Scanning Electron Microscopy and Macroscopic Examination of Prematurely Erupted Teeth in Preterm Infants.

Prematurely erupted teeth are rare in fullterm neonates and extremely rare in prematurely delivered infants. The aim of this study was to present macroscopic and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations of prematurely erupted primary teeth of preterm very low birthweight (VLBW) and extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants. Three preterm VLBW and ELBW infants with prematurely erupted lower incisors were examined. The dental examination assessed the type, location, clinical appearance, and degree of mobility of the prematurely erupted teeth. The structural appearance of enamel and dentin of three extracted and longitudinally sectioned prematurely erupted teeth was investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Lower incisors were rootless with hypermobility. The surface of enamel of the prematurely erupted primary teeth was hypoplastic and hypomineralized and had a typical "honeycomb" appearance in SEM. The aprismatic type of enamel was visible in some regions. The neonatal line separating the layer of prenatal enamel from postnatal enamel was observed. The enamel prisms were interconnected by interprismatic substances, and cross-striations of prisms were visible. Dentin presented a typical tubular character. The dentinal layer near the enamel dentin junction had Y-shaped branching of dentinal tubules. On the pulpal side, dentin had a globular character. The macroscopic and SEM investigations particularly revealed alterations in enamel, while the dentin of neonatal teeth had a nearly normal appearance.

[Oral health status of women with normal and high-risk pregnancies]. / Stav orálního zdraví u zen s fyziologickým a rizikovým tehotenstvím.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the oral health status of women with normal pregnancies and those with high-risk pregnancies. METHOD: A total of 142 women in the third trimester of pregnancy were randomly selected for this study. The pregnant women were divided into two groups: a normal pregnancy group (group F, n = 61) and a high-risk pregnancy group (group R, n = 81). The following variables were recorded for each woman: age, general health status, DMF index, CPITN index, PBI index, amounts of Streptococcus mutans in the saliva and dental treatment needs. The data obtained were analysed statistically. The Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis test and chi square test were used, and p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The two-sided t-test was used to compare the two cohorts. RESULTS: Women with high-risk pregnancies showed increased values in all measured indices and tests, but there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the DMF index, CPITN index and amounts of Streptococcus mutans present in the saliva. Statistically significant differences were detected between the two groups for the PBI index and dental treatment needs. In group F, the maximum PBI index value was 2.9 in group F and 3.8 in group R. Significant differences were found also in mean PBI values. Out of the entire study cohort, 94 women (66.2%) required dental treatment, including 52% (n = 32) of the women with normal pregnancies and 77% (n = 62) of the women with high-risk pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that women with complications during pregnancy had severe gingivitis and needed more frequent dental treatment than women with normal pregnancies.

Developmental enamel defects of primary incisors in preterm infants with very low and extremely low birthweight. A case- control study.

AIM: To determine the prevalence of developmental defects of enamel (DDE) in primary incisors of preterm very low birthweight (VLBW) and extremely low birthweight (ELBW) one-year-old infants and to compare the findings with fullterm one-year-old normal birthweight (NBW) infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All infants were enrolled in the case-control study at birth. Personal information and medical histories were obtained through interviews with parents and from medical hospital records. The presence of DDE in primary incisors was evaluated in 82 one-year old preterm infants delivered with VLBW, in 50 ELBW and in 58 fullterm NBW infants. The data were statistically analysed by ANOVA and chi-square tests, and a statistical significance level p<0.05 was established. Results DDE were diagnosed in 19 (23.2 %) preterm VLBW infants, in 27 (54%) ELBW infants and in 4 (6.9%) infants of the control group. The most frequent DDE found in the case group was hypoplasia in 10 (12.2%) VLBW infants and in 14 (28%) ELBW infants. The opacities were found in 6 (7.3%) VLBW infants and in 8 (16%) ELBW infants. CONCLUSION: The results of the study confirmed a significantly higher prevalence of DDE in the primary incisors in preterm ELBW infants than in VLBW infants and than in full term NBW infants.