Oral Health of Premature Children Compared to Full-Term Children
Author Information
Author(s): Schlesinger Heide L., Heinrich-Weltzien Roswitha, Schüler Ina M.
Primary Institution: Jena University Hospital
Hypothesis
Is the oral health of children born prematurely worse than that of children born at term?
Conclusion
Children born prematurely are at a higher risk for developmental defects of enamel and periodontal health issues compared to those born at term.
Supporting Evidence
- Children born prematurely had a caries prevalence of 47.4%, while full-term children had 57.9%.
- Developmental defects of enamel were found in 55.3% of preterm children compared to 28.9% of full-term children.
- Children with extremely low birth weight had the highest caries experience.
Takeaway
Kids who are born early might have more problems with their teeth and gums than kids who are born on time.
Methodology
The study compared oral health parameters in 76 children aged 7-9, with 38 born prematurely and 38 full-term, assessing dental caries, enamel defects, and periodontal health.
Potential Biases
Potential selection bias due to the matching process and the homogeneity of the study population.
Limitations
The small sample size for subgroup analysis may limit the reliability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Children aged 7-9 years, with 38 born preterm and 38 full-term, matched by age and sex.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.035 for dmft comparison
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 40.8–73.7 for caries prevalence
Statistical Significance
p ≤ 0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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