An epidemiologic study of linear enamel hypoplasia of deciduous anterior teeth in Guatemalan children

Abstract

Although linear enamel hypoplasia is commonly seen in children of malnourished communities throughout the world, the aetiology is undetermined. This study attempted to explore the distribution of this enamel defect in 429 Guatemalan children (ages 6-83 months) from four rural villages. The prevalence ranged from 18 to 24 per cent in three villages to 62 per cent in the fourth. The prevalence did not increase with age, suggesting caries was not an aetiologic factor. Protein supplement made available to pregnant mothers and children did not appear to reduce the occurrence of the lesion in children. Relatively fewer children manifested the lesion when born in the latter part of the year. No sex differences were observed. Siblings of children with the lesion had a prevalence significantly greater than the total study population, suggesting that factors operating at the family level enhance the occurrence of the hypoplastic lesion in children.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/22245/1/0000681.pd