Prevalence and distribution of developmental enamel defects in children with cerebral palsy in Beijing, China

Abstract

To investigate the prevalence and distribution of developmental enamel defects in children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Beijing, China. A total of 135 children aged 1.5-6 years with moderate or severe congenital CP diagnosed in Beijing Boai Hospital from year 2005 to 2009 were recruited. The children underwent dental examination at the hospital dental clinic. Enamel defects (opacity and/or hypoplasia) were found in 44 (32.6%) out of 135 CP children. Enamel hypoplasia was found in 35 (25.9%) of the CP children, opacity alone was found in 5 (3.7%) of the CP children, and mixed defects (opacity and hypoplasia) was found in 4 (3.0%) of the CP children. Most of the enamel defects were located symmetrically in the primary incisors and first molars. 42.4% of children with enamel defects were born prematurely (<37 weeks) where as only 23.2% of them were born at normal gestational age. No statistically significant difference in the prevalence of enamel defects was found in relation to birth weight (P > 0.05). A high prevalence of developmental enamel defects was found among the children with CP. The prevalence of defects varied with the tooth type and was associated with gestational age of the children.