Prenatal and neonatal risk factors for the development of enamel defects in low birth weight children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Neonatal Health
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• Low birth weight and prematurity are critical concerns in neonatal care.
• Enamel defects can arise from various prenatal and neonatal insults.
• Understanding these associations is vital for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of prenatal and neonatal risk factors on enamel defect development in low birth weight children.
• To compare enamel defect prevalence between low birth weight and normal birth weight children.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 102 children aged 4-5 years was studied, divided into low birth weight (<2500g) and normal birth weight (>=2500g) groups.
• Data on medical history, prenatal, and neonatal variables were collected.
• Enamel defects were assessed using the modified Developmental Defects of Enamel Index.

Main Results:

• Low birth weight children exhibited significantly higher rates of enamel hypoplasia (59.6%) and more affected teeth compared to normal birth weight children (16%).
• Lower gestational age correlated with increased prevalence of hypoplastic and combined enamel defects.
• Neonatal risk factors, including low Apgar scores, parenteral nutrition, orotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, and acidosis, were associated with higher defect frequencies.

Conclusions:

• Birth weight, gestational age, and specific neonatal factors significantly influence the prevalence of enamel defects in primary dentition.
• Orotracheal intubation may contribute to enamel defects, potentially due to direct trauma during the procedure.