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Maturation of primary and permanent teeth in preterm infants
M C Backström1, L Aine, R Mäki
1Department of Paediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. maria.backstrom@pp.qnet.fi
Insights
Premature birth does not significantly impact tooth development. Higher vitamin D in infancy may enhance permanent tooth maturation, but mineral supplementation shows no effect on dental development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Neonatal Nutrition
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Preterm birth can affect infant development, including dental maturation.
- Nutritional factors like calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D are crucial for tooth development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine primary and permanent tooth development in preterm children.
- To assess the impact of neonatal calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D supplementation on dental maturation.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled trial involving preterm infants receiving varying doses of vitamin D and mineral supplementation.
- Dental maturity assessment of primary and permanent teeth in preterm children and controls.
- Bone mineral content/density evaluation in preterm infants.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in teething age or number of erupted teeth at age 2 between preterm infants and controls.
- Permanent tooth maturation in preterm infants was comparable to controls.
- Higher neonatal vitamin D intake correlated with more mature permanent dentition, but mineral intake did not show an effect.
Conclusions:
- Premature birth does not appear to have long-term negative effects on tooth maturation.
- Neonatal vitamin D supplementation may positively influence permanent tooth development in preterm infants.
Aims:
To elucidate the development of primary and permanent teeth and to interpret the effect of different calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D supplementation in the neonatal period on dental maturation in preterm children.
Methods:
Preterm infants were randomised to four groups to receive a vitamin D dose of 500 or 1000 IU/day and calcium and phosphorus supplemented or unsupplemented breast milk. The maturity of the primary and permanent teeth was recorded in 30 preterm children. Sixty children aged 2 years and 60 children aged 9-11 years served as controls. Bone mineral content/density was assessed in the preterm infants.
Results:
The median (range) corrected teething age was 7 (2-16) months in preterm infants and 6 (2-12) months in controls (p = 0.43). The median (range) number of erupted teeth at 2 years of age was 16 (11-19) in preterm infants and 16 (12-20) in controls (p = 0.16). Maturation of the permanent teeth in the preterm infants was not delayed compared with the controls (mean Demirjian SDS 0.16 v 0.49, p = 0.14). Early dietary intake of either mineral or vitamin D did not affect maturation of the primary dentition in preterm children. Children receiving the higher vitamin D dose in the neonatal period had more mature permanent dentition than those receiving the lower dose, but mineral intake did not affect maturation of the permanent teeth. Dental maturation did not correlate with bone mineral status.
Conclusions:
This is the first longitudinal study to follow primary and permanent tooth maturation in the same preterm children. Premature birth has no appreciable late sequelae in tooth maturation.