Policy on Early Childhood Caries (ECC): Consequences and Preventive Strategies
Purpose
Early childhood caries (ECC), formerly referred to as nursing bottle caries and baby bottle tooth decay, remains a significant chronic disease of childhood and public health problem.1 The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) encourages healthcare providers and caregivers to implement preventive practices that can decrease a child’s risks of developing this preventable disease to reduce the burden on the child, the family, and society.