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Developmental enamel defects in children born preterm: a systematic review
Pernille E Jacobsen1, Dorte Haubek, Tine B Henriksen
1Section of Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Dentistry, Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
European Journal of Oral Sciences
|October 30, 2013
Summary
Children born preterm have an increased risk of enamel hypoplasia in primary teeth. Very-low birth weight infants also show a higher risk of enamel opacities, necessitating further research.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Developmental Biology
- Public Health
Background:
- Developmental enamel defects can impact oral health and aesthetics.
- Preterm birth and low birth weight are associated with various health complications in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the association between developmental enamel defects and preterm birth in children.
- To assess the risk of enamel disturbances in primary and permanent teeth.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search in PubMed and Embase.
- Inclusion of human studies in English, German, Danish, Swedish, or Norwegian.
- Exclusion of reviews, case studies, and case series; analysis of 23 selected publications.
Main Results:
- Seventeen studies focused on enamel hypoplasia in primary teeth, with 13 reporting a link to preterm birth.
- Few studies indicated an increased risk of enamel opacities in primary teeth for infants with birth weight <1500 g.
- Four of seven studies on permanent teeth suggested an increased risk of enamel opacities.
Conclusions:
- Preterm birth is associated with an increased risk of enamel hypoplasia in primary teeth.
- Very-low birth weight children may have a higher risk of enamel opacities.
- More well-designed studies are required to strengthen the evidence base.
Keywords:
dental enamel hypoplasialow birth weightpreterm birthtooth abnormalitiestooth hypomineralizationMore Related Videos
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