ABSTRACT
AIM: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of dental caries in three to four-year-old children born pre-term and with a low birth weight (PLBW) to be compared with normal birth-weight children (NBW) and further to investigate the impact of relative risk factors on the development of dental caries in primary teeth. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This cross-sectional case-control study was conducted on 90 children (45 PLBW and 45 NBW). The demographic data and information about feeding practices was ascertained using a structured questionnaire. Dental caries status (dmft) was determined, and the differences between the two groups were tested using the Fisher's exact and the Mann-Whitney U tests at a confidence level of 5%. RESULTS: Twenty-five children (eight PLBW and 17 NBW) were caries free, and the mean+/-SD dmft was 2.5+/-0.3 in PLBW and 2.2+/-0.4 in NBW children (p>0.05). The length of feeding in PLBW children was lower than the NBW group (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of dental caries did not differ between the PLBW and NBW children. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Enamel hypoplasia and snacking were not common in PLBW children which may account for the lack of difference in dental caries between the two groups.
