Preterm Birth Complications On Oro-Dental Structures: An Updated Review

Abstract

ABSTRACT Preterm birth is the birth of a baby of less than 37 weeks gestational age. The cause of preterm birth is in many situations elusive and unknown. Premature infants have a short prenatal development period and are at greater risk for short and long term complications, including disabilities and impediments in growth and mental development. The prevalence of oral defects in the deciduous and permanent dentition has been reported to be higher in premature infants. Premature birth can cause enamel defects such as quantitative loss of enamel (hypoplasia), qualitative change in the translucence (opacity) of the enamel, or a combination of both. Other dental defects in preterm babies include notching of the alveolar ridge, palatal grooving, high arched palate, dental crossbite and palatal asymmetry. Moreover, delayed eruption/maturation and developmental defects of both the primary and permanent dentitions have also been reported. With the introduction of intensive medical care including the increased use of antenatal corticosteroids and the recent routine administration of surfactant replacement therapy, survival of prematurely born infants has improved markedly. However, the significant progress has been made in the care of premature infants but not in reducing the prevalence of preterm birth, making the reduction of preterm birth a challenging proposition.