MINERALIZATION DEFECTS IN DECIDUOUS TEETH OF LOW BIRTHWEIGHT INFANTS

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Abstract
A group of 91 children with birthweights < 2000 g and 48 healthy full-term children, a reference group, were examined for mineralization disturbances of the enamel of deciduous teeth. Perinatal data were collected retrospectively from obstetric and neonatal records. Within the low-birthweight/[LBW]/group, children with enamel hypoplasia had on the 5% level a significantly lower intake of breast milk during the 1st wk of life than children without disturbances. The only perinatal complication associated with development of mineralization defects was IRDS [idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome]. Infants with IRDS, however, had a significantly lower intake of breast milk during the 1st wk of life than did LBW infants without IRDS. A low frequency of enamel defects was found in the growth-retarded subgroup of the LBW infants. These infants had a significantly higher intake of breast milk during the 1st wk compared to the AGA [appropriate for gestational age]-group. A seasonal variation was found, with the highest prevalence of mineralization disturbances in infants born during winter months. The occurrence of mineralization defects of the deciduous teeth in LBW infants seems to be dependent upon the amount of breast milk given during the early neonatal period and also possibly in which season of the year they are born.