THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE SEASON OF BIRTH TO THE STATE OF THE PRIMARY DENTITION

¹ Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Some 300 school entrants were examined, of whom those born between November, 1946, and November, 1947, showed a material variation in incidence of dental caries according to the season of birth.

The structure of the teeth was noted and teeth showing evidence of defective structure were found to have a considerably higher incidence of caries than those which did not.

The incidence of defective structure varied with the season of birth in 1947.

An association was demonstrated between the amount of defective structure and that of sunlight and temperature at or about the time of birth.

It is emphasized that the year reviewed is exceptional and the children are rural, permitting variations which might otherwise escape notice to become appreciable in a relatively small sample of children.