Developmental defects of enamel as a bridge between medicine and dentistry

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.