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Risk indicators for poor oral health in adolescents born extremely preterm
Marianne Rythén1, Aimon Niklasson, Ann Hellström
1Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Institute of Odontology, at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. marianne.rythen@vgregion.se
Insights
Adolescents born extremely preterm show higher risks for poor oral health, including increased plaque, gingivitis, and lower saliva secretion. They also experience more severe mineralization disturbances, indicating future oral health vulnerability.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Neonatal Medicine
- Oral Health Research
Background:
- Children born extremely preterm face medical complications impacting oral health.
- Previous research indicates long-term oral health challenges for this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess oral health and risk indicators in adolescents born extremely preterm compared to controls.
- To evaluate mineralization disturbances and their relation to medical history in this group.
Main Methods:
- Compared 45 extremely preterm adolescents (gestational age <29 weeks) with full-term controls (37-43 weeks GA).
- Utilized dental clinical examinations, salivary tests, and reviewed medical/dental records from 3-16 years.
- Correlated findings with gestational age, birth weight, and medical diagnoses.
Main Results:
- Higher prevalence of plaque, gingivitis, and Streptococcus mutans in extremely preterm adolescents.
- Lower saliva secretion observed in the extremely preterm group; caries frequency was similar.
- More frequent and severe mineralization disturbances noted in primary and permanent dentition, respectively.
Conclusions:
- Adolescents born extremely preterm exhibit increased oral health risk indicators and more severe mineralization disturbances.
- These findings suggest a heightened vulnerability for poorer oral health later in life.
- No direct association found between dental pathology and neonatal/postnatal morbidity or treatments.
Abstract:
Children born extremely preterm often suffer from medical complications that have been shown to affect their oral health as toddlers and school children.The aim of this study was to investigate oral health and possible risk indicators for poor oral health in adolescents born extremely preterm compared with a control group and relate the findings to medical diagnoses at the clinical examination. Also in the same groups, compare the frequency of mineralization disturbances and its relation to postnatal morbidity and treatments. The medical records postnatally,was noted in 45 extremely preterm infants with a gestational age (GA) of <29 weeks, at 12 - 16 years of age and in age and gender matched fullterm controls with 37-43 weeks GA. A dental clinical examination was performed including a salivary examination. Medical diagnoses were noted at the time of the survey. Data from the patient dental records at 3, 6, and 9 years of age was compiled. The findings were related to gestational age, birth weight, neonatal and postnatal medical diagnoses treatments and medical diagnoses at the clinical examination. The result showed that the prevalence of plaque, gingivitis and the occurrence of Streptococcus mutans were higher among adolescents born extremely preterm compared to matched controls, and the saliva secretion was lower in the extremely preterm infants. The frequency of caries did not differ between the groups. Mineralization disturbances were more frequent in the primary dentition and more severe in the permanent dentition among the children born extremely preterm. No association between dental pathology, neonatal and postnatal morbidity and treatments was found. In conclusion, adolescents born extremely preterm have an increased number of risk indicators for a poorer oral outcome compared with the controls and more severe mineralization disturbances. These findings may imply an increased vulnerability for poorer oral health later in life.
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