Developmental defects of enamel as a bridge between medicine and dentistry

Abstract

Developmental defects of enamel (DDEs) are permanent disturbances of enamel formation reflecting systemic insults during prenatal, perinatal, and early childhood periods. Although managed within dentistry, their systemic background is often overlooked in medical care. This letter addresses the gap between medicine and dentistry in evaluating early-life conditions and asks whether DDEs should be reconsidered as part of a child’s medical history rather than isolated dental findings. We argue that limited interprofessional communication contributes to delayed prevention and fragment-ed follow-up. Focusing on pregnancy and early childhood, we call for a multidisciplinary medical–dental approach to strengthen integrated child healthcare.

Keywords

• Pregnancy
• Early childhood
• Interprofessional collaboration
• Oral health
• Developmental defects of enamel

Gelişimsel mine defektleri: tıp ve diş hekimliği arasında bir köprü

Abstract

Gelişimsel mine defektleri (GMD), prenatal, perinatal ve erken çocukluk dönemlerinde ortaya çıkan sistemik etkileri yansıtan, mine oluşumundaki kalıcı bozukluklardır. Klinik olarak sıklıkla diş hekimliği kapsamında ele alınmalarına karşın, sistemik arka planları tıbbi bakımda çoğu zaman göz ardı edilmektedir. Bu mektup, erken yaşam dönemine ait sistemik durumların değerlendirilmesinde tıp ve diş hekimliği arasındaki boşluğu ele almakta ve GMD’lerin izole dental bulgular yerine çocuğun tıbbi öyküsünün bir parçası olarak değerlendirilmesini tartışmaktadır. Sınırlı meslekler arası iletişimin gecikmiş koruyucu yaklaşımlara ve parçalı izleme yol açtığını savunuyoruz. Gebe-lik ve erken çocukluk dönemine odaklanarak, çocuk sağlığını güçlendirmek için multidisipliner bir tıp–diş hekimliği yaklaşımı çağrısında bulunuyoruz.

Keywords

• Gelişimsel mine defektleri
• Gebelik
• Erken çocukluk
• Meslekler arası iş birliği
• Ağız sağlığı

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