Prevention of Early Childhood Caries in a Child with High Caries Risk

Early childhood caries (ECC) is an infectious disease caused by bacteria in the mouth. Children who have snacking habit have high bacterial levels and high risk of ECC, which has significant dental public health problem. Topical application fluoride is one of the prevention ECC. Fluoride varnish with resin base facilitates bond of varnish on the teeth and overstays the contact time of fluoride on the teeth surfaces. It has been proven effective and recommended in the under 6 years age group.

A 3-year-old boy who has snacking sweet food habit, was accompained by his mother at dental clinic. His mother wanted to get a dental cavity prevention. Patient brushes his teeth twice a day when taking a bath in the morning and afternoon, drinks sweet tea after he waked up in the morning. This case report shows a preventive ECC treatment on 3 year-old child by topical application fluoride with white varnish. Prophylaxis was the first step in this treatment. Then, teeth should be isolated and saliva was suctioned before using microbrush for applying the white varnish clinpro on all teeth surfaces. Patient was instructed to close the mouth, not allowed to rinse teeth, eat or drink for 4 hours and not to brush his teeth at least up to one night. Patient was educated to brush his teeth at least twice a day after breakfast and before going to bed at night and also reduce his snacking habit.