Background: This study was proposed to address the effects of preterm birth and low birth weight on eruption of primary mandibular central incisors in Lahore city.
Objective: To compare the time of eruption of primary mandibular central incisor teeth in preterm and full-term infants.
Design: This was a descriptive study. A total of 60 infants were included in the study. These infants were divided into two groups. Group 1 with 30 full-term infants (born at 38-42 weeks of gestation) further divided into two sub-groups, Group 1A (>2500 g) and 1 B (<2500 g). Group 2 with 30 preterm infants (born before 37 weeks of gestation) was also divided into two sub-groups, Group 2A (>2500 g) and 2 B (<2500 g). The oral cavity of infants was first examined at the age of 6 months till the time of eruption of the primary mandibular central incisor teeth.
Result: The time of eruption was compared by ANOVA between and within groups, the difference was statistically significant among the groups (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The results help us to understand the reasons of delayed teeth eruption. Low birth weight was related to the delayed time of eruption of the first deciduous tooth. Preterm infants were delayed in their first deciduous tooth eruption in comparison to full term infants. There was no significant correlation found between gender and time of eruption of the deciduous tooth.