Abstract
A dental study was incorporated into a follow up study of LBW children (birthweight <2000g). The aim was to compare the prevalence of enamel defects, tooth size and eruption of teeth in LBW children with normal birthweight controls. Dental examinations were performed at 3, 5, and 7 years to determine the prevalence of enamel hypoplasia. Dental casts were made at 7 years to measure deciduous tooth size. The deciduous teeth of the LBW children, were significantly (p<.001) smaller had significantly more enamel hypoplasia and erupted significantly later than controls. When age was corrected for premuaturity there was no significant difference in eruption times. More hypoplasia occurred in the deciduous teeth of the LBW children who suffered major neonatal problems. The LBW group however did not show an incresed prevalence of hypoplasia in the permanent teeth. It is suggested that as the deciduous teeth calcify both pre and postnatally a systemic upset during the neonatal period disturbs the enamel forming at that time, whereas the permanent teeth do not start to calcify until around birth and, particularly in a premature child, may escape this insult.
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Fearne, J., Bryan, E., Elliman, A. et al. DENTAL DEVELOPMENT IN LOW BIRTHWEIGHT (LBW) CHILDREN UNTIL SEVEN YEARS OF AGE. Pediatr Res 26, 517 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198911000-00107
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198911000-00107