Perinatal hypoxia and the risk of severe Molar-Incisor Hypomineralisation (MIH): a retrospective analysis of the pH value of umbilical arterial blood after birth

Abstract

Purpose Molar-Incisor Hypomineralisation (MIH) remains a widespread developmental disorder of the teeth with a still largely unknown etiology. Perinatal events were blamed in previous studies for the development of MIH. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of perinatal hypoxia—determined by the pH value of the umbilical cord blood—and to investigate its correlation with severe MIH retrospectively. In addition, cesarean section was recorded as differentiation variable. Methods A total number of 138 children (mean age 8.0 years ± 1.7), who were treated for severe MIH in a dental office in Berlin between the years 2008 and 2019, were included in the study. The control group was comprised of patients with the same date of birth (44 children, mean age 7.7 years ± 1.7). Information on the pH value of the arterial blood from the umbilical cord taken immediately after birth, whose recording is mandatory in Germany, was received from the parents by letter survey requesting the entries from the German Child Health Booklet. Results In the group of the male children born without cesarean section, the pH value of the control group was significantly lower (7.19 ± 0.09) than the pH value of the MIH group (7.27 ± 0.07, p = 0.0008). In female children born with or without cesarean section as well as in male children born by cesarean section there were no significant differences between the MIH and control group. Conclusions No significant association between MIH and the pH value of the umbilical cord blood or birth by cesarean section could be found in the examined patient population.

Treatment Strategies for Incisors of Children Affected by Molar Incisor Hypomineralization: A Narrative Review

“…Additionally, other factors, such as preterm birth, low birth weight, birth hypoxia, and cesarean section delivery, may contribute to MIH. In addition, postnatal factors, especially diseases experienced by the child, especially in the first three years of life, medication usage, especially antibiotics, and prolonged breastfeeding, are notable [9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that some factors, such as environmental pollution due to climate change and the presence of various elements in the air and water above a certain level, may also contribute to MIH [9,14,[16][17][18].…”

Is Aberrant DNA Methylation a Key Factor in Molar Incisor Hypomineralization?

“…Prenatal factors include pathologies and maternal diseases during pregnancy, drugs, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, exposure to chemical and biological factors, ionizing radiation, and stress [ 3 , 5 , 6 ]. The group of perinatal conditions consists of time of delivery (weeks), type of delivery (natural labor/caesarean delivery), and complications during childbirth [ 4 , 6 , 7 ]. Postnatal factors that can be influential are fever episodes of more than 39 °C, breastfeeding, toxins (BPA), vitamin D 3 deficiency, and infectious diseases (up to 3 years old): otitis, pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis, or varicella infection [ 2 , 5 , 6 ].…”