Dental Caries: Consequences
Dental caries has many potentially severe consequences, including:
- Pain
- Impaired chewing and nutrition
- Infection
- Increased caries in permanent dentition
- School/work absences: Missed school days are highest for Black children, children with Medicaid/public insurance, and those with special health care needs
- Poorer school performance: Students with dental pain are 3x more likely to have a lower grade point average
- Difficulty sleeping
- Poor self-esteem
- Extensive and expensive dental work which often must be completed under general anesthesia
Severe maxillary incisor caries with bilateral central abscesses
Child with all four maxillary incisors extracted due to severe caries
Molars restored with stainless steel crowns
References
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Policy on early childhood caries (ECC): Consequences and preventive strategies. The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. Chicago, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; 2024: 89-92.
Zaror C, Matamala-Santander A, Ferrer M, Rivera-Mendoza F, Espinoza-Espinoza G, Martínez-Zapata MJ. Impact of early childhood caries on oral health-related quality of life: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Dent Hyg. 2022 Feb;20(1):120-135. 10.1111/idh.12494.
Jackson SL et al. Impact of Poor Oral Health on Children's School Attendance and Performance. Am J Public Health. 2011;101(10): 1900-6.
Seirawan H, Faust S, Mulligan R. The impact of oral health on the academic performance of disadvantaged children. Am J Public Health. 2012 102(9):1729-34.