Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries in Children Aged 1 to 5 Years in the City of Quito, Ecuador

Early childhood caries affects nearly 60% of children aged 1 to 5 years in Quito, Ecuador, with the highest prevalence observed in 2- and 3-year-olds. This aggressive dental condition, characterized by rapid tooth destruction and pulp involvement, was found to be more common in boys (53.92%) than girls (46.08%). The study, conducted using a cross-sectional approach with 557 children from childcare centers, employed clinical evaluations and the dmft index to assess severity, revealing a medium-level prevalence aligned with WHO classifications. These findings underscore the significant burden of early childhood caries in Quito, highlighting the need for targeted preventive and intervention strategies.

C. Acuña, J. E., S. Freitas, K. M., Henriques, R. P., Cruz, E. F., Ordóñez, M. C. R. B., C. Arias, G. E., & A. Balseca, G. M. (2019). Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries in Children Aged 1 to 5 Years in the City of Quito, Ecuador. The Open Dentistry Journal, 13(1), 242–248. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874210601913010242