Oral manifestations in premature infants. A systematic review

Abstract

Background Preterm delivery, defined as delivery occurring before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy, represents 6-10% of all births in developed countries. Preterm infants are characterized by a short prenatal development period and are at an increased risk of systemic disorders as a result of their immaturity. Few studies have analyzed oral alterations among preterm infants. This systematic review examines the orofacial characteristics most commonly found among preterm infants versus infants born at term, and evaluates their repercussions upon oral health and quality of life. Methods The search was limited to articles published in English or Spanish and that studied the prevalence of oral sequelae and alterations in preterm children. Their methodological quality was assessed based on the guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Results Most of the studies found the prevalence of structural enamel defects of the primary dentition to be greater among preterm infants. Other disorders such as structural enamel defects of the permanent dentition, caries, malocclusions or alterations in dental composition, size and development also appeared to be more frequent among preterm infants, though the supporting evidence was weak. Conclusions Further studies are needed, analyzing the association between preterm delivery and certain orofacial disorders such as caries, malocclusions and dental anomalies.