Prevalence of Developmental Enamel Defects of Primary Incisors in Preterm Infants delivered with Extremely Low Birth Weight

Background: Preterm infants with extremely low birthweights (ELBW) suffer from neonatal complications and morbidity that may affect mineralization of primary teeth and occurrence of developmental enamel defects (DDE). The purpose of the study was to determine and compare the prevalence of DDE in primary incisors of infants delivered with ELBW and full–term normal birthweight (NBW) infants. Methods: Infants were enrolled in the study at birth and follow–up visits were conducted at 12 months of chronological and corrected age. Personal and anamnestic data were obtained through interviews with parents and from medical hospital records. DDE were recorded on primary incisors according to the Modified developmental defects of enamel index. The data were statistically analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis, chi – square test, odd ratio and 95% CI. A statistical significance level of p < 0.05 was established. Results: The case cohort included 50 infants with mean gestational age 26, 95 weeks and with mean birthweight 775.74 g. The control cohort comprised 58 infants with mean gestational age 39.6 weeks and with mean birthweight 3418.62 g. DDE of primary incisors were diagnosed in 54% of the ELBW infants and in 6.9% of the NBW infants. DDE were found in 11.25% of 400 teeth examined in the case group, while in the control group only in 1.7% of 464 incisors. Most of the teeth with DDE in the case group was situated in the upper jaw. Conclusion: ELBW infants presented a significantly higher prevalence of DDE in the primary incisors than NBW infants. Keywords: Developmental Enamel Defect; Enamel Hypomineralization; Enamel Hypoplasia; Extremely Low Birthweight; Preterm Infant.