Resource Highlights:
Focus on Early Childhood Caries
This collection of selected resources offers current, high-quality information about early childhood caries (ECC). Use the tools below for further searching, or contact us for personalized assistance.
Definition
ECC is the presence of one or more decayed (noncavitated or cavitated), missing (owing to caries), or filled tooth surfaces in any primary tooth in an infant or child under age 6. (AAPD, rev. 2011)
Selected Materials in the OHRC Library
American Dental Association, Council on Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations. 2011. Symposium on Early Childhood Caries in American Indian Children and Alaska Native Children. Chicago, IL: American Dental Association, Council on Access, Prevention and Interprofessional Relations. 18 pp.
This report summarizes a symposium held on October 20–22, 2010, in Rapid City, South Dakota, to establish a knowledge base about dental caries in the primary dentition of children in tribal communities. Microbiology, epidemiology, enamel hypoplasia, caries research in American Indian and Alaska Native children, and new intervention products are addressed.
Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors. 2012. Early Childhood Caries Policy Statement. Sparks, NV: Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors. 6 pp.
This policy statement supports and recommends that state and local health departments and other community programs implement programs and policies to address early prevention, oral disease risk management, access to dental care services, and systems of integration and coordination to prevent and control early childhood caries. A strategic framework is included.
Funk B, Gessner BD, eds. 2010. High Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries, Alaska, 2005 and 2007. Juneau, AK: Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. 1 p.
This issue presents findings from oral health screenings of children enrolled in Head Start and kindergarten in Alaska. Findings on the population prevalence of ECC and the percentage of children with caries experience who had ECC are presented by insurance and ethnicity status. Recommendations are provided.
Indian Health Service, Division of Oral Health. 2010. Introducing the Indian Health Service Early Childhood Caries Initiative. Indian Health Service, Division of Oral Health. 16 pp.
This brief describes an initiative to prevent dental caries in young children and promote an interdisciplinary approach to early intervention. The brief describes the importance of prevention and early intervention, the initiative’s goals and objectives, and best practices for pregnant women, infants, and young children.
LeMay W, Bell L, Olson M. 2011. 2009—Healthy Smiles for a Healthy Head Start: The Oral Health of Wisconsin's Head Start Children—Current Status, Trends and Disparities. Madison, WI: Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Oral Health Program. 19 pp.
This report describes a 2009 survey to assess the oral health of children enrolled in Head Start in Wisconsin. Topics include dental caries experience, the prevalence of ECC, and the need for urgent treatment. Key findings are presented by region, age, and race and ethnicity. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]
Loftus R, ed. 2011. Advancing the Practice of Dental Disease Management. Sacramento, CA: California Dental Association Foundation. 2 v. (Part 1, Part 2)
This two-part series focuses on efforts to promote dental caries management by risk assessment and address barriers to widespread adoption of this disease-management model in clinical dental practice.
South Dakota Department of Health, Oral Health Program. 2010. Prevent Infant and Toddler Tooth Decay or Early Childhood Caries (ECC). Pierre, SD: South Dakota Department of Health. 4 pp.
This brochure for parents describes ECC and provides tips on how to prevent tooth decay in infants and young children. Topics include the importance of healthy primary teeth and gums, bottle feeding, drinking from a cup, and the first dental visit.
Find more materials in the OHRC Library using advanced search.
See also OHRC publications.
Suggest materials to OHRC for the library.
Selected Websites
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
American Dental Association
Indian Health Service
Find more organizations in OHRC's Organizations Database.
June 2012
