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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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corresp<strong>on</strong>d to the timing <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> tooth development. This may assist in narrowing down the<br />

potential c<strong>on</strong>tributing agents or c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s that may predispose such enamel defects.<br />

Electr<strong>on</strong> microscopy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> exfoliated teeth may serve as a unique method to detect<br />

DDE at the microscopic level. 14 Current epidemiological survey techniques do not allow<br />

for further microscopic examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the enamel surface <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> primary teeth. Therefore,<br />

minute areas <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> enamel hypoplasia may not be visible without magnificati<strong>on</strong>.<br />

The introducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> several indices for DDE has helped propel this area forward<br />

to the stage where established criteria are used for research purposes. Having<br />

standardized indices improves the reliability <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> studies and assists in the comparis<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

prevalence and risk factors for DDE am<strong>on</strong>g published reports.<br />

By definiti<strong>on</strong>, demarcated opacities are alterati<strong>on</strong>s in the normal translucency <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

enamel, but the thickness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> enamel is not altered. 12,13,15 The defect has clear margins and<br />

may be white, cream, yellow, or brown in colour. Diffuse opacities are also changes in<br />

the translucency <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> enamel but these defects lack clear boundaries and can be patchy,<br />

c<strong>on</strong>fluent, or even linear. 12,13,15<br />

As dental fluorosis primarily manisfests as diffuse<br />

opacities, it too is recognized to be an enamel defect. Separate indices for fluorosis exist,<br />

but their discussi<strong>on</strong> is bey<strong>on</strong>d the scope <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this review.<br />

While opacities are qualitative changes, enamel hypoplasia involves quantitative<br />

changes to enamel. 12,13,15,16 Hypoplastic lesi<strong>on</strong>s may typically appear as pits, grooves, or<br />

missing enamel <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> varying size. 12,17 Table 1.2-1 highlights the classificati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> DDE<br />

according to the modified DDE Index. 12 In some instances, both enamel hypoplasia and<br />

opacities can exist simultaneously and current DDE indices account for this possibility. 12<br />

1.2-3

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