Does low birthweight increase the risk of caries? A systematic review

Low birthweight is a major public health and social problem in the United States. While a long list of mortality and morbidity conditions have been associated with low birthweight, dental conditions have not received much attention. This systematic review addresses this question: Do low-birthweight children (birthweight <2500 grams) subsequently develop more caries than do children with normal-to-high birthweight? The MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for English-language papers published between January 1966 and July 2000 using a search expression developed in conjunction with an experienced librarian. There were 198 papers located in the initial search; a title and abstract review to identify clearly irrelevant papers reduced this number to 37. Two readers each read these papers, and application of predetermined inclusion/exclusion criteria reduced this number to only four papers. Quality criteria were established for scoring each of these papers on evidence tables. The maximum score for each paper was 100; the four papers rated scored between 31 and 61. Results showed that no relationship between low birthweight and subsequent development of caries was reported in any of the four papers. However, conclusions must be cautious because of the scarcity of studies on the subject and the limited scope of the four papers judged. The relationship of low birthweight to subsequent development of caries, especially in the permanent dentition, needs further exploration.