Mehdi Azizzadeh - Student Research Committee, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan
Rezvan Rafatjou - Student Research Committee, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan
Hassan Ahmadinia - Student Research Committee, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan

Background and Objective: Developmental defects of enamel (DDE) may be influenced by health problems and illness in children. The aim of the study was to identify the main characteristics of birth (delivery) and adverse medical conditions during the first month of life that may be related to DDE in permanent teeth.Materials and Methods: 100 children between the ages of 6 to 12 years were selected for this cross-sectional study by multistage randomization from four educational zones in Hamedan in 2014. Intraoral examination was used to diagnose DDE according to World Health Organization screening guidelines and the Modified DDE Index. The data on seven birth factors as well as health and nutritional conditions during the first month of life were collected by a questionnaire completed by the parents, and were analyzed with the chi-squared test, Spearman’s correlation and binary logistic regression.Finding: 46 (50.5%) out of 98 schoolchildren had at least one permanent tooth with DDE. The defects were significantly related with Apgar score at birth <7 (p = 0.003) and illness during the first month (p = 0.035). The frequency of DDE was significantly lower in the third child in families compared to the first and second child (p = 0.005). However, DDE showed no significant relationship with gestational age, delivery type, birth weight, gender or type of feeding during early infancy.Conclusion: Three associated factors were identified (birth Apgar score, illness during the first month of life, birth order) for DDE in permanent teeth. No specific illness was found to be significantly associated with DDE.

Dental enamel, Permanent teeth, Infant, Hamedan