Dental caries in the primary dentition is a risk factor for dental caries in the permanent dentition. The aim of this pilot project was to establish if high levels of dental caries very early in life translate into increased levels of dental caries in adulthood. Our objective was to determine the mean DMFT score of individuals with a history of severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) and compare it with the mean DMFT score of individuals who were caries-free in the primary dentition. The results of our analyses indicate that adults who experienced S-ECC manifest significantly higher levels of dental caries in their adulthood. The best predictor for dental caries in adulthood was caries experience in primary dentition. This preliminary study, the first of its kind, suggests that early childhood caries might indeed be associated with dental caries in adulthood.

Dental caries in the primary dentition is a risk factor for dental caries in the permanent dentition. The aim of this pilot project was to establish if high levels of dental caries very early in life translate into increased levels of dental caries in adulthood. Our objective was to determine the mean DMFT score of individuals with a history of severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) and compare it with the mean DMFT score of individuals who were caries-free in the primary dentition. The results of our analyses indicate that adults who experienced S-ECC manifest significantly higher levels of dental caries in their adulthood. The best predictor for dental caries in adulthood was caries experience in primary dentition. This preliminary study, the first of its kind, suggests that early childhood caries might indeed be associated with dental caries in adulthood.