Early Childhood Caries Management
All stages of Early Childhood Caries require treatment, including:
- Comprehensive dietary and oral hygiene counseling.
- Fluoride Varnish to prevent caries and support remineralization.
- Apply silver diamine fluoride (SDF) to arrest cavitated carious lesions when appropriate.
- Urgent Dental Referral for Comprehensive Treatment.
- Some cavities can be restored using fluoride releasing restorative materials.
- Small lesions that do not require local anesthesia or high speed drills, can be stabilized using simplified restorative techniques.
- Severe disease may require extractions, fillings or root canals.
Brown Caries from Enamel Destruction
References
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Policy on early childhood caries (ECC): Unique challenges and treatment options. The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. Chicago, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; 2023: 92-3.
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Caries-risk assessment and management for infants, children, and adolescents. The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. Chicago, IL: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; 2025:325-31
Clark MB, Keels MA, Slayton RL; SECTION ON ORAL HEALTH. Fluoride Use in Caries Prevention in the Primary Care Setting. Pediatrics. 2020 Dec;146(6):e2020034637. doi: 10.1542/peds.2020-034637. PMID: 33257404.
Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) FAQ for Health Professionals American Academy of Pediatrics. updated March 19, 2026. Available at: Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) FAQ for Health Professionals Accessed on 8/28/26