Abstract
Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is an infectious disease characterized by dental decay of the primary dentition in children 5 years of age and younger (Figure 1). ECC presents a pattern consistent with anterior to posterior embryological development and tooth eruption. Specifically, it initially, and most severely, affects the upper front teeth (maxillary incisors), followed by the primary molars. Except in severe disease, the lower front teeth generally are less involved, due to protection from the tongue. Multiple descriptive terms (e.g., nursing caries, nursing bottle caries, and baby-bottle tooth decay) have been coined to describe this process and its presumed causation. However, only in the 1990s did a consensus definition begin to evolve, benefiting and standardiZing the empirical study of ECC, its causes, and contributing cultural, environmental, family system, behavioral, and psychological factors.
A 4-year-old child with severe ECC.
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Ollendick, T.H., Schroeder, C.S. (2003). Ee. In: Ollendick, T.H., Schroeder, C.S. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Child and Pediatric Psychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0107-7_5
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