A Narrative Review on Advancing Pediatric Oral Health: Comprehensive Strategies for the Prevention and Management of Dental Challenges in Children

Oral health is fundamental to overall well-being, especially in childhood, when dental structures and lifelong habits are established. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of children’s dental development, common oral health challenges, and evidence-based preventive strategies. Key topics i...

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Main Authors: Sung-Ying Han, Chia-Lin Chang, Yung-Li Wang, Ching-Shuen Wang, Wei-Ju Lee, Thi Thuy Tien Vo, Yuh-Lien Chen, Chueh-Yi Cheng, I-Ta Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Children
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/3/286
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author Sung-Ying Han
Chia-Lin Chang
Yung-Li Wang
Ching-Shuen Wang
Wei-Ju Lee
Thi Thuy Tien Vo
Yuh-Lien Chen
Chueh-Yi Cheng
I-Ta Lee
author_facet Sung-Ying Han
Chia-Lin Chang
Yung-Li Wang
Ching-Shuen Wang
Wei-Ju Lee
Thi Thuy Tien Vo
Yuh-Lien Chen
Chueh-Yi Cheng
I-Ta Lee
author_sort Sung-Ying Han
collection DOAJ
description Oral health is fundamental to overall well-being, especially in childhood, when dental structures and lifelong habits are established. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of children’s dental development, common oral health challenges, and evidence-based preventive strategies. Key topics include the mechanisms of tooth development, the eruption processes of primary and permanent dentition, and the management of developmental abnormalities. The prevalence, risk factors, and health impacts of dental caries in children are examined, underscoring the need for early intervention and targeted prevention. This review evaluates the effectiveness of preventive measures such as dental sealants, fluoride varnishes, and fluoride mouth rinses while highlighting the influence of dietary habits, toothbrush selection, and parental involvement on oral health outcomes. Additionally, it explores the synergistic benefits of combining preventive approaches, such as the concurrent use of dental sealants and fluoride applications, which have demonstrated superior caries prevention compared to either method alone. The effectiveness of these strategies is analyzed across different age groups, from early childhood to adolescence, with tailored recommendations for each developmental stage. Furthermore, the role of education, policy interventions, and community-based programs in addressing oral health disparities is discussed. By integrating developmental insights with epidemiological data and clinical evidence, this review provides a comprehensive framework for advancing pediatric dentistry, informing best practices, and enhancing preventive strategies to reduce the burden of oral diseases in diverse pediatric populations.
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spelling doaj-art-0e8b4e4aea7f437891d6a5cd143b97ec2025-08-20T03:43:37ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672025-02-0112328610.3390/children12030286A Narrative Review on Advancing Pediatric Oral Health: Comprehensive Strategies for the Prevention and Management of Dental Challenges in ChildrenSung-Ying Han0Chia-Lin Chang1Yung-Li Wang2Ching-Shuen Wang3Wei-Ju Lee4Thi Thuy Tien Vo5Yuh-Lien Chen6Chueh-Yi Cheng7I-Ta Lee8Dental Department, Shuang-Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei 23561, TaiwanDivision of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan 33004, TaiwanSchool of Dentistry, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, TaiwanSchool of Dentistry, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, TaiwanSchool of Food Safety, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, TaiwanFaculty of Dentistry, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, VietnamDepartment of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, TaiwanDepartment of Otolaryngology, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan 33004, TaiwanSchool of Dentistry, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, TaiwanOral health is fundamental to overall well-being, especially in childhood, when dental structures and lifelong habits are established. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of children’s dental development, common oral health challenges, and evidence-based preventive strategies. Key topics include the mechanisms of tooth development, the eruption processes of primary and permanent dentition, and the management of developmental abnormalities. The prevalence, risk factors, and health impacts of dental caries in children are examined, underscoring the need for early intervention and targeted prevention. This review evaluates the effectiveness of preventive measures such as dental sealants, fluoride varnishes, and fluoride mouth rinses while highlighting the influence of dietary habits, toothbrush selection, and parental involvement on oral health outcomes. Additionally, it explores the synergistic benefits of combining preventive approaches, such as the concurrent use of dental sealants and fluoride applications, which have demonstrated superior caries prevention compared to either method alone. The effectiveness of these strategies is analyzed across different age groups, from early childhood to adolescence, with tailored recommendations for each developmental stage. Furthermore, the role of education, policy interventions, and community-based programs in addressing oral health disparities is discussed. By integrating developmental insights with epidemiological data and clinical evidence, this review provides a comprehensive framework for advancing pediatric dentistry, informing best practices, and enhancing preventive strategies to reduce the burden of oral diseases in diverse pediatric populations.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/3/286pediatric dentistrydental developmentcaries preventionoral hygienepreventive strategies
spellingShingle Sung-Ying Han
Chia-Lin Chang
Yung-Li Wang
Ching-Shuen Wang
Wei-Ju Lee
Thi Thuy Tien Vo
Yuh-Lien Chen
Chueh-Yi Cheng
I-Ta Lee
A Narrative Review on Advancing Pediatric Oral Health: Comprehensive Strategies for the Prevention and Management of Dental Challenges in Children
Children
pediatric dentistry
dental development
caries prevention
oral hygiene
preventive strategies
title A Narrative Review on Advancing Pediatric Oral Health: Comprehensive Strategies for the Prevention and Management of Dental Challenges in Children
title_full A Narrative Review on Advancing Pediatric Oral Health: Comprehensive Strategies for the Prevention and Management of Dental Challenges in Children
title_fullStr A Narrative Review on Advancing Pediatric Oral Health: Comprehensive Strategies for the Prevention and Management of Dental Challenges in Children
title_full_unstemmed A Narrative Review on Advancing Pediatric Oral Health: Comprehensive Strategies for the Prevention and Management of Dental Challenges in Children
title_short A Narrative Review on Advancing Pediatric Oral Health: Comprehensive Strategies for the Prevention and Management of Dental Challenges in Children
title_sort narrative review on advancing pediatric oral health comprehensive strategies for the prevention and management of dental challenges in children
topic pediatric dentistry
dental development
caries prevention
oral hygiene
preventive strategies
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/3/286
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