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Methods for prevention of early childhood caries: Overview of systematic reviews
Author(s) -
Soares Renata Cristina,
Rosa Saulo Vinicius,
Moysés Simone Tetu,
Rocha Juliana Schaia,
Bettega Patricia Vida Cassi,
Werneck Renata Iani,
Moysés Samuel Jorge
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of paediatric dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.183
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1365-263X
pISSN - 0960-7439
DOI - 10.1111/ipd.12766
Subject(s) - medicine , fluoride varnish , early childhood caries , oral health , family medicine , disadvantaged , systematic review , evidence based practice , scientific evidence , health promotion , medline , environmental health , alternative medicine , dentistry , nursing , public health , philosophy , chemistry , organic chemistry , pathology , epistemology , political science , law , varnish , coating
Early childhood caries (ECC) is a global problem, disproportionately affecting disadvantaged populations. The aim of this study was to evaluate systematically the available scientific evidence on the effectiveness of methods for ECC prevention. Six electronic databases were searched. Two independent reviewers selected the publications and analysed the quality of the included systematic reviews. Thirteen studies were included. Overall, eight reviews were classified with methodological quality critically low using the AMSTAR 2, whereas five reviews achieved a high risk of bias using the ROBIS tool. The methods identified that were positively related to the prevention of ECC were as follows: preventive dental programmes for pregnant women; advice on diet and feeding; prenatal oral health care; integration of maternal and children's oral health promotion into nursing practice; maternal oral health programmes undertaken by non‐dental health professionals; dental health education in combination with the use of fluoride for children; early preventive dental visits; and the use of fluoride varnish and toothpastes with more than 1000 ppm of fluoride. The currently available evidence supporting the effectiveness of methods for prevention of ECC, although suggesting some methods of greater potential, is still lacking due to the methodological quality of the systematic reviews and the included primary studies.