Prevalence of Hypersensitivity in Teeth Affected by Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH)

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of hypersensitivity in molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH)-affected molars through a census carried out in 8-year-old schoolchildren. Methods: Examinations were conducted by a calibrated examiner, using the Nyvad criteria for caries diagnosis and a new criterion for MIH assessment. For hypersensitivity assessment, all MIH-affected molars were included. Nonaffected molars from the same child were used as controls. Air blast reaction was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale (SCASS) scale, while tactile hypersensitivity was scored using VAS only. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn’s multiple comparisons test for quantitative data. χ² was used for the comparison of categorical data. Results: In total, 631 children were assessed, of whom 102 had MIH-affected molars (16.1%). Of these, 51.7 and 8.7% presented enamel and dentin carious lesions, respectively. Regarding the number of teeth, 239 molars were MIH affected (59.8%), with 188 (78.7%) being classified as mild (opacities only), 20 (8.4%) as moderate (posteruptive enamel breakdown), and 31 (13%) as severe (posteruptive breakdown involving dentin/atypical restorations). Hypersensitivity was recorded in only one control molar, while the prevalence of hypersensitivity in MIH-affected molars was 34.7%, being of low intensity and more prevalent in moderate (55%) and severe cases (51.6 %) than in mild cases (29.8%, p = 0.008). An association between hypersensitivity and the presence of mild and moderate cases was observed. Although the same association was observed for severe cases, it was not considered a reliable information as 90% of the MIH-affected molars with posteruptive breakdown involving dentin were affected by carious lesions. It is known that dental caries is a confounding factor for the presence of hypersensitivity. Conclusions: Hypersensitivity was significantly higher in MIH-affected molars than in nonaffected molars, being associated with MIH teeth presenting opacities and posteruptive enamel breakdown.

Gene-environment interaction in molar-incisor hypomineralization

“…Molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH) is an example of an enamel condition, and is characterized by the appearance of lesions ranging from white to brownish coloration which present rapid caries progression and hypersensitivity [3]. These asymmetrical lesions affect the first permanent molars, usually with the permanent incisors [4], and more recently MIH has been reported to affect canines too [5]. Prevalence of MIH varies but has been consistently reported to range between 1% and 35% in all parts of the world, with most reported frequencies around 12% [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22].…”

Prevalência de defeitos de esmalte em crianças atendidas em uma clínica de odontopediatria

“…Por exemplo, na Polônia (6,14%), Argentina (6%) e Uruguai (7%), os resultados encontrados têm uma aproximação com o da presente pesquisa (5,6%) (López Jordiet al, 2014;Glodkowska& Emerich, 2019). No entanto, a prevalência encontrada em países como Colômbia e em outras localidades brasileiras mostrou-se superior, com 11,2% e 16%, respectivamente (Mejía et al, Research, Society and Development, v. 9, n. 7, e816974951, 2020 (CC BY 4.0) | ISSN 2525-3409 | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v9i7.4951 10 2019; Raposo et al, 2019). A discrepância dos valores pode ser devido ao tipo de estudo e universo da pesquisa, ou aspectos ambientais locais associados ao surgimento de HMI.…”

Distribution of molar incisor hypomineralization in children in Northeast Bulgaria. Severity of the dysplasia and sensitivity of the affected teeth

“…In cases of mild form of MIH a high sensitivity of the teeth is not that often, compared with the severe forms where the constant hypersensitivity of the affected teeth leads to low quality of life (25). In a study from 2019 the presence of hypersensitivity in teeth with different forms of MIH was reported, with the disease classified into three forms -mild, moderate, and severe (27). In mild forms a sensitivity with low intensity was established, as well as white demineralized stains on the enamel surface without enamel breakdown.…”