OBJECTIVETo study the clinical manifestation and its pathogenesis of the developmental enamel defects in primary dentition of children with low birth weight and premature birth history.

METHODSOne hundred and seventy-six children (aged 3-8 years old) were studied about the clinical manifestation of the developmental enamel defects in the primary dentition and its relationship with their medical history.

RESULTSThe prevalence of enamel defects in primary dentition in these children was 77.3%. There was no significant correlation between enamel defects and gender. Enamel opacity mostly affected the upper and lower second primary molars. Enamel hypoplasia mostly affected the maxillary and mandibular primary incisors and the maxillary first primary molars.

CONCLUSIONEnamel defects mainly result from children's general disorder at birth or within one year after birth.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Dental Enamel ; abnormalities ; Dental Enamel Hypoplasia ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Male ; Molar ; abnormalities ; Prevalence ; Tooth, Deciduous ; abnormalities