How does baby-tooth enamel differ between children born prematurely and those born at full term?

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Early childhood caries (ECC) is an important research topic, with prevention efforts targeting its multiple causative factors. Birth timing affects tooth development and may be associated with differences in enamel structure and composition. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and structural characteristics of primary-tooth enamel in children born preterm or at full term who had ECC.

In a comparative laboratory analysis, researchers selected 20 extracted primary teeth: 10 from children born preterm and 10 from children born at full term, all affected by ECC. They examined unaffected portions of enamel using polarized light microscopy (POLMI), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS).

POLMI showed that prenatally formed enamel was thinner in the preterm group. EDS analysis showed higher concentrations of calcium and phosphorus in the full-term group. Under SEM, enamel surfaces in the full-term group were smooth, whereas those in the preterm group were pitted and eroded, with a wider distribution of enamel hypoplasia.

The researchers concluded that primary-tooth enamel in children born preterm showed defects in both qualitative and quantitative aspects, and that these defects could be a possible risk factor in the development of ECC.