Influence of Maternal Prenatal Vitamin D Status on Infant Oral Health

This evidence is considered to be <strong>of</strong> lower quality, level III.
Local Factors
o Trauma to Tooth Bud
Intubation, laryngoscopy, endotracheal intubation, and neonatal ventilation are known to
disturb enamel formation in primary teeth, which leads to both qualitative enamel defects
but more notably, enamel hypoplasia. 3,31,51,76,88 The forces from these procedures on the
edentulous ridge <strong>of</strong> infants are sufficient to disturb enamel formation.
With the exception <strong>of</strong> one study, the majority <strong>of</strong> studies reporting a relationship
between trauma to the developing tooth bud and enamel defects can be classified as level
III evidence.
o Primary Tooth Abscess
Dental abscesses from primary teeth may provide enough <strong>of</strong> an insult to negatively
impact the completion <strong>of</strong> enamel formation <strong>of</strong> permanent successors, <strong>of</strong>ten referred to as
Turner’s hypoplasia. 2,17
Overall, the evidence for this is <strong>of</strong> low quality (level III).
o Cleft Lip and Palate
Children born with cleft lip and cleft palate may show a higher prevalence <strong>of</strong> enamel
defects, both opacities and hypoplastic enamel, in the primary and permanent
dentitions. 77
Surgical correction <strong>of</strong> these facial deformities may result in trauma to
ameloblasts <strong>of</strong> maturing teeth. 2
This evidence is considered to be <strong>of</strong> low quality, level III.
1.2-16