Prenatal, neonatal and postnatal factors and the developmental defects of dental enamel

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of developmental defects in dental enamel and its possible association with prenatal, neonatal and postnatal conditions in six-year-old schoolchildren in a southern Brazilian municipality. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 655 six-year-old schoolchildren. Sociodemographic and health data were collected through interviews with mothers and children’s oral examinations at schools. Multivariate analyses were performed using Poisson regression with robust estimator. RESULTS: The prevalence of developmental defects of enamel was 44.0%. Demarcated opacities were the most prevalent, followed by diffuse opacities. Late pregnancy, maternal schooling less than eight years, female gender and child’s white skin color were independently associated with the prevalence of demarcated opacities. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of developmental defects in dental enamel was 44.0%. Late pregnancy, maternal schooling less than eight years, female gender and child’s white skin color were associated with the prevalences.