early childhood caries

caries

 [kar´e-ēz, kar´ēz]

decay, as of bone or teeth. adj., adj ca´rious.

bottle mouth caries early childhood caries.

dental caries see dental caries.

dry caries (caries sic´ca) a form of tuberculous caries of the joints and ends of bones.

early childhood caries severe dental caries that are promoted by the sugars, acids, and sometimes Streptococcus mutans in a bottle of milk or juice left in contact with a child's primary teeth; this can also occur from contact with breast milk left in a sleeping child's mouth. The condition is preventable; no child should be permitted to fall asleep nursing on any liquid other than plain water. Called also bottle mouth caries.

recurrent caries dental caries beneath the margin of an existing tooth restoration.