"EARLY CHILDHOOD CARIES: UPDATES ON PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT"
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61164/tv2fx676Keywords:
Early Childhood Caries; Prevention; Diagnosis; Treatment; Oral Hygiene.Abstract
Early Childhood Caries is a multifactorial condition that affects preschool-aged children and represents a public health challenge. This study aims to review the scientific evidence available between 2015 and 2025 regarding strategies for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of childhood caries. This is an integrative literature review conducted in the LILACS, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases. A total of 26 articles that met the eligibility criteria were included. The results showed that early preventive interventions, such as the use of fluoride, sealants, and educational actions for parents and caregivers, significantly reduce the prevalence of the disease. It is concluded that a preventive approach, associated with health education, is essential for controlling early childhood caries, highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary involvement.
Downloads
References
REFERENCES (Translated to English)
ANDRADE, Darah Augusta Diniz; LEÃO, Priscila Laíza Rubim. The influence of the family on oral diseases in early childhood. Libertas Odontologia, v. 3, n. 1, 2024.
ARAUJO, Luma Fernandes et al. Early childhood caries: a current view in pediatric dentistry. Revista Uningá, v. 55, n. S3, p. 106–114, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.46311/2318-0579.55.eUJ2170
ALVES, Ana Paula S. et al. Efficacy of a public promotion program on children's oral health. Jornal de Pediatria, v. 94, n. 5, p. 518–524, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jped.2017.07.012
BANIHANI, Alaa et al. The impact of dental caries and its treatment by conventional or biological approaches on the oral health-related quality of life of children and carers. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, v. 28, n. 2, p. 266–276, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ipd.12350
BERNARDES, Andressa Lara Braga; DIETRICH, Lia; DE FRANÇA FRANÇA, Mayra Maria Coury. Early childhood caries or early childhood tooth decay: a narrative review. Research, Society and Development, v. 10, n. 14, p. e268101422093, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v10i14.22093
BERNARDES, Wilma Beatriz Gonçalves; DA COSTA CAMPOS, Paulo Victor; DA SILVA LEONEL, Augusto César Leal. The main impacts of early childhood caries in children aged 0 to 5 years. Revista Ibero-Americana de Humanidades, Ciências e Educação, v. 10, n. 11, p. 7778–7793, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.51891/rease.v10i11.17231
BRASIL. Ministry of Health. Increase in the number of children in Brazil without dental caries. 2024.
CANGUSSU, Maria Cristina et al. Risk factors for dental caries in early childhood, Salvador-BA. Revista Brasileira de Saúde Materno Infantil, v. 16, n. 1, p. 57–65, 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-93042016000100007
CASCAES, Andreia Morales et al. Ultra-processed food consumption and dental caries in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Nutrition, v. 129, n. 8, p. 1370–1379, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114522002409
CASTILHO, Cristiane de Oliveira Santos et al. Early childhood caries and its impact on quality of life. Revista Pró-univerSUS, v. 14, n. 1, p. 83–88, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21727/rpu.v14i1.3375
CHENG, Heilok et al. Bottle feeding to sleep beyond 12 months is associated with higher risk of tooth decay and overweight in Australian children: Findings from the Healthy Smiles Healthy Kids cohort study. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, v. 49, n. 2, p. 100224, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100224
CICVARIC, O.; GRZIC, R.; ERPUSINA, M. S.; IVANCIC JOKIC, N.; BAKARCIC, D. Association of masticatory efficiency with deep carious lesions in children. European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-023-00819-w
COELHO, Yngrid Beatriz Silva. The importance of pediatric dental follow-up as a precursor to health. 2021.
COMASSETTO, Marcela Obst et al. Access to oral health in early childhood in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, v. 24, n. 3, p. 953–961, 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232018243.29082016
DA SILVA COSTA, Açucena et al. Atraumatic restorative treatment: a minimally invasive technique for early childhood caries lesions. Archives of Health Investigation, v. 11, n. 2, p. 297–303, 2022.
DA SILVA, Ranna Castro et al. Clinical, surgical, and rehabilitative intervention in a patient with early childhood caries: case report. Revista Científica do CRO-RJ (Rio de Janeiro Dental Journal), v. 8, n. 3, p. 76–80, 2023.
DA SILVA MATOS, Emylly Evyn Oliveira et al. Early childhood caries: preventive practices and treatment modalities. Revista Eletrônica Acervo Saúde, v. 24, n. 10, p. e17875, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25248/reas.e17875.2024
EL TANTAWI, Maha et al. Prevalence and data availability of early childhood caries in 193 United Nations Countries, 2007–2017. American Journal of Public Health, v. 108, n. 8, p. 1066–1072, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2018.304466
FARIAS, Lunna. Oral-health-related quality of life and molar-incisor hypomineralization in children: a critical review. Revista Científica Multidisciplinar Núcleo do Conhecimento, 2021.
HOLVE, Steve et al. Early childhood caries in indigenous communities. Pediatrics, v. 147, n. 6, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-051481
INAGAKI, Luciana Tiemi et al. Interdisciplinary dentistry/speech therapy approach in the treatment of a patient with early childhood caries. Revista CEFAC, v. 17, n. 2, p. 595–603, 2015. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-0216201510014
JAYARAJ, D.; GANESAN, S. Salivary pH and buffer capacity as risk markers for early childhood caries: a clinical study. International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry, v. 8, n. 3, p. 167, 2015. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10005-1307
KÜHNISCH, J. et al. Clinical practice guideline for managing early caries lesions in children and young adults: an EAPD policy document. European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry, v. 17, n. 1, p. 3–12, 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-015-0218-4
LIORET, Sandrine et al. Lifestyle patterns begin in early childhood, persist, and are socioeconomically patterned, confirming the importance of early life interventions. Nutrients, v. 12, n. 3, p. 724, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12030724
LUZ, Stéphanie et al. Early Childhood Caries and sugar: relationships and suggestions for prevention. RGO – Revista Gaúcha de Odontologia, v. 69, p. e20210055, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1981-863720210005520200027
MACAMBIRA, Dírlia Silva Cardoso; CHAVES, Emilia Soares; COSTA, Edmara Chaves. Parents’/caregivers’ knowledge about oral health in childhood. Saúde e Pesquisa, v. 10, n. 3, p. 463–472, 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17765/1983-1870.2017v10n3p463-472
MELO, Marcos Vinicius Rodrigues et al. Early childhood caries (ECC): a major challenge in pediatric dentistry: clinical cases. Revista Odontológica do Brasil Central, v. 30, n. 89, p. 260–272, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36065/robrac.v30i89.1436
MUSTULOĞLU, Şeyma et al. The effect of early childhood caries on chewing function and tolerated food texture levels in preschool children. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, v. 51, n. 7, p. 1135–1143, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/joor.13689
NÓBREGA, Adriana Vasconcelos da et al. Impact of dental caries on the quality of life of preschoolers measured by the PedsQL questionnaire. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, v. 24, p. 4031–4042, 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-812320182411.04712018
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Keylla Cavalcante, Nathalya Lopes da Silva , Larissa Rayane Cordeiro Alves , Reginaldo Augusto da Silva Neto , Caroliny Henrique Pereira da Silva
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Autores que publicam nesta revista concordam com os seguintes termos:
- Autores mantém os direitos autorais e concedem à revista o direito de primeira publicação, com o trabalho simultaneamente licenciado sob a Licença Creative Commons Attribution que permite o compartilhamento do trabalho com reconhecimento da autoria e publicação inicial nesta revista;
- Autores têm autorização para assumir contratos adicionais separadamente, para distribuição não-exclusiva da versão do trabalho publicada nesta revista (ex.: publicar em repositório institucional ou como capítulo de livro), com reconhecimento de autoria e publicação inicial nesta revista, desde que adpatado ao template do repositório em questão;
- Autores têm permissão e são estimulados a publicar e distribuir seu trabalho online (ex.: em repositórios institucionais ou na sua página pessoal) a qualquer ponto antes ou durante o processo editorial, já que isso pode gerar alterações produtivas, bem como aumentar o impacto e a citação do trabalho publicado (Veja O Efeito do Acesso Livre).
- Os autores são responsáveis por inserir corretamente seus dados, incluindo nome, palavras-chave, resumos e demais informações, definindo assim a forma como desejam ser citados. Dessa forma, o corpo editorial da revista não se responsabiliza por eventuais erros ou inconsistências nesses registros.
POLÍTICA DE PRIVACIDADE
Os nomes e endereços informados nesta revista serão usados exclusivamente para os serviços prestados por esta publicação, não sendo disponibilizados para outras finalidades ou a terceiros.
Obs: todo o conteúdo do trabalho é de responsabilidade do autor e orientador.
