.05]), reduced duration (≤1 min) of teeth cleaning (OR: 18.54 [2.05–168.17]), teeth cleaning before breakfast (OR: 93.30 [10.95–795.32]), the spoon-feeding method (OR: 12.57 [2.09–75.61]), long-term (37–48 months) breastfeeding (OR: 212.53 [8.69–5195.25]), and family oral problem (OR: 8.20 [2.57–26.16]). Conclusions: The prevalence of dental caries among the children in Mymensingh is very high and was associated with residence in rural areas, parental income, reduced duration of teeth cleaning, teeth cleaning before breakfast, the spoon-feeding method, long-term breastfeeding, and family oral problems.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for ECC Among Preschool Children from India along with the Need of its Own CRA Tool- A Systematic Review

Introduction

Caries in the deciduous dentition of children under six years of age is termed as early childhood caries (ECC). ECC is prevalent among Indian children and identifying modifiable risk factors is important for prevention. This systematic review was undertaken to describe the burden of ECC in India, its prevalence, associated risk factors along with its repercussions on childhood health.

Materials and Methods

A search was conducted for published Indian studies on ECC through electronic databases and complemented with hand search. The protocol for the present systematic review was registered at PROSPERO (Ref No.CRD42022306234)Care was taken to include studies which could represent all parts of India- Central, North, South, East and West. Included papers were reviewed for prevalence of ECC and reported risk factors.

Results

Overall 37 studies on ECC in India were identified relating to prevalence, 11 reported risk factors and two reported on the association between severe ECC and nutritional health and well-being. The prevalence of ECC in India in these studies varied from16% to 92.2%. This systematic review revealed that ECC is prevalent among Indian children and highlights the need of preventive intervention and early risk assessment by its own caries risk assessment (CRA) tool. Occurrence seems to be firmly connected with age, snacking frequency, feeding and oral hygiene habits and with social determinants of health including parental education level, low socioeconomic status and number of siblings.

Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries and the Related Factors among 3-5- Year-Old Children in Babol, Iran

Statement of the Problem

Regular dental checkups to diagnose early childhood caries (ECC) are critical for maintaining and improving children's oral health and well-being. The prevalence of ECC is important for planning proper oral health programs.

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of ECC and its related factors in children aged 3 to 5 years at Babol, Iran.

Materials and Method

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 280 children aged 3-5 years in the kindergartens of Babol. Children were examined for dental caries according to World Health Organization criteria. The variables such as age, gender, health, nutritional habits, parents' educational level, parents' job status, and level of dental care were recorded in the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using t-test, chi-square and ANOVA and p< 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Average decayed-missing-filled teeth (dmft) were 4.03±3.6 and 73.2% in children with ECC, while 26.8% were caries-free. A significant association was found between age, snack consumption, father's education, mother's job, nocturnal drinking milk, tooth-brushing, and a history of dental check up before age 2 with ECC.

Conclusion

The results of this analysis showed a high prevalence of ECC in Babol. Therefore, educational and interventional programs in prevention and dental health care, especially for mothers, nurses, and teachers of these age groups, should be considered.

Association of Mothers’ Genetic Taste Perception to Eating Habits and Its Influence on Early Childhood Caries in Preschool Children: An Analytical Study

Aims

To examine (1) the association of mothers’ 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) sensitivity with snacking habits and caries experience of both the mother and their 2-5-year-old preschool children and (2) the association of feeding habits with caries prevalence in 2-5-year-old children.

Materials and methods

In this analytical cross-sectional study, 2-5-year-old preschool children were clinically examined by a single calibrated examiner and divided into two groups of 80 children with early childhood caries (ECC) and 80 without. Mothers of the children were clinically examined and a second blinded investigator determined their genetic taste type using PROP. Data regarding feeding practices of the child and snacking habits of the mother and child were obtained using questionnaires. The data obtained were statistically analyzed.

Results

Cariogenic snack consumption was more among nontaster mothers and their children (p value < 0.001). More number of children of the nontaster mothers in the ECC group were bottle-fed with sweetened beverages (n = 24) and received sweet snacks as rewards (n = 32). Caries prevalence of 73%, 20%, and 7% was seen in children of nontaster, medium taster, and supertaster mothers, respectively (p value < 0.05). Significant association was found between mother's caries activity, past bottle-feeding, receiving sweet snacks as reward and their child's caries experience.

Conclusion

Mothers’ PROP sensitivity was significantly associated with snacking habits and caries experience of their children. Mothers’ PROP type could be an important factor that may determine and explain the dental caries experience in their 2-5-year-old preschool children.

Clinical significance

Early identification of nontaster mothers may prove beneficial in guiding them and consecutively their children toward healthy dietary habits, leading to lesser incidence of caries and their better overall wellbeing.

How to cite this article

Nellamakkada K, Patil SS, Kakanur M, et al. Association of Mothers’ Genetic Taste Perception to Eating Habits and Its Influence on Early Childhood Caries in Preschool Children: An Analytical Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2022;15(S-2):S135-S139.

Which determinants should be considered to reduce social inequalities in paediatric dental care access? A cross-sectional study in France

Better access to dental care through systemic and educational strategies is needed to lessen the burden of disease due to severe early caries. Our study aims to describe family characteristics associated with severe early caries: parental knowledge, attitudes, practices in oral health and socio-demographic factors. For this cross-sectional study, 102 parents of children aged under 6 years with severe early caries and attending paediatric dentistry service in France completed a questionnaire during face-to-face interviews. Caries were diagnosed clinically by calibrated investigators, using the American Academy of Paediatric Dentistry criteria, and dental status was recorded using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth index. The majority of children were from underprivileged backgrounds and had poor oral health status, with a median dmft index of 10. Parents highlighted the difficulty of finding suitable dental care in private practices. Parents appeared to have good oral health knowledge and engaged in adapted behaviours but showed a low sense of self-efficacy. They perceived the severity of early caries as important but the susceptibility of their child as moderate. The study affirmed the importance of improving the accessibility of paediatric dental care and developing educational strategies to enhance the knowledge, skills, and oral health practices of families.

Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries in South Africa: Protocol for a Systematic Review

Background

Young children are at the highest risk of developing dental caries as they have a lack of autonomy over their diet and oral hygiene practices. Dental caries develops over time due to demineralization of tooth substance (enamel), which results from acid production during sugar metabolism by bacteria. Early onset of dental caries often results in asymptomatic presentation, but if left untreated, it can result in severe pain, infection, and dentoalveolar abscesses. Early childhood caries (ECC) is defined as dental caries in children aged 6 years and younger and is a significant public health problem in South Africa. According to the Global Burden of Disease study, untreated dental caries of primary teeth affects 532 million children. Untreated dental caries has many detrimental effects which can affect the physical development and reduce the quality of life of affected children. Furthermore, long-term untreated dental caries can result in school absenteeism, low BMI, and poor educational outcomes.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and severity of ECC in South Africa in children under the age of 6 years.

Methods

All cross-sectional studies documenting the prevalence and severity of dental disease (decayed, missing, and filled teeth scores) will be included. Various databases will be searched for eligible studies. Only studies conducted on South African children aged 6 years and under will be included. There will be no restriction on the time or language of publication. The quality of all eligible studies will be analyzed by a risk of bias tool developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. The results will be presented narratively, and if possible, a meta-analysis will be conducted.

Results

The protocol is registered with PROSPERO. The literature search was initially conducted in November 2018 and was repeated in November 2020.

Conclusions

The results of this study will be used to advise stakeholders of the prevalence and severity of dental disease in children under 6 years of age in South Africa.

Trial Registration

PROSPERO CRD42018112161;

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/25795

Dental caries in primary and permanent teeth in children's worldwide, 1995 to 2019: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Early childhood caries (ECC) is a type of dental caries in the teeth of infants and children that is represented as one of the most prevalent dental problems in this period. Various studies have reported different types of prevalence of dental caries in primary and permanent teeth in children worldwide. However, there has been no comprehensive study to summarize the results of these studies in general, so this study aimed to determine the prevalence of dental caries in primary and permanent teeth in children in different continents of the world during a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

In this review study, articles were extracted by searching in the national and international databases of SID, MagIran, IranMedex, IranDoc, Cochrane, Embase, ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science (ISI) between 1995 and December 2019. Random effects model was used for analysis and heterogeneity of studies was evaluated by using the I² index. Data were analyzed by using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (Version 2) software.

Findings

In this study, a total of 164 articles (81 articles on the prevalence of dental caries in primary teeth and 83 articles on the prevalence of dental caries in permanent teeth) were entered the meta-analysis. The prevalence of 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: 50–57.5%). Regarding the heterogeneity on the basis of meta-regression analysis, there was a significant difference in the prevalence of dental caries in primary and permanent teeth in children in different continents of the world. With increasing the sample size and the year of study, dental caries in primary teeth increased and in permanent teeth decreased.

Conclusion

The results of this study showed that the prevalence of primary and permanent dental caries in children in the world was found to be high. Therefore, appropriate strategies should be implemented to improve the aforementioned situation and to troubleshoot and monitor at all levels by providing feedback to hospitals.

Factors Associated with Early Childhood Caries in Polish Three-Year-Old Children

PURPOSE

To assess the prevalence and associated factors with early childhood caries (ECC) in a Polish population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 656 three-year-old preschool children of both sexes. Data were collected through oral examination of the children and a questionnaire self-reported by their parents. The questionnaire contained information on sociodemographic aspects, feeding and oral hygiene practices, dental care utilisation and dental health knowledge. Associations between ECC and caries-related factors were analysed with use of bivariate and multivariate logistic regression and Mann-Whitney U test.

RESULTS

ECC was diagnosed in 64.0% children from the rural area and 46.6% from the urban one, more often in boys (57.7%) compared to girls (49.5%) and S-ECC in 37.1%, 24.2%, 31.5% and 27.5%, respectively. The associations between caries experience and living in a rural area, male sex, education level and oral health-related knowledge of a parent, tooth brushing frequency, nocturnal bottle-feeding and feeding with sweet beverages at the age over 12 months, consumption of sweetened within the first 2 years of age and drinking of sweet beverages once a week at bivariate level were found. In the final model of the logistic multivariate regression analysis, seven variables were associated with ECC experience. They revealed the probability in decreasing order: living in a rural area (odds ratios (OR) = 1.90); feeding the child during the first 2 years with sweetened food (OR = 1.77); nocturnal drinking of sweet beverages by the >12-month-old child (OR = 1.73); education level of parent (OR = 1.53); gender - male (OR = 1.48); nocturnal bottle-feeding of the over-12-month child (OR = 1.44); and frequency of tooth brushing (OR = 1.41).

CONCLUSION

The most prominent risk factors for ECC were living in a rural area, consumption of sweetened foods within the first 2 years of age and nocturnal drinking of sweet beverages by the over 12-month-old child.

Freitas KM, Henriques RP, Cruz EF, Ordóñez MCRB, C. Arias GE, A. Balseca GM. Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries in Children Aged 1 to 5 Years in the City of Quito, Ecuador

Background:

Early childhood caries is an aggressive pathology that can destroy the teeth in a short time, reaching the proximal surfaces, causing discomfort, pain and affecting the dental pulp, causing premature loss of deciduous teeth.

Objective:

The purpose of this research is to determine the prevalence of early childhood caries in children aged 1 to 5 years of the Metropolitan District of Quito.

Materials and Methods:

This is a cross-sectional study including a sample of 557 children attending child care centers in Quito, Ecuador, between May and July 2018. The sample was evaluated clinically registering the data in a simplified dental file containing the odontogram and the result of decayed, lost and sealed teeth, according to the dmft index, as well as data such as age and gender. Data were tabulated and analyzed statistically by independent t-test.

Results:

The prevalence of early childhood caries was found to be 59.61%. Children affected by early childhood caries presented a mean age of 2.83 years, the ones suffered the most from this pathology were those of 2 years (35.54%), followed by those of 3 years (34.94%) and 4 years (22.5%). Boys presented more early childhood caries (53.92%) in relation to the girls (46.08%).

Conclusion:

The early childhood caries presented a prevalence of 59.61% and a general dmft index of medium level of severity according to the classification of the World Health Organization, in children from 1 to 5 years of age in Quito, Ecuador.

Early Childhood Caries in 3 to 5 Year Old Children in Trinidad and Tobago

Background: This study was done to evaluate the prevalence and contributory factors of early childhood caries (ECC) and severe ECC (S-ECC) among preschool children of Kindergartens and Early Childhood Centres in Trinidad and Tobago. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 342 preschool children aged 3 to 5 years. The school staff distributed a structured questionnaire to the children to be completed by the mother. Clinical examinations were conducted by calibrated examiners. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 in all analyses. Results: The prevalence of ECC and S-ECC was 50.3% and 52.3%, respectively. Dietary and oral hygiene factors particularly with bottle feeding and high plaque levels were major contributors to dental caries in this population. Conclusion: ECC and S-ECC are significant issues that occur in preschool children in Trinidad and Tobago. The development of ECC and S-ECC can be attributed to certain environmental factors like dietary habits and oral hygiene practices. Early dental assessment, broad-based oral health education programmes, increased parental/guardian engagement during oral hygiene practices and greater access to facilities for early childhood caries prevention and management can help alleviate the problems of ECC and S-ECC in this population.

Early childhood caries and infant's oral health; pediatricians' and family physicians' practice, knowledge and attitude in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia

Background

Early childhood caries (ECC) is a significant worldwide oral health problem. However, parents do not take their children to the dentist for regular screening of oral diseases as early as they do with pediatricians and family physicians. As a result, pediatricians and family physicians are considered as a reliable and perfect source for children's oral health promotion and disease prevention. Studies assessing pediatricians' and family physicians' practice, knowledge and attitude regarding ECC and infant's oral health in Saudi Arabia are few. As a result, this study aimed to assess these aspects.

Methodology

A cross-sectional study based on a structured close-ended questionnaire was conveniently distributed among pediatricians and family physicians in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire composed of two main sections; demographic characteristics and questions assessing participants' practice, knowledge and attitude. The data was analyzed using SAS software, frequency and chi-square test were conducted, and P-value of <0.05 and less was considered significant.

Results

There was a discrepancy between the participants' knowledge, attitude and practice. The participants' practice was lower (42.6%) compared with their attitude (86.1%) and knowledge (65.3%). Most of the participants (52.5%) indicated lack of clinical time was the main barrier for performing oral health related activities. Majority of the participants (76.7%) indicated that they need more dental training and education. Dental caries preventive methods (44.6%) was the most requested topic, of which workshops and seminars were the main preferred method (39.6%).

Conclusion

Although most of the participants reported good dental attitude and knowledge, a lack of the associated dental practice was detected. Therefore, more efforts are encouraged to enhance and facilitate dental practice among pediatricians and family physicians.

Parental Factors Influencing the Development of Early Childhood Caries in Developing Nations: A Systematic Review

Background

Early childhood caries (ECC) is one of the most prevalent and chronic conditions of childhood. Various factors including biological and dietary factors along with an overlay of parental social factors have been found to be associated with the progression of ECC. The objective of this systematic review is to synthesize available literature and to identify parent-level proximal and distal risk factors associated with the development of ECC in developing nations.

Methods

Studies conducted in developing nations, published between 2005 and 2017 in English, that included children younger than 6 years and examined ECC were included. The outcome of interest were parental risk factors, which included parental knowledge, behavior, attitudes, sense of coherence (SOC), stress, socioeconomic status (SES), education, and breastfeeding duration. The studies were retrieved from MEDLINE, Ovid Medline, and PubMed.

Results

The search yielded 325 studies, of which 18 were considered eligible for inclusion in this review. Ten studies found maternal education, and seven studies found parental education to be significantly associated with ECC. SES was significantly associated with ECC in 13 studies in the form of annual household income and occupation level. Four studies observed the significant association between oral health knowledge and attitudes with ECC, whereas only two studies found maternal attitude to be associated with ECC. Breastfeeding duration was a significant risk factor in four studies. One study each found significant associations of SOC, parental distress, and secondary smoke with ECC.

Conclusion

To date, most of the researches done in developing countries have reported distal parental factors such as income and education being significant risk factors in caries development compared to proximal risk factors in low-income groups. Only a few studies analyzed the psychosocial and behavioral factors. Interventions could be designed to improve parental oral health knowledge and behaviors in these nations.

Early Childhood Caries: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Prevention

Early childhood caries (ECC) is major oral health problem, mainly in socially disadvantaged populations. ECC affects infants and preschool children worldwide. The prevalence of ECC differs according to the group examined, and a prevalence of up to 85% has been reported for disadvantaged groups. ECC is the presence of one or more decayed, missing, or filled primary teeth in children aged 71 months (5 years) or younger. It begins with white-spot lesions in the upper primary incisors along the margin of the gingiva. If the disease continues, caries can progress, leading to complete destruction of the crown. The main risk factors in the development of ECC can be categorized as microbiological, dietary, and environmental risk factors. Even though it is largely a preventable condition, ECC remains one of the most common childhood diseases. The major contributing factors for the for the high prevalence of ECC are improper feeding practices, familial socioeconomic background, lack of parental education, and lack of access to dental care. Oral health plays an important role in children to maintain the oral functions and is required for eating, speech development, and a positive self-image. The review will focus on the prevalence, risk factors, and preventive strategies and the management of ECC.