Abstract
This study was undertaken to examine the effects of intubation on the enamel development of primary teeth in children intubated during the first 3 months of life. The teeth of 35 children were examined clinically for signs of defects. Dental enamel defects were seen in 26 (74%) patients; enamel hypoplasia was seen in 15 and enamel hypomineralization in 19 cases. In eight patients both enamel hypoplasia and hypomineralization were found. There was a preponderance of enamel defects in the right maxilla, which supports the hypothesis that an early trauma to mineralizing primary teeth caused by laryngoscope may lead to dental enamel hypoplasia.