Molar Incisor Hypomineralization in a Group of Female Children in Riyadh: Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics.

Abstract

Aims. To evaluate the prevalence of and describe molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH) in a group of female children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods. The sample consisted of 8-10-year-old (n=682) female student"s attending female elementary schools and females of the same age attending pediatric dentistry clinics at the College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh. Subject"s permanent first molars (PFMs) and incisors were examined for demarcated opacities, post-eruptive enamel breakdown, atypical restorations and extraction due to MIH. Results. 277 children were affected by hypomineralization giving a prevalence rate of 40.6%. The mean affected teeth was 6.5±3.18 (3.8 molars and 2.7 incisors) per child. 46.9% had only molars hypo-mineralization (MH), while 53.1% had molars and incisors affected (MIH). Proportional t-test showed no statistically significant difference between the number of affected upper and lower molars, while upper incisors are affected more than lower incisors. Moderate/severe hypo-mineralization predominated in both MIH and MH with MIH children having more moderate/severely affected teeth. MIH prevalence has no association with the age, but ten-year-old have more moderate/severely affected teeth (P=0.041) than eight and nineyear-old children. Conclusion. The observed prevalence of MIH in Riyadh female children was high. Carefully planned short and longterm preventive and therapeutic programs and nationwide larger scale epidemiological studies are needed.