Treatment
With a mild form of MIH, a small filling or fissure sealing of the affected tooth is often sufficient. In addition, regular fluoridation of the teeth at home and about every 3-6 months at the dentist helps to strengthen the healthy enamel. If the enamel defects are more pronounced, it is necessary to make crowns or partial crowns covering the entire tooth.
The affected enamel is removed and an individually adapted cap, the so-called crown, is made in the dental laboratory to protect the tooth after cementation/fixing. The sealing of the teeth refers to the sealing of fissures. In this procedure, small holes in the fissures (areas/”valleys” between two tooth cusps) caused by caries are removed and then filled with a thin-bodied plastic material.
This prevents the formation of deep holes in the fissures, which often extend to the nerve. In MIH, affected areas can be additionally strengthened by sealing them with fluoride varnish. This varnish is applied regularly (at home once a week) to the tooth and stabilizes the enamel, making it less sensitive to irritation and caries.
Duration
The duration of the disease is life-long. Since permanent teeth in humans grow only once, affected teeth are diseased as long as they are in the mouth. The disease cannot be reversed after the eruption. The only way to prevent the disease is to take less medication and avoid plastic in everyday life. If affected teeth are removed when they are too badly destroyed, implants or dental bridges must be made to replace them.
Prognosis
Thanks to current treatment methods, the prognosis for children with MIH is good. The disease affects only the teeth and cannot threaten life. The affected teeth can be preserved very well by regular check-ups and treatment.
In severe cases, the crowning of affected teeth is necessary and thus ensures their preservation.If the destruction is too severe, lost teeth can be replaced in adulthood with implants or bridging the gap. Even if this involves many dental appointments, with good self-motivation and oral hygiene, the affected teeth can remain healthy into old age.
