Relationship between deciduous molar hypomineralisation and parameters of bone metabolism in preschool children

Natal factors affecting developmental defects of enamel in preterm infants: a prospective cohort study

This study investigated natal factors influencing developmental defects of enamel (DDE) in premature infants using a newly refined preterm developmental defects of enamel (PDDE) index. Dental examinations were conducted on a cohort of 118 preterm infants (average age 3.5 ± 1.4 years) to record PDDE scores, while reviewing their medical records to examine natal factors. According to the logistic regression analysis, factors related to DDE prevalence were advanced maternal age, gestational age < 28 weeks, birth weight < 1000 g, 1 min APGAR score < 7, and hospitalization period > 2 months, which were significantly higher by 2.91, 5.53, 7.63, 10.02, and 4.0 times, respectively. According to regression analysis with generalized linear models, the PDDE scores were approximately 7.65, 4.96, and 15.0 points higher in premature children diagnosed with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intraventricular hemorrhage, and necrotizing enterocolitis, respectively. When endotracheal intubation was performed, the PDDE score was 5.06 points higher. The prevalence of PDDE was primarily observed bilaterally in the maxillary anterior teeth. Extremely preterm infants showed significantly delayed tooth eruption, suggesting that the influence of gestational age on dental development rates. Identifying the factors related to DDE in premature children can inform early dental interventions to support the oral health of high-risk children.

The Prevalence of Developmental Enamel Defects in Israeli Children and Its Association with Perinatal Conditions: A Cross-Sectional Study

Molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) and deciduous molar hypomineralization (DMH) affect the first permanent molars and second primary molars, respectively, causing a greater dental treatment burden and worse oral health quality of life among affected children. We assessed the prevalence and risk factors of MIH and DMH among 1209 children aged 3-13 years who attended a university dental clinic in Israel in 2019-2020. Clinical examinations were conducted to assess the presence of DMH and MIH. Potential etiological factors of MIH and DMH, including demographics, the mother's perinatal health, and the child's medical history during the first three years of life, were retrieved using a questionnaire. To examine the associations between the demographic and clinical variables and the prevalence of MIH and DMH, continuous variables were tested using the Kruskal-Wallis test with Bonferroni corrections. Categorical variables were analyzed by chi-squared test. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to evaluate which of the significant variables found in the univariate analysis could predict a diagnosis of both MIH and DMH. The prevalence of MIH and DMH was 10.3% and 6.0%, respectively. Age ≥ 5 years, taking medications during pregnancy and severe lesions were associated with a greater risk for a diagnosis of DMH + MIH. Multivariate logistic regression with adjustment for age showed that the severity of hypomineralization was positively and significantly associated with a diagnosis of MIH + DMH with an odds ratio of 4.18 (95% confidence interval 1.26-17.16), p = 0.03. MIH should be diagnosed and monitored in young children to prevent further deterioration. Moreover, a preventive and restorative program for MIH should be established.

Prevalence of hypomineralised second primary molars (HSPM): A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

To evaluate the prevalence of HSPM worldwide on a child and a tooth level and investigate the influence of diagnostic criteria on the prevalence of HSPM.

DESIGN

A comprehensive literature search was performed through MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The grey literature was also screened as were the reference lists of included studies. An adaptation of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate the quality of the studies. A meta-analysis was performed to determine the pooled prevalence of HSPM.

RESULTS

The search strategy identified 1,988 articles, 487 were retrieved for full-text evaluation, and 37 studies were included in the meta-analysis (32 for child and 23 for tooth level prevalence), providing data from 26,805 individuals and 81,107 molars. The prevalence of HSPM was 6.8% (95% CI 4.98%-8.86%) on a child level and 4.08% on a tooth level (95% CI = 2.80%-5.59%). The diagnostic criteria used did not seem to influence the prevalence results (P > .05). The majority of the papers (75%) showed a low-to-moderate risk of bias.

CONCLUSION

There was a broad variation in the prevalence reported that may be attributed to differences in the study population. The present meta-analysis showed a HSPM prevalence worldwide of 6.8% on a child level and 4.1% on a tooth level.

Oral Health Status and Practices, and Anthropometric Measurements of Preschool Children: Protocol for a Multi-African Country Survey

Background

Oral diseases are among the most prevalent conditions with significant impact on the growth and development of young children. Data are required to plan effectively for the management of early childhood caries (ECC) and other oral diseases in this age. There are currently very few African countries with updated and nationally representative data on ECC prevalence, and risk indicators and regional data on ECC and other oral diseases are scarce.

Objective

We aim to determine the oral health status and practices, dietary intake, and anthropometric measurements of preschool children in several African countries.

Methods

A cross-sectional study will be conducted in several African countries using a standardized questionnaire and clinical examination for data collection from healthy preschool children in kindergartens and primary health care facilities. The clinical examination will assess ECC using the decayed, missing due to caries, and filled teeth (dmft) index according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, dental erosion (using the Basic Erosive Wear Examination Index), deciduous molar hypomineralization (using the European Association of Paediatric Dentistry criteria), dental fluorosis (using Dean’s Index), oral hygiene status (using the Oral Hygiene Index Simplified), and oral mucosal lesions. Oral hygiene habits and dental visits will be assessed using the WHO child questionnaire, and dietary intake will be assessed using the Food and Agriculture Organization method. Anthropometric measurements will be obtained following the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry standard protocol, and the children’s nutritional status will be assessed following the WHO child growth standards. To train and calibrate examiners, educational resources and electronic forms will be used to reach interexaminer and intraexaminer reliability with κ>0.6. Descriptive analysis will determine the prevalence of clinical conditions by age and sex. Bivariate analysis and multivariable regression will assess associations between the clinical conditions and sociodemographic factors, and oral health behaviors.

Results

Data collection will begin after approvals and ethical clearance are obtained. The first stage will include 3 countries, namely Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa, and collaborators from other African countries will join afterward.

Conclusions

This study will lay down the foundations for using validated tools to collect data on the oral health of young children in Africa, allowing researchers from different countries across Africa to collect standardized data on ECC and other oral conditions. This will facilitate comparisons and analysis of risk factors that might be unique to the African continent. The results will provide baseline data on the prevalence of oral diseases and enable planning to address the treatment needs of young African children and design programs to prevent oral diseases in the African continent.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/33552

Factors and Mechanisms Involved in Acquired Developmental Defects of Enamel: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Developmental Defects of Enamel (DDE) is a pathology of the teeth that can greatly alter the quality of life of patients (hypersensitivity, esthetic issues, loss of function, etc.). The acquired DDE may occur as a result of a wide range of acquired etiological factors and his prevalence of this pathology may reach up to 89.9%. The main objective of this research was to identify and analyze, in current literature, the factors related to acquired DDE, in order to propose a general theory about the mechanisms involved.

METHODS

The search of the primary literature was conducted until [December 31, 2021]. Our search strategy uses the Pubmed/MEDLINE database and was structured around 3 terms ["Development," "Defect," and "Enamel"]. To be included, references had to be primary studies, written in English. Exclusion criteria were reviews, in vitro, animal, genetic or archeology studies, and studies focused on clinical management of DDE. One hundred and twenty three articles were included in this scoping review: 4 Randomized clinical trials, 1 letter, 5 cases reports, 2 fundamentals studies, and 111 observational studies (33 Cross-sectional studies, 68 Cohort study and 10 Case-control study). The quality of evidence was assessed using the PEDro scale for clinical trials, the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for observational studies, and a published tool to assess the quality of case reports and case series.

RESULTS

A scoping review of the literature identified 114 factors potentially involved in acquired DDE. The most frequently encountered pathologies are those causing a disorder of calcium homeostasis or a perturbation of the ARNT pathway in mother or child. The link between the ARNT pathway and metabolism deficiency in uncertain and needs to be defined. Also, the implication of this mechanism in tissue impairment is still unclear and needs to be explored.

CONCLUSIONS

By identifying and grouping the risk factors cited in the literature, this taxonomy and the hypotheses related to the mechanism allow health practitioners to adopt behaviors that limit the risk of developing aDDE and to set up a prevention of dental pathology. In addition, by reviewing the current literature, this work provides guidance for basic research, clinical studies, and literature searches.

Prenatal, perinatal and postnatal events associated with hypomineralized second primary molar: a systematic review with meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The etiology of hypomineralized second primary molar (HSPM) appears to be multifactorial but remains uncertain. Thus, the objective was to systematically review studies that investigated adverse health conditions in the prenatal, perinatal and postnatal periods associated with HSPM.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The search was carried out in five databases and in gray literature. The risk of bias of observational studies was analyzed according to the Newcastle-Ottawa scale.

RESULTS

A total of 1878 studies were identified. Fourteen were eligible, and seven were included in the meta-analysis. Maternal smoking (OR = 2.88; 95%CI: 1.62-5.15) and presence of maternal hypertension (OR = 2.91; 95%CI: 1.35-6.28) were significantly associated with higher odds of HSPM. In the perinatal period, factors associated with HSPM were low birth weight (OR = 1.50; 95%CI: 1.15-1.96), prematurity (OR = 1.93; 95%CI: 1.37-2.71), delivery complications (OR = 2.42; 95%CI: 1.52-3.83) and need for an incubator (OR = 1.65; 95%CI: 1.01-2.70). Not breastfeeding (OR = 1.26; 95%CI: 1.01-1.58), use of antibiotics by the child (OR = 1.24; 95%CI: 1.04-1.48), fever (OR = 1.37; 95%CI: 1.10-1.72) and asthma (OR = 1.91; 95%CI: 1.16-3.13) were the postnatal factors associated with HSPM.

CONCLUSION

Maternal smoking, maternal hypertension, low birth weight, prematurity, delivery complications, need for incubation, not breastfeeding, antibiotic use, fever and childhood asthma were associated with HSPM. Well-designed prospective cohort studies are needed. Clinical relevance Understanding the etiological factors can be guiding aspects for individual clinical approaches, as well as guiding the design of preventive interventions for HSPM.