Abstract
BackgroundThere is a need to comprehensively investigate the relationship between tooth eruption and infant growth to explain the theory of tooth emergence. This study aimed to investigate the association between infant growth during the first year of life and the emergence of the permanent teeth.MethodsA random sample of 668, 12-year-old students was recruited from a birth cohort. Erupted permanent tooth number was recorded. The association of infant growth (growth trajectories and growth rates) and permanent tooth emergence was examined through logistic regression analyses. The regression model was adjusted by potential confounders including gender, gestational age, mode of delivery, type of feeding, parental education, and health status.ResultsThe response rate was 76.9% (n = 514). Two hundred and forty-five (47.7%) children had all 28 permanent teeth erupted. Infants who had higher birth weight z-scores and those who had grown slowly during the first three months of life were more likely to have complete permanent teeth emergence at their 12-year-old in both unadjusted (p < 0.01) and adjusted model (adjusted for gender, gestational age, mode of delivery, type of feeding, parental education, and health status, p < 0.01). However, no significant association was found between the growth trajectories and permanent tooth emergence in either unadjusted or adjusted models (p > 0.05).ConclusionBirth weight and infant growth during the first three months of life might be associated with permanent tooth emergence at their 12 years of age. This association may be applied in the assessment of risk for dental caries or malocclusion.
Highlights
There is a need to comprehensively investigate the relationship between tooth eruption and infant growth to explain the theory of tooth emergence
It was estimated that a sample of 470 students would have an 80% statistical power of detecting an odds ratio (OR) of 1.50 in the chance of having complete permanent tooth emergence with 1 unit raises in birth weight z-score, together considering a design effect of cluster sampling and level of significance set at 0.05
No significant difference was found in other information in terms of gender, health status at birth, type of feeding, parental education attainment, or oral health data among participants and non-participants (p > 0.05) (Table 2)
Summary
There is a need to comprehensively investigate the relationship between tooth eruption and infant growth to explain the theory of tooth emergence. This study aimed to investigate the association between infant growth during the first year of life and the emergence of the permanent teeth. Tooth eruption is the process of a tooth moving from its site developed in alveolar bone to its functional position in occlusion [1]. Tooth emergence is part of the eruption process which a tooth penetrates into the oral cavity from within. Disturbances in timing or sequence of eruption may result in a chain of complications such as malocclusion, periodontal disease, and dental caries; and subsequently increase the associated dental and orthodontic treatment needs. A combination of genetic and environmental factors is mentioned [6], the mechanism responsible for tooth eruption/emergence remains uncertain.
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