Developmental enamel defects, presenting as enamel hypoplasia or opacities are caused by damage or disruption to the developing enamel organ as a result of inherited and acquired systemic conditions. The high prevalence of these defects in the primary dentition demonstrates the vulnerability of the teeth to changes in the pre-and postnatal environment. The presence of enamel hypoplasia increases the risk of primary teeth to early childhood caries and tooth wear as the defective enamel is thinner, more plaque retentive and less resistant to dissolution in acid compared to normal enamel. The purpose of this paper was to critically review the aetiology and clinical complications of developmental enamel defects in the primary dentition and propose recommendations for the clinical management of affected teeth.Keywords: Enamel hypoplasia, enamel opacities, early childhood caries, primary dentition.Abbreviations and acronyms: CMV = cytomegalovirus; CPP-ACP = casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate; DDE = developmental defects of enamel; EEC = early childhood caries; HAS-ECC = hypoplasia-associated ECC; MIH = molar-incisor hypoplasia; SEM = scanning electron microscopic.

that dental caries is considered an infection in which the resistance of the hostin this case the tooth without lamellaecould play a part in the disease, and that surely warrants further attention.