Oral abnormalities in an Iranian newborn population

ObjectiveThe prevalence of oral findings in newborn infants in Iran is not known, as only isolated case reports have been published. We determined the prevalence of intraoral findings in a group of newborns and assessed the relationship between these findings and maternal systemic and gestational medical complications during pregnancy and parental consanguinity.Study designA total of 995 newborn children were examined in Hafiz Hospital, Shiraz, Iran. Oral cysts, ankyloglossia, an attached upper midline frenum, and other medical diagnoses at birth were investigated. Medical information for each child and parent was recorded via a standard questionnaire. The data were analyzed using the Pearson χ2 test (P < 0.05).ResultsThe most common findings were oral cysts (15%). There were significant relationships between oral cyst prevalence and parental consanguinity (P = 0.009) and between the presence of at least one finding and medication consumption during pregnancy (P = 0.04).ConclusionsSome 32.3% of the neonates examined had at least one oral finding within 3 days of birth, of which the most common was oral cyst. Parental consanguinity and drug intake during pregnancy were correlated with the occurrence of oral findings.