Developmental Enamel Defects and Dental Caries in the Primary Dentition of Preterm Children.

Purpose: To assess developmental enamel defects (DED) and dental caries of preterm (PT) and/or low birth weight (LBW) children compared to full term (FT) and/or normal birth weight (NBW) infants, and to evaluate the association of DED with socioeconomic factors, gestational health, and postnatal factors. Methods: This study included 84 two- to five-year-old children. The PT/LBW group included 42 children who received medical care at a university hospital, while FT/ NBW group included 42 subjects. Children were matched by sex and age (1:1 ratio). Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and Poisson regression were used to analyse the data. Results: Children in the PT/LBW group had a significantly higher number of teeth with DED than subjects in the FT/NBW group. No difference was observed between the groups regarding dental caries (P >0.05). Admission to the neonatal intensive care was significantly associated with DED unit (prevalence ratio = 0.21 [95 percent confidence interval = 0.1 to 0.5]). Conclusion: PT/LBW children presented more DED than FT/NBW children. No differences were observed between the groups for dental caries. Admission to the neonatal intensive care unit was associated with DED.