Enamel Defects and Caries in Preterm Children Aged 5-10 Years in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Background: Enamel defects are among the most commonly reported dental findings in preterm/low birth weight children. They potentially lead to an increase in caries susceptibility.

Aim: To assess the prevalence of enamel defects and dental caries in a group of preterm children (aged 5-10 years)in Dubai, United Arab Emirates(UAE).

Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of sixty-two preterm children (mean age=8.1±1.54) and sixty-two full-term children (mean age=8.1±1.73) of both genders born in Latifah Children’s Hospital in Dubai (UAE). The medical records were retrospectively reviewed for all births between January 2007 and December 2012 to obtain demographics, birth condition, gestational week and birth weight. A dental examination to check for enamel defects and dental caries was performed by one calibrated examiner.

Results: The prevalence of enamel defects in the pre-term study group was significantly higher than the full-term control group (58.15% and 24.2%respectively; P< 0.001).Enamel defectswere4.34 times more prevalent among preterm children. Birth weight was a statistically significant factor contributing to enamel defects (P<0.001). Preterm children with low and very- low birth weight had more enamel defects 34(94.4%) than full-term children with normal birth weight 13(86.7%). Intubation and type of delivery were significant contributing factors to enamel defects (P<0.05).Pre-term children had double the risk of white or creamy demarcated opacities and three times more risk of post eruptive breakdown compared to the full-term group(P=0.017). In the primary dentition the mean dmft was 4.61±4.30, while in the permanent dentition DMFT was 0.38±0.99.There was a statistically significant difference in permanent teeth caries experience amongst pre-term children compared to the full-term control as measured by DMFT (P=0.008), while there wasno statistically significant difference in primary teeth caries experience as measured by dmft(P=0.222).

Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that, in the UAE city of Dubai, there was a high prevalence of enamel defects in the pre-term group. Dental caries experience in the permanent dentition was significantly higher in the pre-term group compared to their full-term counterparts.