ECC: Consequences
ECC is the most common chronic childhood disease and has many potentially severe consequences, including:
- Pain
- Impaired chewing and nutrition
- Infection
- Increased caries in permanent dentition
- School/work absences
- Students with dental pain are 3 times more likely to have poorer school performance
- Difficulty sleeping
- Poor self-esteem
- Extensive and expensive dental work which often must be completed under general anesthesia
Severe maxillary incisor caries with central abscesses
All four maxillary incisors extracted due to severe caries
Molars restored with stainless steel crowns
References
Watt S, Dyer TA, Marshman Z, Jones K. Does poor oral health impact on young children's development? A rapid review. Br Dent J. 2024 Aug;237(4):255-260. doi: 10.1038/s41415-024-7738-4. Epub 2024 Aug 23.
Piekoszewska-Ziętek P, Turska-Szybka A, Szczepanik A, Olczak-Kowalczyk D. Early Childhood Caries and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Preschool Children: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med. 2026 Jun 2;15(11):4314. doi: 10.3390/jcm15114314.
White BA, Monopoli MP, Souza BS. Catalyst Institute. The Oral Health of Massachusetts’ Children. January 2008. www.bu.edu/creedd/files/2009/05/Oral-Health-Of-Massachusetts-Children2008.pdf (Accessed 8/28/2026)