Abstract

SAAVEDRA-MARBAN, Gloria; PLANELLS DEL POZO, Paloma  and  RUIZ-EXTREMERA, Ángela. Orofacial pathology in children born under high-risk conditions: A pilot study. RCOE [online]. 2004, vol.9, n.2, pp.151-158. ISSN 1138-123X.

Introduction: Children born in high-risk conditions present a higher risk of suffering from illnesses. At the oral level, previous studies have mainly observed enamel hypoplasia, dental caries and palate anomalies. Our objective was to know orofacial pathology and its relation with low birth weight in a group of children born in Granada, Spain, under high-risk conditions. Patients and method: The sample comprised 60 children between 4-6 years born in high-risk conditions who needed neonatal intensive care. A descriptive study was carried out to determine the pathology in these children as well as a single variant statistical analysis to analyse the variables in terms of birth weight. Results: We observed a statistically significant relationship between birth weight under 1,550 grams and perinatal variables. The percentage of dental structure anomalies, dental caries, orofacial habits and traumatised teeth observed in our sample was high, showing a statistically significant relationship with birth weight. The hygienic habits and previous dental assistance were scarce, not being related with birth weight. Conclusions: The neonatal data are important and have to be taken into account. They supply information about sequels in children born in high-risk conditions and will allow the paediatric dentist to establish preventive and therapeutic protocols for the children.

Keywords : Children; High-risk; Oral; Pathology.

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