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CC BY 4.0 · Eur J Dent 2024; 18(02): 441-447
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1774326
Review Article

Early Childhood Caries, Masticatory Function, Child Early Cognitive, and Psychomotor Development: A Narrative Review

Taufan Bramantoro
1   Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dental Medicine Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia
,
Fredy Mardiyantoro
2   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Brawijaya University, Malang, East Java, Indonesia
,
Wahyuning Ratih Irmalia
3   Dental Public Health & Primary Health Care Research Group, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
,
Risma Aprinda Kristanti
4   Department of Biomedical Science, Medical Study Program, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang, Malang, East Java, Indonesia
,
Alexander Patera Nugraha
5   Department of Orthodontic, Faculty of Dental Medicine Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia
,
Tengku Eleena Binti Tengku Ahmad Noor
6   Department of Periodontology, Membership of Faculty of Dental Surgery, Royal Collage of Surgeon, Edinburgh University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
,
Asra Al Fauzi
7   Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia
,
Udijanto Tedjosasongko
8   Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia
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Abstract

Dental caries is known as a global public health issue that has been affecting general health apart from its painful nature. Hence, it is undeniable that caries affecting young children or known as early childhood caries, also have an effect on children's general health. One of the interesting findings about caries is that it can also affect child growth and development, specifically on their cognitive and psychomotor ability. Untreated caries are linked to cognitive development through both neural and vascular pathways, with masticatory function as the key. Meanwhile, its effect on psychomotor development might be related to nutritional intake, which might slightly decline on those with caries. This review is aimed to describe the current findings of caries effect on early child development, from masticatory disturbance to further impacts on cognitive and psychomotor development. The overall conclusion of this review is that untreated severe caries in children are potentially associated negatively with their growth and development.

Keywords

caries - medicine - masticatory dysfunction - cognitive development - psychomotor development


Publication History

Article published online:
04 December 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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