ECC is used to describe caries in children up to what age?

• A. Under 6 years
• B. Under 3 years
• C. Under 4 years
• D. Under 5 years

Answer: (A)

ECC, or Early Childhood Caries, describes caries in the dentition of very young children, specifically those younger than six years of age. The clinical threshold used is 71 months or younger, which means the focus is on preschoolers before most permanent teeth erupt and caries patterns change. This makes ECC a term that targets prevention and management in the preschool age group. In practice, it includes any decay in primary teeth that occurs in children under six, including lesions that may have already resulted in fillings or loss of tooth structure due to caries.