Background This paper is a summary of the proceedings of the International Association of Paediatric Dentistry Bangkok Conference on early childhood caries (ECC) held in 3‐4 November 2018. Aim The paper aims to convey a global perspective of ECC definitions, aetiology, risk factors, societal costs, management, educational curriculum, and policy. Design This global perspective on ECC is the compilation of the state of science, current concepts, and literature regarding ECC from worldwide experts on ECC. Results Early childhood caries is related to frequent sugar consumption in an environment of enamel adherent, acid‐producing bacteria in a complex biofilm, as well as developmental defects of enamel. The seriousness, societal costs, and impact on quality of life of dental caries in pre‐school children are enormous. Worldwide data show that ECC continues to be highly prevalent, yet infrequently treated. Approaches to reduce the prevalence include interventions that start in the first year of a child's life, evidence‐based and risk‐based management, and reimbursement systems that foster preventive care. Conclusions This global perspective on ECC epidemiology, aetiology, risk assessment, global impact, and management is aimed to foster improved worldwide understanding and management of ECC.

Dental education is regarded as a complex, demanding and often stressful pedagogical procedure. Undergraduates, while enrolled in programmes of 4-6 years duration, are required to attain a unique and diverse collection of competences. Despite the major differences in educational systems, philosophies, methods and resources available worldwide, dental students' views regarding their education appear to be relatively convergent. This paper summarizes dental students' standpoint of their studies, showcases their experiences in different educational settings and discusses the characteristics of a positive academic environment. It is a consensus opinion that the 'students' perspective' should be taken into consideration in all discussions and decisions regarding dental education. Moreover, it is suggested that the set of recommendations proposed can improve students' quality of life and well-being, enhance their total educational experience and positively influence their future careers as oral health physicians.

Despite long-term efforts to use appropriate dental equipment for treating dental caries in economically less developed countries, the predominant treatment remains extraction. The reasons for this failure to save teeth are given in this paper. Supported by results of research undertaken in economically developed countries, a 15-step treatment module for dental caries is presented. This technique, which is called Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART), is based on removing decalcified tooth tissue using only hand instruments and restoring the cavity with an adhesive filling material. The technique does not require electricity. The advantages and limitations of the technique are discussed and its use in a school oral health program in Zimbabwe presented. We conclude that ART can make restorative oral care more available to a larger part of the world population than it is today.

Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is prevalent around the world, but in particular the disease is growing rapidly in low- and middle-income countries in parallel with changing diet and lifestyles. In many countries, ECC is often left untreated, a condition which leads to pain and adversely affects general health, growth and development, and quality of life of children, their families and their communities. Importantly, ECC is also a global public health burden, medically, socially and economically. In many countries, a substantial number of children require general anaesthesia for the treatment of caries in their primary teeth (usually extractions), and this has considerable cost and social implications. A WHO Global Consultation with oral health experts on "Public Health Intervention against Early Childhood Caries" was held on 26-28 January 2016 in Bangkok (Thailand) to identify public health solutions and to highlight their applicability to low- and middle-income countries. After a 3-day consultation, participants agreed on specific recommendations for further action. National health authorities should develop strategies and implement interventions aimed at preventing and controlling ECC. These should align with existing international initiatives such as the Sixtieth World Health Assembly Resolution WHA 60.17 Oral health: action plan for promotion and integrated disease prevention, WHO Guideline on Sugars and WHO breastfeeding recommendation. ECC prevention and control interventions should be integrated into existing primary healthcare systems. WHO public health principles must be considered when tackling the effect of social determinants in ECC. Initiatives aimed at modifying behaviour should focus on families and communities. The involvement of communities in health promotion, and population-directed and individual fluoride administration for the prevention and control of ECC is essential. Surveillance and research, including cost-effectiveness studies, should be conducted to evaluate interventions aimed at preventing ECC in different population groups.

This study compares the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) technique to conventional amalgam restorations in the management of dental caries. The present report is limited to the results for one-surface restorations in the permanent dentition over a three-year period. A community field trial was carried out in rural villages in northeastern Thailand. Dental caries was treated using the ART technique in one village where 144 persons were treated with 241 restorations. In a second village, 205 conventional amalgam restorations were provided to 138 persons using mobile dental equipment. Both ART and amalgam restorations were performed by one dentist and two dental nurses without administering local anesthesia. Clinical evaluation was carried out one, two, and three years after placement. The longevity of the restorations was determined by computing the estimated cumulative survival rates according to the life table method. The survival rates of ART restorations (93%, 83%, 71% in years one, two, and three, respectively) were close to those for amalgam restorations (98%, 94%, 85%); however, differences were statistically significant. No statistically significant differences were observed between ART restorations in children and adults, or between those placed by the dentist and dental nurses. Survival rates were lower for occlusal surface restorations compared to those in other surfaces. ART is a feasible approach for the management of dental caries, especially for one-surface lesions in the permanent dentition. Because of its simplicity as a minimal intervention technique, ART can make the control of dental caries available to all people irrespective of their economic and living conditions.