Caries Progression
ECC affects the teeth that erupt early and are least protected by saliva. When a child sucks on a bottle, the tongue thrusts forward, so the maxillary incisors get maximal sugar exposure.
Typically ECC progresses in the following order:
- Upper incisors (maxillary anterior teeth)
- First molars (mandibular primary molars)
- Second molars (maxillary primary molars)
Mandibular incisors, although they emerge first, are generally not affected because they are protected by the tongue and pooling of saliva in that area.
