A study of the development of the permanent dentition in very low birthweight children

There have been no previous studies on dental maturation of prematurely born, very low birthweight ( 0.01), showing that "catch-up" growth had occurred by age 9 years. Children of birthweight < 1000 g with gestational ages < 30 weeks showed the greatest lag period in dental maturation. Clinical examination also showed that VLBW children had a higher percentage of enamel defects in the permanent first molars (21% versus 11%, P < 0.02) and lateral incisors (12% versus 0%, P < 0.01). As the permanent teeth commence their mineralization of few mouths after premature birth, it is hypothesized that there is persistent systemic derangement sufficient to affect enamel formation postnatally for some time in VLBW children