Which statement best describes early childhood caries (ECC) and its prevention?

• A. ECC occurs in children aged 3 to 5 with slow decay and minimal need for intervention
• B. ECC occurs in children under 3 with rapid decay; prevention includes fluoride varnish, reminders, anticipatory guidance, dietary counseling, and timely restorative care
• C. ECC occurs in adults and requires annual radiographs for prevention
• D. ECC occurs in children under 2 and is primarily managed with extraction

Answer: (B)

Early childhood caries is a rapidly progressing decay condition that affects very young children. The statement that best describes it notes that it occurs in children under 3 with rapid decay, and prevention requires a multifaceted approach: fluoride varnish to remineralize and protect enamel, reminders to caregivers and anticipatory guidance to support good oral hygiene and feeding practices, dietary counseling to limit fermentable carbohydrates, and timely restorative care to address lesions before they worsen. This combination reflects the urgency and collaborative prevention needed for ECC. Descriptions that place ECC in older children with slow decay, or in adults requiring radiographs, or that rely primarily on extraction for very young children, don’t fit the age pattern, disease velocity, or the preventive, early-treatment emphasis that ECC demands.