The Prevalence of Oral Anomalies Among Healthy Newborns at a Gynecological Obstetric Hospital in Quito, Ecuador: An Observational, Cross-Sectional Study

<b>Objectives:</b> Early observations often fail to detect anomalies that may impact the health and quality of life of newborns. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of oral anomalies in newborns and explore their possible associations with sociodemographic factors. <b>Meth...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Eleonor Vélez-León, Emilia Guerrero, Mauricio Orlando Carrillo, Marina Cabrera, Gustavo Tello, Patricia Pinos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Dentistry Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/13/4/158
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849713503375458304
author Eleonor Vélez-León
Emilia Guerrero
Mauricio Orlando Carrillo
Marina Cabrera
Gustavo Tello
Patricia Pinos
author_facet Eleonor Vélez-León
Emilia Guerrero
Mauricio Orlando Carrillo
Marina Cabrera
Gustavo Tello
Patricia Pinos
author_sort Eleonor Vélez-León
collection DOAJ
description <b>Objectives:</b> Early observations often fail to detect anomalies that may impact the health and quality of life of newborns. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of oral anomalies in newborns and explore their possible associations with sociodemographic factors. <b>Methods:</b> A cross-sectional study was conducted in Quito, Ecuador, analyzing a sample of 241 newborns. The presence of oral anomalies was recorded, and their association with sex, birth weight, maternal age, and gestational factors was evaluated. <b>Results:</b> The prevalence of oral anomalies was 72.3%, with Epstein’s pearls being the most common (50%). Other findings included Bohn’s nodules and dental lamina cysts, while no cases of natal teeth or congenital epulis were observed. Ankyloglossia was identified in 1.36% of newborns. No significant correlations were found between the presence of oral anomalies and sex, birth weight, maternal age, or gestational factors. <b>Conclusions:</b> The high prevalence (72.3%) of oral anomalies in the studied newborns underscores the importance of early detection and management. Epstein’s pearls were the most frequent anomaly, followed by Bohn’s nodules, dental lamina cysts, and ankyloglossia, while no cases of natal teeth or congenital epulis were identified. No statistically significant associations were found with sex, birth weight, maternal age, or pregnancy complications. These findings emphasize the need for early pediatric dental assessment and an interdisciplinary approach to ensure proper neonatal oral health. Further research is recommended to explore potential causes and interventions to optimize oral health from birth.
format Article
id doaj-art-fea90ac79b2f4df88262aabf7fd67ec9
institution DOAJ
issn 2304-6767
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Dentistry Journal
spelling doaj-art-fea90ac79b2f4df88262aabf7fd67ec92025-08-20T03:13:57ZengMDPI AGDentistry Journal2304-67672025-04-0113415810.3390/dj13040158The Prevalence of Oral Anomalies Among Healthy Newborns at a Gynecological Obstetric Hospital in Quito, Ecuador: An Observational, Cross-Sectional StudyEleonor Vélez-León0Emilia Guerrero1Mauricio Orlando Carrillo2Marina Cabrera3Gustavo Tello4Patricia Pinos5Unidad Académica de Salud y Bienestar, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Cuenca 010107, EcuadorUnidad Académica de Salud y Bienestar, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Cuenca 010107, EcuadorEscuela de Odontología, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170527, EcuadorEscuela de Odontología, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170527, EcuadorOdontología Pediátrica, Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal, Lima 15001, PeruUnidad Académica de Salud y Bienestar, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Cuenca 010107, Ecuador<b>Objectives:</b> Early observations often fail to detect anomalies that may impact the health and quality of life of newborns. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of oral anomalies in newborns and explore their possible associations with sociodemographic factors. <b>Methods:</b> A cross-sectional study was conducted in Quito, Ecuador, analyzing a sample of 241 newborns. The presence of oral anomalies was recorded, and their association with sex, birth weight, maternal age, and gestational factors was evaluated. <b>Results:</b> The prevalence of oral anomalies was 72.3%, with Epstein’s pearls being the most common (50%). Other findings included Bohn’s nodules and dental lamina cysts, while no cases of natal teeth or congenital epulis were observed. Ankyloglossia was identified in 1.36% of newborns. No significant correlations were found between the presence of oral anomalies and sex, birth weight, maternal age, or gestational factors. <b>Conclusions:</b> The high prevalence (72.3%) of oral anomalies in the studied newborns underscores the importance of early detection and management. Epstein’s pearls were the most frequent anomaly, followed by Bohn’s nodules, dental lamina cysts, and ankyloglossia, while no cases of natal teeth or congenital epulis were identified. No statistically significant associations were found with sex, birth weight, maternal age, or pregnancy complications. These findings emphasize the need for early pediatric dental assessment and an interdisciplinary approach to ensure proper neonatal oral health. Further research is recommended to explore potential causes and interventions to optimize oral health from birth.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/13/4/158newbornsneonatesoral manifestationsanomalies
spellingShingle Eleonor Vélez-León
Emilia Guerrero
Mauricio Orlando Carrillo
Marina Cabrera
Gustavo Tello
Patricia Pinos
The Prevalence of Oral Anomalies Among Healthy Newborns at a Gynecological Obstetric Hospital in Quito, Ecuador: An Observational, Cross-Sectional Study
Dentistry Journal
newborns
neonates
oral manifestations
anomalies
title The Prevalence of Oral Anomalies Among Healthy Newborns at a Gynecological Obstetric Hospital in Quito, Ecuador: An Observational, Cross-Sectional Study
title_full The Prevalence of Oral Anomalies Among Healthy Newborns at a Gynecological Obstetric Hospital in Quito, Ecuador: An Observational, Cross-Sectional Study
title_fullStr The Prevalence of Oral Anomalies Among Healthy Newborns at a Gynecological Obstetric Hospital in Quito, Ecuador: An Observational, Cross-Sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed The Prevalence of Oral Anomalies Among Healthy Newborns at a Gynecological Obstetric Hospital in Quito, Ecuador: An Observational, Cross-Sectional Study
title_short The Prevalence of Oral Anomalies Among Healthy Newborns at a Gynecological Obstetric Hospital in Quito, Ecuador: An Observational, Cross-Sectional Study
title_sort prevalence of oral anomalies among healthy newborns at a gynecological obstetric hospital in quito ecuador an observational cross sectional study
topic newborns
neonates
oral manifestations
anomalies
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/13/4/158
work_keys_str_mv AT eleonorvelezleon theprevalenceoforalanomaliesamonghealthynewbornsatagynecologicalobstetrichospitalinquitoecuadoranobservationalcrosssectionalstudy
AT emiliaguerrero theprevalenceoforalanomaliesamonghealthynewbornsatagynecologicalobstetrichospitalinquitoecuadoranobservationalcrosssectionalstudy
AT mauricioorlandocarrillo theprevalenceoforalanomaliesamonghealthynewbornsatagynecologicalobstetrichospitalinquitoecuadoranobservationalcrosssectionalstudy
AT marinacabrera theprevalenceoforalanomaliesamonghealthynewbornsatagynecologicalobstetrichospitalinquitoecuadoranobservationalcrosssectionalstudy
AT gustavotello theprevalenceoforalanomaliesamonghealthynewbornsatagynecologicalobstetrichospitalinquitoecuadoranobservationalcrosssectionalstudy
AT patriciapinos theprevalenceoforalanomaliesamonghealthynewbornsatagynecologicalobstetrichospitalinquitoecuadoranobservationalcrosssectionalstudy
AT eleonorvelezleon prevalenceoforalanomaliesamonghealthynewbornsatagynecologicalobstetrichospitalinquitoecuadoranobservationalcrosssectionalstudy
AT emiliaguerrero prevalenceoforalanomaliesamonghealthynewbornsatagynecologicalobstetrichospitalinquitoecuadoranobservationalcrosssectionalstudy
AT mauricioorlandocarrillo prevalenceoforalanomaliesamonghealthynewbornsatagynecologicalobstetrichospitalinquitoecuadoranobservationalcrosssectionalstudy
AT marinacabrera prevalenceoforalanomaliesamonghealthynewbornsatagynecologicalobstetrichospitalinquitoecuadoranobservationalcrosssectionalstudy
AT gustavotello prevalenceoforalanomaliesamonghealthynewbornsatagynecologicalobstetrichospitalinquitoecuadoranobservationalcrosssectionalstudy
AT patriciapinos prevalenceoforalanomaliesamonghealthynewbornsatagynecologicalobstetrichospitalinquitoecuadoranobservationalcrosssectionalstudy