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Dento-alveolar characteristics in adolescents born extremely preterm
Marianne Rythén1, Birgit Thilander, Agneta Robertson
1Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Institute of Odontology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden. marianne.rythen@vgregion.se
European Journal of Orthodontics
|May 12, 2012
Summary
Children born extremely preterm (EPT) experience lasting medical and dento-alveolar issues into adolescence. These EPT individuals show increased malocclusions and smaller teeth compared to full-term peers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Orthodontics
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Extremely preterm (EPT) birth (<29 weeks GA) is linked to childhood medical complications and growth deficits.
- Catch-up growth in EPT children mitigates some effects, but lower anthropometric measures persist into school age.
- Previous research indicates enamel development issues in EPT individuals, but adolescent dento-alveolar outcomes remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dento-alveolar and occlusal outcomes in adolescents born extremely preterm.
- To compare oral health parameters between EPT adolescents and healthy, full-term born controls.
- To identify associations between medical, neurological, or neuropsychiatric conditions and malocclusion in EPT adolescents.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 40 EPT adolescents (GA <29 weeks) aged 12-16 years was clinically examined.
- Dental casts and bitewing radiographs were used to measure dento-alveolar length, width, palatal height, and mesio-distal tooth dimensions.
- Medical histories, including neurological and neuropsychiatric diagnoses, were recorded and compared to matched term-born controls and reference data.
Main Results:
- EPT adolescents exhibited significantly higher prevalence of malocclusions, including Angle Class II, deep bite, and increased overjet.
- Three or more malocclusions were nearly twice as common in EPT children compared to controls.
- Significantly smaller mesio-distal widths were observed for incisors, canines, and first molars in the EPT group.
Conclusions:
- EPT adolescents present with distinct medical and dento-alveolar aberrations compared to their term-born peers.
- Malocclusion, particularly Angle Class II, is associated with increased morbidity and neurodevelopmental disturbances in EPT individuals.
- Dental professionals should be aware of these long-term effects and plan timely orthodontic interventions for EPT patients.
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