Comprehensive clinical approach to early childhood caries: case report.

Abstract

Introduction: The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry defines early childhood caries as the presence of one or more carious lesions, missing teeth due to caries, or filled surfaces in primary teeth of children under 5 years. According to the World Health Organization, it is a major public health problem worldwide. In many cases, it is related to lack of oral health knowledge among parents and/or caregivers and limited access to dental services. This leads to poor hygiene and dietary habits, such as frequent intake of cariogenic foods. Case report: The aim is to present the clinical management and esthetic-functional rehabilitation of a 3-year-old female patient, with no relevant medical history, diagnosed with early childhood caries and treated at the Dental Clinic of Universidad Católica Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Treatment included oral health education for the family, focused on improving dietary and hygiene habits. Clinical procedures involved pulp therapy, restorations with stainless steel and acetate crowns, extractions, and placement of an esthetic space maintainer in the anterior maxillary region, restoring masticatory, functional, and esthetic stability. Conclusion: Clinical experience shows a growing trend of caries at increasingly younger ages. This condition can be prevented and controlled through parent and/or caregiver education, discipline in sugar consumption, daily toothbrushing from eruption of the first tooth with fluoride toothpaste containing 1000 ppm, and the first pediatric dental visit before one year of age. Early preventive interventions are essential to reduce the burden of this disease.