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Developmental enamel defects of primary incisors in preterm infants with very low and extremely low birthweight. A

V Merglova1, J Dort2

  • 1Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic.

European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry
|December 18, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Extremely low birthweight infants show significantly higher rates of enamel defects in primary teeth compared to very low birthweight and normal birthweight infants. This highlights potential oral health risks for ELBW neonates.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Neonatal Health
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Preterm birth and low birthweight are associated with various health complications.
  • Neonatal intensive care and medical interventions can impact infant development.
  • Primary teeth eruption and development occur during early infancy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the prevalence of developmental defects of enamel (DDE) in primary incisors.
  • To compare DDE rates in preterm very low birthweight (VLBW) and extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants with full-term normal birthweight (NBW) infants.
  • To identify specific types of enamel defects in these infant populations.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study design was employed, enrolling infants at birth.
  • Data collection included parental interviews and medical record reviews.
  • Clinical examination of primary incisors for DDE was conducted at one year of age in 82 VLBW, 50 ELBW, and 58 NBW infants.
  • Statistical analysis utilized ANOVA and chi-square tests with a significance level of p<0.05.

Main Results:

  • Developmental defects of enamel (DDE) were diagnosed in 23.2% of VLBW infants, 54% of ELBW infants, and 6.9% of NBW infants.
  • Hypoplasia was the most frequent defect, observed in 12.2% of VLBW and 28% of ELBW infants.
  • Opacities were present in 7.3% of VLBW and 16% of ELBW infants.

Conclusions:

  • Preterm extremely low birthweight infants exhibit a significantly higher prevalence of DDE in primary incisors.
  • The study confirms a dose-dependent relationship between birthweight and DDE risk.
  • Early identification and monitoring of oral health in high-risk neonates are crucial.
Abstract

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