TELEDENTISTRY COACHING: EMPOWERING PARENTS AS PRIMARY CAREGIVERS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD CARIES PREVENTION

Abstract

Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is recognized as one of the most common chronic diseases affecting children under the age of six worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), oral diseases continue to affect billions of people globally, with dental caries in primary teeth representing one of the greatest public health concerns among preschool-aged children. ECC is clinically defined as the presence of one or more decayed, missing due to caries, or filled tooth surfaces in any primary tooth of children younger than six years. Although the disease is almost entirely preventable through proper oral hygiene, healthy dietary practices, fluoride exposure, and regular dental examinations, its prevalence remains alarmingly high across both developed and developing countries