Review article
https://doi.org/10.26800/LV-145-supl5-16
Early childhood caries – myths and misconceptions
Hrvoje Jurić
orcid.org/0000-0003-1567-8706
; Stomatološki fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zavod za dječju i preventivnu stomatologiju, Klinika za stomatologiju KBC Zagreb, Zavod za dječju i preventivnu stomatologiju
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* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Dental caries is defined as a chronic, infectous (bacterial), chronic disease that results with milligram mineral losses from an infected tooth. Destruction of hard dental tissues is an irreversible process results with permanent loss of hard dental tissues, which ultimately results in acute and chronic problems for each individual. In children, the mentioned problem can affect different levels of the child’s psychological and physical development, which can result in problems in the growth and development of the jaw, improper chewing function and phonation, up to the development of dental fear and anxiety as a consequence of the necessary emergency dental intervention in a small child. Therefore, it is extremely important to understand the mechanisms of early childhood caries, thereby eliminating all the myths and misconceptions that still exist today about this topic. At the same time, the parents/caregivers are the most important persons in caries prevention, who following the instructions of the pediatrician and pediatric dentist, will provide all the necessary procedures to preserve the
health of the child’s teeth. At the same time, it is important to explain to the parents/caregivers the mechanism of the disease development, risk factors, the importance of proper nutrition, how to maintain proper oral hygiene and the necessity of regular dental check-ups with the obligatory early visit to the dentist for a check-up at the age of one year. Finally, with the cooperation of pediatrician and pediatric dentist, the risk factors for early childhood caries will be greatly reduced, which will make everyday clinical work significantly easier for everyone, and most importantly, it will have a positive impact on the quality of life of the child, which will not have negative dental experiences from early childhood.
Keywords
EARLY CHILDHOOD CARIES, NUTRITION, ORAL HYGIENE, CONTROL CHECK-UP, PREVENTION, QUALITY OF LIFE
Hrčak ID:
309016
URI
Publication date:
10.10.2023.
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