Molar Incisive Hypomineralization (MIH)

What is molar Incisivi hypomineralization?

Molar Incisive Hypomineralization is a developmental disease of the first incisors and molars. The tooth enamel is already damaged with yellowish-brownish or whitish-creamy stains when the teeth break through the gums at the age of about six years. The molars are the first molars, which are affected far more frequently than the incisors. The enamel of these teeth is usually softer and more porous, which makes them much more susceptible to caries bacteria. In addition to this, there is the increased sensitivity to cold and heat of affected teeth.

Causes

Since MIH is a developmental disorder, its origin lies in the developmental phase of the affected teeth. This phase is between the 8th month of pregnancy and the fourth year of life. In most cases, several factors must come together to trigger this serious disease. Important causes are, for example, antibiotics and other medicines taken by the child, chronic diseases (especially respiratory diseases) and environmental toxins. Environmental toxins are, for example, tiny plastic particles.

Diagnosis

The dentist makes the diagnosis by looking into the mouth of the child. In order to avoid consequential damage, it is very important to check the teeth regularly during childhood. In this way, even a particularly severe form of early detection and treatment can be carried out in time. The best time for checking is at the age of eight years, since at this time all permanent incisors and first molars have usually erupted. A timely treatment can avoid subsequent damages.

These symptoms may indicate molar Incisivi hypomineralization

In MIH, the teeth often have a typical coloration with yellowish-white enamel spots. These spots in the enamel are more porous and thus more sensitive to external influences. The enamel can flake off to a greater extent and affected teeth are sensitive to temperature or touch. This causes pain during everyday activities such as brushing teeth or eating ice cream. The soft enamel is also much more susceptible to caries than healthy teeth, which in turn quickly leads to holes in the tooth with pulling pain.