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Oral conditions in very low and extremely low birth weight children

Fabiana Rennó D'Oliveira Ferrini1, Sérgio Tadeu Martins Marba, Maria Beatriz Duarte Gavião

  • 1Children and Adolescent Health Graduate Program, School of Medical Sciences (FCM), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.

Journal of Dentistry for Children (Chicago, Ill.)
|December 2, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Children with very low birth weight (VLBW) and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) have a higher risk of enamel defects and increased non-nutritive sucking habits. Early preventive measures are essential for these vulnerable populations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Neonatal Health
  • Oral Health Research

Background:

  • Premature birth, including very low birth weight (VLBW) and extremely low birth weight (ELBW), presents unique challenges for child development.
  • Oral health conditions in these vulnerable populations require specific evaluation to identify potential risks and long-term implications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess and compare the oral conditions of children born with VLBW and ELBW to those of normal birth weight (NBW) children.
  • To identify specific oral health issues prevalent in VLBW and ELBW populations.

Main Methods:

  • Oral examinations were conducted on 52 VLBW/ELBW children and 52 NBW children aged 2-4 years, following WHO criteria.
  • Questionnaires gathered data on feeding and oral habits, while hospital records provided prenatal, natal, and neonatal information.

Main Results:

  • VLBW/ELBW children showed a significant association with enamel defects like demarcated opacity and hypoplasia.
  • Nocturnal bottle-feeding, pacifier use, and frequent oral hygiene were more common in the premature group.
  • V/ELBW children had a significantly higher risk (12.5x for opacity, 6.6x for hypoplasia) of enamel defects and associated habits compared to NBW children.

Conclusions:

  • VLBW and ELBW are key indicators for enamel defects and increased non-nutritive sucking habits.
  • Early preventive and interceptive dental care strategies are crucial for VLBW/ELBW children to mitigate future oral health complications.
Abstract

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