Abstract
Background
Low birth weight is defined as less than 2500 g, with premature birth, a live birth within 37 weeks of pregnancy, and fetal growth restriction the most common causes. Congenital (natal) teeth are teeth that have already erupted at birth, and may be primary or supernumerary teeth.
Case report
A low birth weight infant was suspected to have congenital epulis an eruption cyst in the mandibular central incisor region. At a two-months checkup, gingival alveolar ridge swelling had disappeared and two mandibular anterior teeth were found erupted at the same site. The diagnosis was eruption cyst caused by a congenital tooth.
Conclusions
A swollen mandibular gingival alveolar ridge was seen at birth, though no feeding problems or other complications were noted. For the present patient, in consideration of age and surgical stress, the first choice for therapy was regular follow-up examination.
1
Introduction
The cause of low birth weight, defined as less than 2500 g, are most often caused by being born too early (preterm birth) or fetal growth restriction. Preterm birth is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a baby born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy have been completed. It is then further sub-divided by gestational age, including extremely preterm (less than 28 weeks), very preterm (28–31 weeks 6 days), moderately preterm (32–33 weeks 6 days), and late preterm (34–36 weeks 6 days). Low birth weight infants are also sub-divided into low (<2500 g), very low (<1500 g), and extremely very low (<1000 g) birth weight [ ]. Complications related to preterm birth and low birth weight are cerebral palsy, intellectual developmental disorders, and problems with cognition, attention, and neuro-motor functioning [ ], while dental characteristics often observed include a small sized dental arch, it has been reported that the size of the dental arch is small [ ] and enamel hypoplasia [ ].
Congenital teeth are defined as natal teeth when present at birth and neonatal teeth for those that appear within the first 30 days after birth [ ]. The incidence of congenital teeth is about 0.1% and most are observed as lower central primary incisors [ ]. Related complications include feeding issues, such as difficulty and discomfort with suckling, sublingual ulceration, and laceration of the mother’s breast while there is also risk of aspiration [ ].
Clinical findings and dental management of a 25-day-old premature low birth weight infant girl admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of our hospital are presented here. The patient was suspected of having congenital epulis and an eruption cyst related to the mandibular central incisor.
Written and verbal consent for use of patient-related documentation and information for the purpose of publication were provided by the parents.
2
Case report
A Japanese girl was delivered by planned caesarean section after a pregnancy term of 32 weeks 1 day at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Hospital. Birth weight was 1765 g and soon after birth the child was transferred to the NICU. Following birth, it was noted that the mandibular gingival alveolar ridge was swollen. However, there were no feeding problems or other complications, and she remained under careful observation.
At 24 days after birth, the swelling had not decreased. The parents requested a detailed examination and consideration of treatment, and the patient was referred to our clinic on day 25. A physical examination revealed an exophytic lesion about 60 × 110 mm in size with elastic hardness in the anterior sector of the mandible, as well as smooth and normal epithelium ( Fig. 1 ). Although body weight was low, the general condition and growth of the patient of the patient after birth were normal. The patient left the hospital at the age of 1 month, then, the outpatient clinic for follow-up examination until 9 months of age. It was decided to perform follow-up examinations every month, as there were no feeding problems or other complications. Two weeks later, when the patient was 1 month 5 days old, the size of the lesion in the anterior sector of the mandible had diminished to approximately 35 × 100 mm, with elastic hardness, and smooth and normal epithelium noted ( Fig. 2 ).
At the age of 2 months 9 days, swelling of the mandibular gingival alveolar ridge had nearly disappeared and two primary anterior teeth were found to have erupted at the same site. There was no abnormal mobility or feeding disorder observed ( Fig. 3 ). An examination at the age of 4 months 0 days, found that the mandibular alveolar ridge swelling had disappeared. Eruption of the mandibular anterior teeth was noted as before, while again no abnormal mobility or feeding disorder was observed ( Fig. 4 ). At the age of 6 months 25 days, enamel hypoplasia was observed on the buccal surface ( Fig. 5 ). The result of the hypoplasia was only discoloring and there were no enamel defects noted. Therefore, the teeth were only observed. Intraoral photographs and radiography findings at 9 months 0 days confirmed eruption of a mandibular primary central incisor, along with root formation and alveolar bone support ( Figs. 6 and 7 ).
Stay updated, free dental videos. Join our Telegram channel
VIDEdental - Online dental courses
