Pediatric dental surgeries

Severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) remains one of the most common chronic diseases among children, particularly within communities that are low income and marginalized.1,2 For many children, the condition progresses to the point that they may require dental surgery under general anesthesia (DGA). Nationally, thousands of DGAs are performed annually to address S-ECC; however, recurrent caries and repeat procedures are common among children at high risk.3-5 Although DGA procedures can restore the dentition, patients may not routinely receive sufficient education or they may face barriers addressing important root causes of caries, including oral health–promoting behaviors, such as quality brushing using fluoride toothpaste and reducing added sugars in their diet.