Dental Caries in Pre-term and Low Birth-weight Children and Related Factors

Abstract

The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of dental caries in three to four-year-old children born pre-term and with a low birth weight (PLBW) to be compared with normal birth-weight children (NBW) and further to investigate the impact of relative risk factors on the development of dental caries in primary teeth. This cross-sectional case-control study was conducted on 90 children (45 PLBW and 45 NBW). The demographic data and information about feeding practices was ascertained using a structured questionnaire. Dental caries status (dmft) was determined, and the differences between the two groups were tested using the Fisher's exact and the Mann-Whitney U tests at a confidence level of 5%. Twenty-five children (eight PLBW and 17 NBW) were caries free, and the mean+/-SD dmft was 2.5+/-0.3 in PLBW and 2.2+/-0.4 in NBW children (p>0.05). The length of feeding in PLBW children was lower than the NBW group (p>0.05). The prevalence of dental caries did not differ between the PLBW and NBW children. Enamel hypoplasia and snacking were not common in PLBW children which may account for the lack of difference in dental caries between the two groups.