Pediatria pre prax 6/2004
Prevence zubního kazu v kojeneckém a batolecím věku
Prevention of early childhood caries Dental caries occurring in children below 3 years of age is described as Early Childhood Caries. At this age the child is fully dependent on parental care, mostly mothers care, who providing regular oral hygiene, significantly affecting children´s diet and forming basic dietary habits. The aetiology of dental caries is multifactorial. The presence of the tooth in the mouth is an inevitable condition for its development. Other contributing factors are cariogenic bacteria present in saliva and dental plaque, fermentable carbohydrates and lack of oral hygiene. Toddlers are not able to affect any of these factors. Due to this fact, Early Childhood Caries is also described as Baby Neglect Care Caries. Treatment of dental caries at this age is very difficult due to lack of cooperation of the child. Serious destruction of primary dentition is common finding, leading to painful, inflammatory complications. Caries prevention in small children is very important and is based on prevention of transmission of cariogenic bacteria from parents to the child at the time of eruption of primary dentition, reducing of cariogenic diet consumption, mainly at bed time and during the night and proper oral hygiene, that means regular removing of dental plaque from the tooth surface immediately after tooth eruption. Parents are fully responsible for caries prevention in small children due to the fact, that they are unable to do any of these preventive measures by themselves. Key words: dental caries, children, aetiology, prevention.
