Enamel Hypoplasia in Relation to Caries in Guatemalan Children

Abstract

Guatemalan children with anterior linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) had a significantly greater caries experience in posterior dentition than their peers who did not have anterior LEH. The findings suggest that the synergistic mechanism of undernutrition and infection, which may underlie the occurrence of anterior LEH, may also predispose clinically normal appearing deciduous molars to an excessive caries attack equal to that observed in the grossly hypoplastic anterior teeth. The nutritional implications merit further investigation.