Abstract :
Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a prevalent and potentially serious dental condition affecting young children, often leading to pain, infection, and difficulty eating. Early identification of children at risk is crucial to ensure timely intervention and prevent disease progression. One traditional screening method widely used in pediatric dentistry is the “lift the lip” technique, in which the child’s upper lip is gently lifted to visually inspect the front teeth for signs of decay. Although simple and quick, its main limitation is that it focuses only on the upper front teeth, potentially missing early lesions on posterior teeth. To address this gap, we propose a novel screening method called the Eee Aah technique. In this approach, children are first encouraged to vocalize “Eee,” allowing clear visual inspection of both upper and lower anterior teeth. Next, the child is asked to produce the “Aah” sound, which makes the mandibular posterior teeth visible. Finally, the child is instructed to look upward, enabling the examiner to assess the maxillary teeth, including the posterior surfaces, for a more thorough and comprehensive evaluation of dental health. Since the child’s mouth does not need to be touched during the examination, this technique improves comfort, lowers anxiety, and effectively minimizes the risk of cross-infection.
Keyword :
Early childhood caries (ECC), Lift the lip technique, Eee Aah technique