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Influence of Maternal Prenatal Vitamin D Status on Infant Oral Health

Influence of Maternal Prenatal Vitamin D Status on Infant Oral Health

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defects. Low awareness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> vitamin D may be a proxy measure for dietary and<br />

supplemental intake <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> vitamin D. These individuals may not be c<strong>on</strong>sciously looking for<br />

foods rich in vitamin D when they shop for groceries and may not be taking supplements.<br />

It is plausible that women who are generally unaware <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> vitamin D, its sources, and its<br />

role in health have lower vitamin D levels, which may have an impact <strong>on</strong> their infant’s<br />

oral health.<br />

As discussed in Chapter 1, Secti<strong>on</strong> 2, enamel hypoplasia and other developmental<br />

defects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> enamel in the primary dentiti<strong>on</strong> can arise from a variety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> genetic c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s<br />

and disturbances resulting from infecti<strong>on</strong>s, nutriti<strong>on</strong>al deficiencies and metabolic<br />

disorders, perinatal disturbances (e.g. premature birth and low birth weight), and<br />

chemical agents including antibiotics. 47-49 One particular study examined 455 exfoliated<br />

primary incisors to evaluate the influence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> both antenatal and postnatal factors <strong>on</strong><br />

enamel hypoplasia. 47 The results <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> that study suggest that women who first present for<br />

prenatal care following the first trimester <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pregnancy are significantly more likely to<br />

have a child who displays enamel hypoplasia in the primaray dentiti<strong>on</strong>. 47 It also reported<br />

that children who were born premature were more likely to have enamel defects in their<br />

primary incisors. 47 This certainly reinforces the importance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> early access to prenatal<br />

care as it may have an impact for infant and childhood oral health.<br />

While others have reported that infant illness and medical c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s may be<br />

associated with an increased prevalence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> hypoplastic enamel, we were unable to<br />

c<strong>on</strong>firm such a finding in this prospective study. Our study collected informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong><br />

possible risk factors for DDEs either directly or indirectly. However, this prospective<br />

investigati<strong>on</strong> was limited as it did not directly capture informati<strong>on</strong> regarding specific<br />

6-15

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