An increased awareness of the consequences of low birth-weight is needed as dentists provide services for this population of youngsters. Poor children remain poor. A longitudinal national study emphasizes the greater levels and longer terms of poverty experienced by children. It can interfere with infant suckling and neonatal nutrition. Ideal treatment resolves the soft tissue ulceration and maintains the tooth, although in severe cases neonatal tooth extraction may be required.
Case reports present different presentations of tongue ulcerations, dictating different treatments.
Transposition of teeth in the primary dentition is said not to occur. By contrast, fusion of teeth is the commonest anomaly of number or form to affect this dentition. A case is reported where there was both transposition and fusion of the primary upper right central and lateral incisors. Details of subsequent anomalies in the permanent dentition are also documented.