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Enamel defects in the complete primary dentition of children born at term and preterm

Liliana Aparecida Mendonça Vespoli Takaoka1, Ana Lucia Goulart, Benjamin Israel Kopelman

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Neonatal Division of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Pediatric Dentistry
|June 28, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Preterm children have significantly higher rates of enamel defects (ED) compared to term-born children. Neonatal factors like tracheal intubation and malnutrition increase the risk of ED in preterm infants.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Neonatology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Enamel defects (ED) are a common finding in primary dentition.
  • Preterm birth is associated with various developmental challenges.
  • Understanding risk factors for ED in preterm children is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the prevalence of enamel defects in the complete primary dentition of term children (TC) and preterm children (PTC).
  • To identify neonatal factors associated with enamel defects in preterm children.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 45 preterm children and 46 term children was studied.
  • Enamel defects were assessed in the complete primary dentition.
  • Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors in preterm children.

Main Results:

  • Enamel defects were more frequent in preterm children (87%) than in term children (44%).
  • Tracheal intubation at birth was strongly associated with enamel defects in preterm children.
  • Malnutrition at term-corrected age increased the risk of enamel defects by 7.8 times in preterm children.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated frequencies of enamel defects were observed in both term and preterm children, with higher rates in preterm infants.
  • Tracheal intubation and extrauterine growth restriction are significant risk factors for enamel defects in preterm children.
Abstract

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