Dental hypomineralization represents a major problem in childhood health that can cause serious problems and may even affect the permanent dentition. In previous literature review, the term molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) has been frequently reported among different studies. However, the clinical problems and complications of the condition are not commonly described among studies in the literature, which adds a value to this current study. The present study was a literature review that aimed to discuss the problems of hypomineralization in baby teeth and the reported common problems according to recent studies in the literature. Tooth loss, anesthetic problems within the anterior teeth, hypersensitivity and the presence of underlying inflammation are potential complications that might affect these patients. Moreover, it was also previously reported that the subsurfaces of the affected enamels are usually porous and soft. On other hand, the surfaces of the intact enamels are usually hypermineralized, hard and smooth, owing to the subsequent post-eruptive maturation. Identification of the underlying etiology and risk factors is important for the proper management of these cases. A systemic origin of the disorder was strongly suggested while other environmental and genetic factors had been suggested. Moreover, establishing a proper diagnosis can be hard due to the presence of some similar disorders. Therefore, a differential diagnosis should be established as it is discussed in this literature.
Early childhood caries is a common condition that affects children and young infants. In addition to the effect of the condition on the child's oral health, it has been furtherly shown that many systemic consequences are usually associated. Therefore, it has been reported that these conditions can significantly impair the quality of life of corresponding families based on economic and health-related burdens. Affected children usually present with variable degrees of the condition, and some complications might be associated. Many risk factors have been reported in the literature for developing the condition in children. These include the presence of certain bacterial pathogens (especially through vertical transmission), dietary habits, and poor oral hygiene. Evidence indicates that these risk factors significantly contribute to the development of early childhood caries and the importance of the child's socioeconomic status and his caregivers. Targeting these factors would significantly reduce the risk of developing the condition, in addition to fluoridation as suggested by various relevant investigations.
Oral diseases are highly prevalent across the different countries globally, indicating that these conditions represent a significant challenge to the healthcare authorities. Moreover, like untreated dental caries, chronic diseases were linked with poor school performance and deteriorated quality of life. This current literature review aims to discuss the effect of untreated dental caries on school performance and social life. Our findings indicate the strong association between having untreated dental caries and reduced performance at school. We also found that these children usually suffer from deteriorated aspects of social life, being more prone to verbal bullying than other children without dental caries. Different factors were reported to affect the correlation between untreated dental caries and performance at school. For instance, socioeconomic status has a significant role in this association. Evidence also indicates the vital role of gender, family income, and parental education. These findings indicate the urgent need to draw proper interventional plans to reduce the risk of dental caries. Besides, healthcare authorities should plan for screening programs to detect children with untreated dental caries and provide adequate management of these conditions to enhance the quality of life and educational aspects. However, the findings are not consistent among the different investigations in the literature. Therefore, future studies are needed to validate the current evidence and enhance the outcomes.
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