The role of developmental factors in hypoplasia of deciduous teeth and treatment specifics in pediatric dental practice

Abstract

Relevance. Congenital and systemic diseases can lead to developmental errors in the enamel organ, resulting in anomalies such as enamel hypoplasia. The high prevalence of these defects illustrates the vulnerability of teeth to changes in the intrauterine and postnatal environments. Enamel hypoplasia contributes to the development of caries and tooth wear by making enamel thinner, more retentive to dental plaque, and less resistant to acid degradation compared to normal enamel. Surfaces of the affected hard tissues are smooth and exhibit a symmetric distribution pattern. The occurrence of enamel hypoplasia in children is a significant factor in the development of caries; thus, they require comprehensive treatment and ongoing preventive care by a pediatric dentist.Purpose. To analyze the impact of factors contributing to the development of deciduous teeth hypoplasia in children, on the frequency of this condition and the specifics of its treatment by a pediatric dentist.Materials and Methods. The study involved the examination and treatment of children aged 4-12 at the Dental and Implantology Department of Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University over a 12-month period. Out of 972 children, 67 were diagnosed with systemic enamel hypoplasia. A questionnaire was developed for statistical research, and data were processed using Statistica 7.0 software Statistica 7.0 (StatSoft, США).Results. The survey revealed chronic diseases in 16.42% of mothers. During pregnancy, 68.6% of the mothers visited a dentist once, and 31.3% visited two to three times. Most mothers experienced early pregnancy toxemia—67% in the first half and 58.2% in the second half of the pregnancy. Additionally, 50.7% suffered from acute respiratory viral infections and influenza, and 25.4% had gastrointestinal diseases. Feeding practices involved breastfeeding in 68.7% of cases and artificial feeding in 31.3% (up to 3 months – 16.4%, up to 1 year – 64.1%, up to 2 years – 19.4%). Examination of the oral cavity in 67 children with systemic hypoplasia revealed a spotted form in 79.1% of cases and a purely destructive form in 20.9% of cases. Contemporary conservative dentistry emphasizes minimally invasive approaches to the treatment of such dental defects.Conclusion. The study of deciduous tooth hypoplasia in children highlighted the importance of the health status of the expectant mother and timely sanitation of the oral cavity. Particular attention should be paid to maternal infectious diseases, specifically influenza and ARVI. The findings underscore the need for preventive measures against temporary tooth hypoplasia from the onset of pregnancy planning to enhance the dental well-being of children.