ECC can take its toll on young children, causing pain and discomfort and impacting the infant or child’s ability to eat and grow. The caries infection can spread and lead to abscess formation or cellulitis.
There can be substantial monetary costs when caries is neglected. The cost to treat early childhood caries varies from $1,000 and $2,000, and up to $6,000 if general anesthesia in the operating room is required.
ECC may also have a long-term effect on the child because caries in the primary teeth is the biggest risk factor for caries in permanent teeth.
Loss of teeth (and hence space) due to caries can result in crooked bite (malocclusion). The entire orofacial complex can be affected negatively if primary teeth are lost prematurely.
