An overview of oral conditions in newborns

While oral conditions in newborns and infants are rare, it is important to be aware of the most common presentations. Though most intra-oral conditions in infants require limited or no intervention, others may require treatment, including possible surgical intervention. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of oral conditions that can affect newborns. Midwives play a vital role in parent education, infant checks and monitoring, making awareness of intra-oral pathology and recommended patient pathways important. This article discusses several conditions, including their background, clinical presentation and management; these conditions are natal teeth, eruption cysts, Epstein pearls, Bohn's nodules, haemangiomas and vascular conditions, salivary gland anomalies and other rare oral conditions. Guidance on how to describe intra-oral lesions is also discussed to aid successful onward referral if necessary.