Early diagnosis of early childhood caries: A simple novel tool (MAAC charts) for parents and caretakers.

Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a condition associated with nearly 123 risk factors. Among all the risk factors, enamel defects or enamel hypoplasia (ED/EH) has been shown to be the primary risk factor. ED/EH comprises the earliest changes that manifest on newly erupted primary tooth surfaces soon after its eruption. ED/EH appears as white lines or patches, either as demarcated or diffuse opacities on the enamel surface. It is often observed on the labial and buccal surfaces of the newly erupted primary maxillary incisors. A simple self-report tool for mothers/caretakers, healthcare professionals, and primary care workers to diagnose early changes in ECC may facilitate early diagnosis. The MAAC chart was developed to prevent ECC in children with cleft lip and palate. These charts, primarily developed to educate parents, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and primary health care providers, illustrate the variations in ED/EH on the enamel surface (demarcated and diffuse opacities on various maxillary teeth) as a collage of pictures organized as incisors and canines. This paper describes a novel and simple, tool called 'MAAC charts' providing guidance on early signs of Early childhood caries (ECC) for health professionals, parents and caretakers. MAAC charts can be useful for Pediatric dentists while providing anticipatory guidance during early first dental visits in their office. Pediatric dentists can suggest paediatricians to use these MAAC charts, in vaccinations clinics and various in/out patient settings to provide oral health related anticipatory guidance. Pediatric dentists can use these MAAC charts in large scale public health campaigns focused on preventing ECC.

Sustainable development goals and ending ECC as a public health crisis.

Early Childhood Caries (ECC) remains a global issue despite numerous advancements in research and interventional approaches. Nearly, 530 million children suffer from untreated dental caries of primary teeth. The consequences of such untreated dental caries not only limit the child's chewing and eating abilities but also, significantly impact the child's overall growth. Research has demonstrated that ECC is associated with nearly 123 risk factors. ECC has also been associated with local pain, infections, abscesses, and sleep pattern. Furthermore, it can affect the child's emotional status and decrease their ability to learn or perform their usual activities. In high-income countries, dental care continues to endorse a "current treatment-based approach" that involves high-technology, interventionist, and specialized approaches. While such approaches provide immediate benefit at an individual level, it fails to intercept the underlying causes of the disease at large. In low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), the "current treatment approach" often remains limited, unaffordable, and unsuitable for the majority of the population. Rather, dentistry needs to focus on "sustainable goals" and integrate dental care with the mainstream healthcare system and primary care services. Dental care systems should promote "early first dental visits," when the child is 1 year of age or when the first tooth arrives. The serious shortages of appropriately trained oral healthcare personnel in certain regions of the world, lack of appropriate technologies and isolation of oral health services from the health system, and limited adoption of prevention and oral health promotion can pose as critical barriers. The oral health care systems must focus on three major keystones to combat the burden of ECC-1. Essential oral health services are integrated into healthcare in every country ensuring the availability of appropriate healthcare accessible and available globally, 2. Integrating oral and general healthcare to effectively prevent and manage oral disease and improve oral health, 3. Collaborating with a wide range of health workers to deliver sustainable oral health care tailored to cater to the oral health care needs of local communities.

Cambios en la valoración de la salud oral en los pacientes que acuden al servicio odontológico del municipio Arismendi, Río Caribe, Estado Sucre, 1998-2002 / Changes in oral health assessment in patients attending the Dental Service of the Arismendi Department, Caribe River, Sucre State, 1998-2002

La presente investigación fue realizada por el grupo de pasantes de odontología del seminario Paria en el período mayo-octubre del 2002, con el fin de evidenciar los cambios que se han producido sobre la percepción de la importancia de la salud bucal desde hace cuatro años, cuando el Servicio Odontológico del Municipio Arismendi comenzó a brindar atención odontológica. Para ello se realizaron 70 entrevistas a pacientes en tratamiento durante el período mayo-octubre del 2002, arrojando como resultado un cambio positivo en la concepción sobre salud bucal de los pacientes que se reflejó en los tratamientos que éstos solicitaron, observándose la disminución de las actividades mutilantes y el significativo aumento de las actividades orientadas a la prevención