smiles for life, fluoride, dental caries UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
1. What is Early Childhood Caries (ECC)? A chronic disease that destroys tooth
structure leading to loss of chewing
function, pain and infection in children
through 5 years of age
2. What is ECC defined as? > 1 decaying, missing or filled primary
tooth surface in children less than 6
years of age
3. What was ECC once called? "Nursing caries" or "baby bottle tooth
decay"
4. What are other known variables of ECC? Socioeconomic status, access to den-
tal care, fluoride exposure, and family
caries experience
5. What is the progression of ECC? Upper front teeth that are least pro-
tected by saliva are affected first
Disease moves posteriorly as teeth
emerge
6. What causes dental caries? Multifactorial process affected by en-
vironmental, behavioral and host risk
factors
7. What is the role of bacteria in dental caries? Oral bacteria (polymicrobial including
mutant streptococci and lactobacilli)
metabolize dietary sugars into acids
8. What is the role of acid in dental caries? Acids demineralize the tooth enamel
9. What is the relationship between acid produc- If the cycle of acid production and
,tion and demineralization? demineralization continues, the enam-
, el weakens and breaks down into a
cavity
10. What does oral bacteria produce? Acids that persist for 20-40 minutes
after sugar ingestion
11. What do oral acids lead to? Enamel demineralization
12. When does remineralization occur? When acid is buffered by saliva
13. What happens if sugars are consumed fre- There is insuflcient time for the rem-
quently? ineralization process to occur
The tooth is then subjected to con-
tinued demineralization and the caries
process progresses
14. What happens if sugars are consumed infre- Teeth are able to fully mineralize and
quently? the caries process halts
15. What are some consequences of ECC? Pain
Impaired chewing and nutrition
Infection
Increased caries in permanent denti-
tion
School/work absences
Diflculty sleeping
Poor Self-Esteem
Extensive and expensive dental work
which often must be completed under
general anesthesia
16. What is the most common chronic childhood ECC
disease?
CORRECT Answers
1. What is Early Childhood Caries (ECC)? A chronic disease that destroys tooth
structure leading to loss of chewing
function, pain and infection in children
through 5 years of age
2. What is ECC defined as? > 1 decaying, missing or filled primary
tooth surface in children less than 6
years of age
3. What was ECC once called? "Nursing caries" or "baby bottle tooth
decay"
4. What are other known variables of ECC? Socioeconomic status, access to den-
tal care, fluoride exposure, and family
caries experience
5. What is the progression of ECC? Upper front teeth that are least pro-
tected by saliva are affected first
Disease moves posteriorly as teeth
emerge
6. What causes dental caries? Multifactorial process affected by en-
vironmental, behavioral and host risk
factors
7. What is the role of bacteria in dental caries? Oral bacteria (polymicrobial including
mutant streptococci and lactobacilli)
metabolize dietary sugars into acids
8. What is the role of acid in dental caries? Acids demineralize the tooth enamel
9. What is the relationship between acid produc- If the cycle of acid production and
,tion and demineralization? demineralization continues, the enam-
, el weakens and breaks down into a
cavity
10. What does oral bacteria produce? Acids that persist for 20-40 minutes
after sugar ingestion
11. What do oral acids lead to? Enamel demineralization
12. When does remineralization occur? When acid is buffered by saliva
13. What happens if sugars are consumed fre- There is insuflcient time for the rem-
quently? ineralization process to occur
The tooth is then subjected to con-
tinued demineralization and the caries
process progresses
14. What happens if sugars are consumed infre- Teeth are able to fully mineralize and
quently? the caries process halts
15. What are some consequences of ECC? Pain
Impaired chewing and nutrition
Infection
Increased caries in permanent denti-
tion
School/work absences
Diflculty sleeping
Poor Self-Esteem
Extensive and expensive dental work
which often must be completed under
general anesthesia
16. What is the most common chronic childhood ECC
disease?
