Birth weight and pregnancy complications associated with the enamel defects

Today at the 93rd General Session and Exhibition of the International Association for Dental Research, researcher Bertha A. Chavez Gonzalez, Universidade de Minas Gerias, Lima, San Borja, Peru, will present a study titled "Birth Weight and Pregnancy Complications Associated With the Enamel Defects." The IADR General Session is being held in conjunction with the 44th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental Research and the 39th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research.

This cross-sectional representative study aimed to assess the association between birth weight and severity of defects development of enamel (DDE) in the primary dentition. The sample was comprised 1,309 children five years of age, enrolled in kindergarten in the city of Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. The children were examined at school for the diagnosis of DDE. The mothers answered a questionnaire containing information of complications during pregnancy. The response variable was dichotomized in greater and lesser gravity of developmental defects of enamel, depending on the location of the DDE, when in the previous sector was considered minor and when he was in the posterior region or both, greater severity. The covariates were child gender, birth weight, prematurity, age of the mother during pregnancy and complications during pregnancy.

The prevalence of DDE with greater and minor severity was 22.7% and 77.3% respectively. The Poisson regression analysis of the adjusted model showed a greater prevalence of DDE among children with low birth weight. The researchers conclude that low birth weight and hypertension during pregnancy can be considered risk factors for the severity of DDE.

This research is supported by the following agencies located in Brazil: Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais, Fundacao Capes Ministério da Educacao and Ministerio da Ciencia, Tecnologia e Inovacao.

What is low birthweight?

Low birthweight is a term used to describe babies who are born weighing less than 2,500 grams (5 pounds, 8 ounces). The weight of an average newborn is usually around 8 pounds. Over 8 percent of all newborn babies in the United States have low birthweight, and the number is rising.

Babies with low birthweight look much smaller than other babies of normal birthweight. A low birthweight baby's head may look bigger than the rest of his or her body. He or she often looks thin with little body fat.

This is a summary of abstract #3128 titled "Birth Weight and Pregnancy Complications Associated With the Enamel Defects," to be presented by Bertha A. Chavez Gonzalez on Friday, March 13, 2015, from 3:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. in Hall C of the Hynes Convention Center.

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What causes low birthweight?

Low birthweight is mostly caused by premature birth (being born before 37 weeks). Being born early means a baby has less time in the mother's uterus to grow and gain weight. Much of a baby's weight is gained during the last weeks of pregnancy.