Caries most commonly occurs between the ages of 2–4 and is usually associated with nighttime consumption of formula milk, sweetened juices, teas, uncontrolled daytime intake of crackers, biscuits, snacks, sticky foods, and candies. These foods adhere to the child’s teeth and cause prolonged lowering of the oral pH. Typically, the first teeth affected by this type of caries are the upper front teeth, as they are most exposed to acids and erupt first. Treatment of baby teeth is essential because they need to remain in the mouth until the permanent teeth erupt, usually between the ages of 6 and 12.

Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is defined as the presence of one or more carious lesions (with or without cavitation), missing (decayed) or filled surfaces of primary teeth in 2-year-old children. In children up to 3 years old, carious lesions on smooth vestibular tooth surfaces are considered severe early childhood caries. Treatment of early childhood caries is extremely important because, in these cases, the child’s permanent teeth are also at higher risk of developing caries, and there is a potential impact on bite alignment. Early detection involves recognizing early and reversible changes in enamel, not just identifying cavities, which are an irreversible expression of the disease.