The relationship of enamel defects and caries: a cohort study

Oral Diseases (2011) 17, 420–426 Objective: Is there a relationship between enamel defects and early childhood caries? Methods: A total of 275 children participated in a cohort study from birth to 54 months of age. Enamel defects were determined by the development defects enamel index and dental caries was registered according to the WHO criteria. Data were analyzed using descriptive, analytical techniques, multivariate analysis, and evidence‐based tools as number needed to harm (NNH). Results: In the follow up, 224 children were still in the study, 81.3% presented at least one tooth with enamel defect and 44.2% had dental caries. An association was found between enamel defects and dental caries (P = 0.0091). Multivariate analysis showed that night bottle‐feeding, absence of fluoride and enamel defects were predictors of dental caries at 18 months (P