Early childhood caries (ECC) in Canadian First Nations (FN) children is at disproportionately high levels compared to the national average. Current literature suggests a paradigm shift in approach to the causes and management of ECC can significantly decrease these levels. The purpose of this paper is to critically analyze the question 'For Canadian First Nations children, ages 0-4, could the introduction of primary disease prevention and self management reduce levels of ECC compared with the present model of care?'
