Overview:
Early childhood caries continues its decades-long reign as the most common chronic condition of childhood with nearly 40% of kindergarteners having the disease. Disparities persist along income gradients, and by race and ethnicity, rurality, and insurance status. Can molecular and epidemiological data drive classification of dental caries in children that enables effective, precision-based care? Can contemporary techniques that leverage biological principles and minimally invasive approaches such as Silver diamine fluoride achieve successful outcomes, especially in resource-limited settings?
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will become familiar with epidemiologic and molecular evidence supporting the existence of clinical subtypes of dental caries in early childhood.
- Participants will be able to describe the current evidence on silver diamine fluoride for early childhood caries management, including its effectiveness, appropriate indications, and key limitations.
Speakers:
Kimon Divaris
University of North Carolina
Clinical subtypes of dental caries in early childhood
Tammy Duangporn Duangthip
The Ohio State University
Current Evidence on SDF for Early Childhood Caries Management
Moderators:
Mihiri Silva, The University of Melbourne
Greig Taylor, University of Newcastle
