Biological mechanisms of early childhood caries

— The present paper reviews biological issues in early childhood caries (ECC) in light of the current understanding of the field. Despite the general global decline in dental caries in the past decades, ECC has become a significant problem in many developing countries and some minority communities i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Community dentistry and oral epidemiology 1998-10, Vol.26 (S1), p.8-27
Main Author: Seow, W. Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acids - metabolism
Age Factors
baby bottle tooth decay
Biology
Child
Child, Preschool
Dental Caries - etiology
Dental Caries - immunology
Dental Caries Susceptibility
Dental Plaque - microbiology
Dentistry
Developed Countries
Developing Countries
Dietary Carbohydrates - metabolism
early childhood caries
enamel hypoplasia
Feeding Methods
Humans
Infant
infant caries
Infant Food
milk cariogenicity
mutans streptococci
nursing caries
Oral Hygiene
Risk Factors
Saliva - immunology
Saliva - physiology
Streptococcus mutans - metabolism
Streptococcus mutans - physiology
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Summary:— The present paper reviews biological issues in early childhood caries (ECC) in light of the current understanding of the field. Despite the general global decline in dental caries in the past decades, ECC has become a significant problem in many developing countries and some minority communities in western industrialized nations. Like other types of caries, ECC is caused by mutans streptococci that ferment dietary carbohydrates to produce acid attacks on susceptible teeth over a period of time. However, while the general etiology of ECC appears similar to that of other types of caries, the predisposing factors are still unclear. The biology of ECC may be modified by several factors unique to young children, related to the implantation of cariogenic bacteria, immaturity of the host defense systems, as well as behavioral patterns associated with feeding and oral hygiene in early childhood.
ISSN:0301-5661
1600-0528
DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0528.1998.tb02090.x