HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Casamassimo, P. S. Articles by Maiorini, E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Casamassimo, P. S. Articles by Maiorini, E.

The Human and Economic Cost of Early Childhood Caries

Background. Early childhood caries (ECC) is the most common disease of childhood and often is accompanied by serious comorbidities affecting children, their families, the community and the health care system. This report describes morbidity and mortality associated with ECC and its treatment.

Methods. The authors reviewed the literature for descriptions and quantification of morbidity associated with ECC and organized a wide range of studies into a visual model—the morbidity and mortality pyramid—that begins to convey the breadth and depth of ECC’s penetration.

Results. ECC exacts a toll on children, affecting their development, school performance and behavior, and on families and society as well. In extreme cases, ECC and its treatment can lead to serious disability and even death. In finding access to care and managing chronic pain and its consequences, families experience stress and, thus, a diminished quality of life. Communities devote resources to prevention and management of the condition. The health care system is confronted with management of the extreme consequences of ECC in hospital emergency departments and operating rooms.

Conclusions. Traditional epidemiologic measures such as the decayed-missing-filled teeth (dmft) index do not adequately portray the effects of ECC on children, families, society and the health care system.

Clinical Implications. The impact of prevention and management of ECC requires the attention of health care professionals and decision makers and extends well beyond the dental office to regulatory and child advocacy agencies as well as public health officials and legislators.

Key Words: Dental caries; quality of life; pediatric dentistry; caries susceptibility

Abbreviations: CT: Computed tomography. • dmfs: Decayed, missing and filled surfaces. • dmft: Decayed, missing and filled teeth. • ECC: Early childhood caries. • ED: Emergency department. • M&M: Morbidity and mortality.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. B. Smith EARLY CHILDHOOD CARIES J Am Dent Assoc, October 1, 2009; 140(10): 1218 - 1218. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. H. Vean TOOTHPASTE AND CHILDREN J Am Dent Assoc, September 1, 2009; 140(9): 1076 - 1076. [Full Text] [PDF]