[Evaluation of the dental eruption pattern and of enamel defects in the premature child].

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relation between enamel defects and delay of dental eruption with prematurity.
Methods: the sample consisted of 100 premature children ranging from six months to six years of age, observed in the Children Institute of the Medical School of the USP. An anamnesis of the oral cavity was carried out by just one observer who analyzed the chronology of teeth eruption as well as the occurrence of enamel defects. A medical evaluation was also conducted in order to detect potential problems during the prenatal, neonatal and postnatal periods. The statistical assessment included descriptive analysis, average frequency and a confidence interval of 95%.
Results: Defects appeared in 35% of the premature children; 51.43% of those affected had been born with a low weight (< 2500g), compared to 14.29% born with normal weight (> 2500g). No relationship was found between the occurrence of defects with a low Apgar score during the first minute, second minute and five minutes (p=0.628; p=0.308;p=0.,193). The most common defects were white opacities, in the deciduous (19.0%) as well as in the permanent dentition (100%). The incisor and cervical halves of the vestibular faces were the most affected reaching values of 88.04% for the deciduous dentition and of 100% for the permanent one. In about 42% of children eruption of teeth took place between 6 to 10 months of age.
Conclusions: Premature children may have enamel defects caused by different factors that appear during pregnancy with a possible association between low weight and enamel defects. Furthermore, premature children had teeth eruption in a normal period, nevertheless, until 36 months of age with less teeth total than children born at normal term.