Introduction to the Early Childhood Caries Conference: initial description and current understanding.

The objective of this paper is to introduce the issues discussed at the Early Childhood Caries Conference, held October 18-19, 1997, in Bethesda, Maryland. Early childhood caries (ECC) is of epidemic proportions in some US minority populations and in many developing countries. However, the inadequate information and research on dental caries in infants and toddlers appears to have fostered acceptance of some incorrect assumptions regarding its etiology and prevention. To reexamine the current knowledge of ECC, leaders in this field have critically reviewed the biological and psychosocial mechanisms, public health implications, prevention, research and policy needs. An additional goal of the conference was to convey the health implications and societal costs of this highly prevalent childhood disease to the public, health care providers and policy-makers.