Background

Low birth weight can be caused by premature birth (premature, that is, born before week 37 of pregnancy) and/or growth retardation in fetal life. In Norway, about 3000 premature babies are born per year, and about 10% of all babies born to term have low birth weight. Improvements in fetal and neonatal medicine in recent decades have significantly increased the survival rates of the young and premature babies. However, being born prematurely or too small carries an increased risk of impairment of both mental and physical health in life. These individuals may also be at increased risk of dental developmental defects and reduced oral health.

Low birth weight and oral health is an area of research with few and conflicting reports, as some studies show an increased risk of caries in these children, while others do not find this connection. Most of the studies have been conducted in children with milk teeth, and there are few or no long-term follow-up studies on what the oral health is like in people with low birth weight when they become adolescents or reach adulthood.

The focus with regard to oral health is currently not included in the Danish Health Directorate's guidelines for the follow-up of premature babies. The findings from this project will provide valuable insights and a basis for including perspectives on oral health in future guidelines.

Purpose

In this project, we want to investigate whether prematurity (gestational length < 37 weeks) and/or low birth weight affect oral health in adolescence and adulthood, and whether any impairment of oral health is related to mental health. We also want to study possible shared epigenetic DNA modification patterns that underlie the increased risk of caries and other health challenges associated with prematurity.

Methods

We will use data from the HUNT4 survey, the HUNT4 Oral Health Survey as well as data from YoungHunt4 related to clinical data from dental records from the Public Dental Service in Trøndelag, and data on newborn characteristics from the Norwegian Medical Birth Register.

We will also use data from the NTNU Low Birth Weight Life cohort, which is a prospective cohort with participants in three categories: 1) born prematurely with very low birth weight, 2) born to term with low birth weight, and 3) born to term with normal birth weight. These participants have been followed up regularly with a series of questionnaires, biological samples and clinical examinations since birth (1986-88). We will link data already collected to clinical data from dental records from the Public Dental Health Service.

Cooperative Institutions and External Financing

• NTNU (IKOM, NTNU Low Birth Weight Life, IPH)
• St. Olav's Hospital
• County Dentist in Trøndelag
• Preamtur Association
• UiO
• UiB