About this Research Topic
Early Childhood Caries (ECC) has been a pressing concern in pediatric dentistry, impacting millions of children worldwide. ECC however takes on a heightened significance in the domain of children with special healthcare needs, who often face increased vulnerability to this debilitating condition. This Research Topic aims to delve deep into the multifaceted dimensions of Early Childhood Caries in children with special educational needs, an area of study that warrants more comprehensive and nuanced exploration.
Children with special healthcare needs constitute a diverse group, each with unique healthcare requirements and challenges, making them significantly more susceptible to ECC. These special healthcare needs can range from physical limitations to intellectual or developmental disabilities, to systemic health issues. Despite the increased susceptibility, this demographic has been unfortunately understudied in the dental health discourse, thereby necessitating the focus of this Research Topic.
At the heart of this issue is the intersecting dynamics of ECC and children with special healthcare needs. These dynamics involve a multitude of contributing factors - the dental aspects of the condition itself, reduced ability to maintain oral hygiene, behavioral issues impacting dental care routines, side effects of medications influencing oral health, and more. These complexities underscore the importance of not just a medical understanding, but also a sociocultural, psychological, and behavioral comprehension of this phenomenon.
Our ambition with this Research Topic is to shed light on the intricacies of ECC in children with special healthcare needs, and in doing so, we hope to foster an interdisciplinary dialogue between researchers, medical and dental professionals, and caregivers. The compilation of articles in this Research Topic will cover a gamut of perspectives and research findings, from reports on oral health status, preventive measures and the most effective treatment strategies to the psychological implications, challenges faced and the lived experiences of children and families dealing with ECC.
Moreover, our objective goes beyond the exploration of the problem and delves into the domain of action. Through the shared wisdom in this Research Topic, we aim to generate evidence-based strategies for parents, caregivers, and dental professionals alike to improve oral health outcomes in children with special healthcare needs. Additionally, we hope to promote policy advocacy to influence systemic changes that would better cater to the specific needs of these children, contributing to overall efforts aimed at reducing the prevalence and impacts of ECC.
Through the rigorous exploration of ECC in children with special healthcare needs, we intend to make a substantial contribution to the existing body of knowledge. Our hope is that the insights gained will instigate further research, facilitate better practices in dental health care, and most importantly, improve the lives of children with special healthcare needs. We invite you to delve into this issue to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of ECC in children with special healthcare needs and join us in our pursuit of a more inclusive and equitable oral health paradigm.
Children with special healthcare needs constitute a diverse group, each with unique healthcare requirements and challenges, making them significantly more susceptible to ECC. These special healthcare needs can range from physical limitations to intellectual or developmental disabilities, to systemic health issues. Despite the increased susceptibility, this demographic has been unfortunately understudied in the dental health discourse, thereby necessitating the focus of this Research Topic.
At the heart of this issue is the intersecting dynamics of ECC and children with special healthcare needs. These dynamics involve a multitude of contributing factors - the dental aspects of the condition itself, reduced ability to maintain oral hygiene, behavioral issues impacting dental care routines, side effects of medications influencing oral health, and more. These complexities underscore the importance of not just a medical understanding, but also a sociocultural, psychological, and behavioral comprehension of this phenomenon.
Our ambition with this Research Topic is to shed light on the intricacies of ECC in children with special healthcare needs, and in doing so, we hope to foster an interdisciplinary dialogue between researchers, medical and dental professionals, and caregivers. The compilation of articles in this Research Topic will cover a gamut of perspectives and research findings, from reports on oral health status, preventive measures and the most effective treatment strategies to the psychological implications, challenges faced and the lived experiences of children and families dealing with ECC.
Moreover, our objective goes beyond the exploration of the problem and delves into the domain of action. Through the shared wisdom in this Research Topic, we aim to generate evidence-based strategies for parents, caregivers, and dental professionals alike to improve oral health outcomes in children with special healthcare needs. Additionally, we hope to promote policy advocacy to influence systemic changes that would better cater to the specific needs of these children, contributing to overall efforts aimed at reducing the prevalence and impacts of ECC.
Through the rigorous exploration of ECC in children with special healthcare needs, we intend to make a substantial contribution to the existing body of knowledge. Our hope is that the insights gained will instigate further research, facilitate better practices in dental health care, and most importantly, improve the lives of children with special healthcare needs. We invite you to delve into this issue to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of ECC in children with special healthcare needs and join us in our pursuit of a more inclusive and equitable oral health paradigm.
Keywords: Early Childhood Caries, Children, Pediatric Dentistry, Oral Health Promotion, Preventive Dentistry, special educational needs
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
