The impact of neglect and failed treatment of early childhood caries

Abstract

Introduction: Early childhood caries and its complications have the negative impact on both oral and general health of the affected child. Dental caries in early childhood is defined as the presence of any decayed, filled tooth surface or missed primary tooth due to caries of a child under 71 months of age. The treatment of dental caries in small children is complicated due to limited cooperation, morphological and biological differences of primary teeth and caries lesion progression. Presentation: The purpose of the treatment of dental caries in young children is to repair and limit further damage of dental hard tissue, protect the remaining healthy tissue, restore the masticatory function, improve the aesthetics, prevent the inflammatory complications and facilitate the daily oral hygiene practice. Inappropriate and failed treatment of primary teeth may disadvantage these children; increase the risk of inflammatory complications in terms of pulp diseases and subsequent spreading of inflammation into surrounded tissues, general diseases and social problems. This disease has an impact on the quality of life of children and their families and is unnecessary burden to society. The aim of this paper is to review the consequences of neglect and failed treatment of early childhood caries. Conclusion: Prevention of dental caries would be preferable on individual and community level, because the main aetiological factors of dental caries are well defined. But the high level of untreated caries world-wide suggests that the current preventive approaches are not sufficient and are proof of collision of risk factors and inappropriate life style associating with social, educational, behavioural and economic inequalities.

Keywords

• dental caries
• primary teeth
• complications
• treatment