Related Experiment Videos
Oral anomalies in the neonate, by race and gender, in an urban setting
G W Friend1, E F Harris, H H Mincer
1Health Sciences Center, University of Tennessee, Memphis.
Insights
Newborn oral anomalies vary by race and sex. Palatal cysts are more common in whites, while leukoedema and alveolar notches are more frequent in blacks. Ankyloglossia is more prevalent in males.
Area of Science:
- Oral medicine
- Neonatal health
- Pediatric dentistry
Background:
- Newborns exhibit diverse oral developmental anomalies and morphologic variants.
- Many oral conditions are transient, self-correcting with age, impacting incidence data in older children.
- Understanding neonatal oral traits is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the incidence of 11 oral conditions in a cohort of 500 newborns.
- To investigate potential associations between oral anomalies and maternal factors.
- To identify demographic variations (race, sex) in the prevalence of neonatal oral conditions.
Main Methods:
- Standardized criteria were used to examine 500 normal, full-term newborns (Black and White).
- Data on maternal age, gravidity, and substance use were collected.
- Incidence rates of 11 specific oral conditions were recorded and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Leukoedema and median alveolar notches showed significantly higher prevalence in Black newborns.
- Palatal cysts occurred 2.5 times more frequently in White newborns.
- Ankyloglossia was three times more common in males; low maternal age (<20 years) increased alveolar lymphangioma risk.
Conclusions:
- Oral anomaly prevalence in newborns demonstrates significant racial and gender-based disparities.
- Maternal age is a notable risk factor for specific neonatal oral conditions like alveolar lymphangioma.
- These findings underscore the importance of considering demographic factors in neonatal oral health assessments.
Abstract:
A broad range of developmental anomalies and morphologic variants may occur in the oral cavity of the newborn. Because many of these are transient (e.g.: palatal and alveolar cysts, lymphangioma), self-correcting with age, conventional assessments of older children can yield significantly altered trait incidences. A total of 500 normal full-term newborns (blacks and whites) were assessed by standardized criteria for 11 oral conditions, in addition to collating data on maternal conditions (age, gravidity, tobacco and alcohol use). Leukoedema and median alveolar notches were significantly more common in blacks, whereas palatal cysts were 2.5 times as likely to occur in whites. Ankyloglossia, three times as common in males, was the one trait to exhibit a significant predilection by gender. Low maternal age (less than 20 years) significantly enhanced the risk of alveolar lymphangioma in these data.