Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Endemic Molar Incisor Hypomineralization: a Pandemic Problem That Requires Monitoring by the Entire Health Care Community

  • Craniofacial Skeleton (WE Roberts, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Osteoporosis Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review brings a major, previously under-recognized dental and general health problem to the attention of the medical and scientific community. The goals are to help clinicians make early diagnoses, thereby improving treatment outcomes, and to stimulate increasing research efforts to understand the etiology and ultimately prevention.

Recent Findings

There are two recent systematic reviews of molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH). One reveals the global burden of the condition; mean global prevalence is 13% with 878 million people affected, with 4.8 million cases per year requiring treatment. The review into etiology found a lack of definitive knowledge, but that it is likely to be multifactorial, with childhood illness including fever possibly implicated.

Summary

The review presents details of MIH sufficient to enable clinicians to recognize it and understand its impact on affected children, its management, and the importance of early intervention. Much further research is needed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: •• Of major importance

  1. Weerheijm K, Jälevik B, Alaluusua S. Molar–incisor hypomineralisation. Caries Res. 2001;35(5):390–1.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Rodd HD, Boissonade FM, Day PF. Pulpal status of hypomineralized permanent molars. Pediatr Dent. 2007;29(6):514–20.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Seow WK. Dental enamel defects in the primary dentition: prevalence and etiology. In: Drummond BK, Kilpatrick N, editors. Planning and care for children and adolescents with dental enamel defects: Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer; 2015. p. 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44800-7_1

  4. Elfrink M, Schuller A, Weerheijm K, Veerkamp J. Hypomineralized second primary molars: prevalence data in Dutch 5-year-olds. Caries Res. 2008;42(4):282–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Sabel N, Johansson C, Kühnisch J, Robertson A, Steiniger F, Norén JG, et al. Neonatal lines in the enamel of primary teeth—a morphological and scanning electron microscopic investigation. Arch Oral Biol. 2008;53(10):954–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. •• Anthonappa RP, King NM. Enamel defects in the permanent dentition: prevalence and etiology. In: Drummond BK, Kilpatrick N, editors. Planning and care for children and adolescents with dental enamel defects: Springer; 2015. p. 15–30. This reference is one of many in this publication giving a good, current overview of MIH and its management.

  7. •• Schwendicke F, Elhennawy K, Reda S, Bekes K, Manton DJ, Krois J. Global burden of molar incisor hypomineralization. J Dent. 2018;68:10–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2017.12.002. A recent and very comprehensive examination of studies demonstrating the global presence of MIH and how it varies in different areas.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Leen AK. The interrelationship between molar hypomineralisation and orthodontics: Doctor of Clinical Dentistry Thesis. University of Melbourne, Melbourne Dental School; 2013.

  9. Simmer J, Fincham A. Molecular mechanisms of dental enamel formation. Crit Rev Oral Biol Med. 1995;6(2):84–108.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. •• Silva MJ, Scurrah KJ, Craig JM, Manton DJ, Kilpatrick N. Etiology of molar incisor hypomineralization—a systematic review. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2016;44(4):342–53. An expert review of current knowledge of the etiology of MIH.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Mangum J, Crombie F, Kilpatrick N, Manton D, Hubbard M. Surface integrity governs the proteome of hypomineralized enamel. J Dent Res. 2010;89(10):1160–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Manton DJ. Personal communication. 2018.

  13. Gutiérrez S, Torres D, Briceño I, Gómez AM, Baquero E. Clinical and molecular analysis of the enamelin gene ENAM in Colombian families with autosomal dominant amelogenesis imperfecta. Genet Mol Biol. 2012;35(3):557–66.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Chawla N, Messer L, Silva M. Clinical studies on molar-incisor-hypomineralisation part 1: distribution and putative associations. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2008;9(4):180–90.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Targino A, Rosenblatt A, Oliveira A, Chaves A, Santos V. The relationship of enamel defects and caries: a cohort study. Oral Dis. 2011;17(4):420–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Mahoney EK, Morrison DG. Further examination of the prevalence of MIH in the Wellington region. N Z Dent J. 2011;107(3).

  17. Alaluusua S. Defining developmental enamel defect-associated childhood caries: where are we now? J Dent Res. 2012;91(6):525–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Jälevik B, Klingberg G. Dental treatment, dental fear and behaviour management problems in children with severe enamel hypomineralization of their permanent first molars. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2002;12(1):24–32.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Mejàre I, Bergman E, Grindefjord M. Hypomineralized molars and incisors of unknown origin: treatment outcome at age 18 years. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2005;15(1):20–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Kotsanos N, Kaklamanos E, Arapostathis K. Treatment management of first permanent molars in children with molar-incisor hypomineralisation. Eur J Paediatr Dent. 2005;6(4):179–84.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Ong DV, Bleakley J. Compromised first permanent molars: an orthodontic perspective. Aust Dent J. 2010;55(1):2–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Normando ADC, Maia FA, da Silva Ursi WJ, Simone JL. Dentoalveolar changes after unilateral extractions of mandibular first molars and their influence on third molar development and position. World J Orthod. 2010;11(1):55–60.

  23. Jälevik B, Möller M. Evaluation of spontaneous space closure and development of permanent dentition after extraction of hypomineralized permanent first molars. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2007;17(5):328–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Deall SJ. Extraction of first permanent molars: A pilot study of actual and perceived effect on orthodontic treatment duration: Doctor of Clinical Dentistry Thesis. University of Melbourne, Melbourne Dental School; 2015.

  25. Zhao Y. The efficacy of enamel sandblasting in bonding to hypomineralised teeth: Doctor of Clinical Dentistry Thesis. University of Melbourne, Melbourne Dental School; 2016.

  26. Cochrane NJ, Lo TW, Adams GG, Schneider PM. Quantitative analysis of enamel on debonded orthodontic brackets. Am J Orthod Dentofac Orthop. 2017;152(3):312–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paul M. Schneider.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

Paul Schneider and Margarita Silva declare no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Craniofacial Skeleton

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Schneider, P.M., Silva, M. Endemic Molar Incisor Hypomineralization: a Pandemic Problem That Requires Monitoring by the Entire Health Care Community. Curr Osteoporos Rep 16, 283–288 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11914-018-0444-x

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11914-018-0444-x

Keywords

Navigation