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Late Eruption of Mandibular Central Incisor in Small for-Gestational-Age Infants: A Cohort Study
Bianca Spuri Tavares1, Jhonathan Lopes-Silva2, Saul Martins Paiva3
1Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil;,
Insights
The average age for the first lower incisor eruption in preterm, low-birth-weight infants is 11 months. Infants large for gestational age (GA) showed earlier tooth eruption than small-for-GA infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatology
- Oral Health
Background:
- Preterm birth and low birth weight are associated with various developmental challenges.
- Understanding the timing of key developmental milestones, such as tooth eruption, is crucial for monitoring infant health.
- The eruption of primary mandibular central incisors is an early indicator of infant development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the eruption chronology of primary mandibular central incisors in preterm and low-birth-weight infants.
- To investigate the association between tooth eruption timing and gestational age (GA)-adjusted weight/length ratio, individual characteristics, and neonatal hospitalization.
- To establish a reference point for normal tooth eruption in this vulnerable population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 46 preterm infants with low/very low/extreme low birth weight was followed for eight months.
- Oral examinations were conducted monthly by a calibrated dentist to record the eruption of primary mandibular central incisors.
- Caregiver questionnaires and medical records provided data on individual characteristics, hospitalization, and birth parameters.
Main Results:
- The average age for the eruption of primary mandibular central incisors was 11 months.
- No significant association was found between tooth eruption and neonatal hospitalization or individual characteristics.
- Infants classified as large for gestational age (LGA) exhibited significantly earlier tooth eruption (9.3 months) compared to small for gestational age (SGA) infants (13.6 months).
Conclusions:
- The typical age for the first primary tooth eruption in preterm, low-birth-weight infants is 11 months.
- Individual characteristics and hospitalization at birth do not appear to influence the timing of mandibular central incisor eruption.
- Gestational age-adjusted growth status is a significant factor, with LGA infants experiencing earlier eruption than SGA infants.
Abstract:
Purpose: To evaluate the chronology of the eruption of primary mandibular central incisors in infants born preterm and with low weight (PLBW) and its association with weight/length ratio for gestational age (GA) at birth, individual characteristics and hospitalization at birth. Methods: A cohort of 46 infants was followed at a multidisciplinary reference center at a university hospital in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The inclusion criteria were infants born preterm with low/very low/extreme low birth weight and at least four months of age. Oral clinical examinations were carried out by a calibrated dentist for a total of eight months, with a one-month interval between each examination, to verify the chrono- logy of eruption of the primary mandibular central incisors. Caregivers completed a sociodemographic and health questionnaire. Data on neonatal hospitalization were collected from medical records. Data were analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test, and bivariate analysis was done using the Mann-Whitney method and Kruskal-Wallis test (P <0.05). Results: The average age at eruption of primary lower central incisors was 11 months for both sexes. No association was found between tooth eruption and child hospitalization or individual characteristics (P >0.05). Infants large for gestational age had earlier tooth eruption (9.3±1.41 months) than infants small for gestational age (13.6±3.29 months; P <0.05).Conclusion: The most likely age for the eruption of the first primary teeth in infants born preterm and with low weight was 11 months, and there was no influence of individual characteristics and hospitalization at birth. Small-for-gestational age infants experienced delayed tooth eruption compared to large-for-GA infants.
