A Longitudinal Study of the Dental and Physical Development of 2–3-Year-Old Children who were Underweight at Birth

Abstract

A study of 34 underweight babies is reported. Maternal illness and obstetric complications during pregnancy, birth weight, and skeletal and neurological maturity at birth were related to the height and weight skeletal maturity and dental development at follow up examination between 2-3 years. Not all the underweight singletons had achieved the growth levels of normal infants at follow up examinations. Those who were retarded in this respect were not necessarily those who were most underweight at birth. Girls showed slightly larger growth increments than boys. Twins reached normal growth levels more readily than even the largest of the singletons. Eruption rate of the teeth was retarded. No case showed advanced eruption and 11 showed delayed eruption. All 11 were skeletally immature at birth, but conversely, not all those skeletally immature at birth showed delayer eruption. The delayed eruption was not significantly related to the general growth. An abnormally high incidence of prenatal hypoplasia was detected (11 out of 34, 32.4%). The reason for this is discussed. The incidence of caries was not exceptionally high. The relationships between growth, dental findings and the prenatal environment are discussed.