Increasing Global Trends in Early Childhood Caries Prevalence over the Last Decade: Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

INTRODUCTION: Global trends in early childhood caries (ECC) remain unclear, with previous studies reporting either stable or declining rates over the past three decades. Given the short functional lifespan of the primary dentition and the urgency of targeted public health policies, the absence of focused investigation into the most recent decade constitutes a critical gap. This study, therefore, aimed to analyze temporal trends in the global prevalence of caries in deciduous teeth across 204 countries and seven super-regions from 2010 to 2021. METHODS: Prevalence rates (/100,000 population) of dental caries in deciduous teeth among children under 5 years of age were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Temporal trends were assessed using Prais-Winsten linear regression, and annual percentage change (APC) was calculated. RESULTS: Over the past decade, the global prevalence of caries in deciduous teeth has exhibited an increasing trend (APC = 0.73%; p < 0.001), with the most marked increases observed in High-Income countries (APC = 6.51%; p = 0.005) and in Latin America and the Caribbean (APC = 2.17%; p < 0.001). The USA (APC = 19.32%; p = 0.002) and Brazil (APC = 5.27%; p < 0.001) recorded the highest increases within their respective super-regions. CONCLUSION: Focusing on the last decade underscores in ECC prevalence that may not be evident the aggregated data over the last three decades. The upward trend underscores the urgent need for policies that address both commercial and social determinants, promote reductions in sugar consumption, and ensure equitable access to fluoride for effective caries control.