Is There a Positive Relationship Between Molar Incisor Hypomineralisations and the Presence of Dental Caries?

Objective: This epidemiological study aimed to compare the caries experience in 10-year-olds with and without molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH).

Methods: About 693 children from an ongoing birth cohort study (GINIplus10) were examined for caries lesions to determine the DMF index. Furthermore, enamel hypomineralisation (EH) was scored on all permanent teeth/surfaces, according to the criteria of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry. Children with EH were categorised into those with a minimum of one EH in the permanent dentition (MIH/1), with EH on at least one-first permanent molar (MIH/1A), on at least one-first permanent molar and permanent incisor (MIH/1B), and on other permanent teeth (MIH/1C).

Results: The mean caries experience was 0.4 (SD 0.9) DMFT. Existence of MIH/1, MIH/1A, MIH/1B, and MIH/1C was determined in 36.5%, 14.7%, 9.4%, and 21.8% of all children. The corresponding DMFT values were the following: no MIH: 0.3 (SD 0.8); MIH/1: 0.5 (SD 0.9); MIH/1A: 0.5 (SD 0.9); MIH/1B: 0.4 (SD 0.9); and MIH/1C: 0.4 (SD 0.9) DMFT. No significant differences were found between all groups.

Conclusions: There was no relationship between the presence of EH/MIH and caries in 10-year-olds. A ratio of one EH-associated defect to two caries lesions indicates that both conditions are prevalent and influence the oral health status of 10-year-old children from Munich, Germany.