Prevalence, characteristics and severity of hypomineralization of the first permanent molars and incisors in children from the northern part of Kosovo and Metohija

Abstract

Introduction/Objective: Molar-incisor hypomnineralization (MIH) is relatively common developmental anomaly characterized by hypomineralized enamel defects in the first permanent molars and incisors. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypomineralization of the first permanent molars and incisors in children aged eight and 10 years who live in the northern part of Kosovo and Metohija. Methods: The study included 712 respondents, 289 of whom aged eight (40.6%) and 423 of whom aged 10 years (59.4%). Criteria according to Weerheijm were used for diagnosis of hypomineralization and the severity of changes was determined. Results: The frequency of hypomineralized changes in the first permanent molars and incisors of the examined children in this area was 12.2%. It was lower in children aged eight years (10.7%) compared to those aged 10 (13.2%). Demarcated enamel opacity was more common in younger children, whereas both atypical restoration and tooth extraction due to hypomineralization were more common in older children. Mild form is more common in children aged eight years, whereas both severe form and severe form with extracted teeth are more common in children aged 10 years. The results indicate that the first permanent molars were most commonly affected by MIH changes. Conclusion: The percentage of the respondents with MIH changes in the northern part of Kosovo and Metohija, which is 12.2%, is not negligible and points to the necessity of early diagnosis in order to prevent and reduce the complications of the condition by timely prevention and treatment.

Uvod/Cilj: Hipomineralizacija kutnjaka i sekutića (HKS) relativno je česta razvojna anomalija koja se karakteriše pojavom hipomineralizovanih defekata gleđi na prvim stalnim kutnjacima i sekutićima. Cilj ovog rada bio je da se ispita učestalost hipomineralizacije na prvim stalnim kutnjacima i sekutićima kod dece uzrasta osam i deset godina na području severnog dela Kosova i Metohije. Metode: U istraživanju je bilo uključeno 712 ispitanika – 289 uzrasta osam godina (40,6%) i 423 (59,4%) uzrasta deset godina. Za dijagnozu oboljenja primenjeni su kriterijumi po Weerhejim-u i određen je stepen izraženosti promena. Rezultati: Učestalost hipomineralizovanih promena na prvim stalnim kutnjacima i sekutićima kod ispitivane dece na ovom području iznosio je 12,2%. Kod dece od osam godina učestalost ovih promena je manja (10,7%) u odnosu na ispitanike od deset godina (13,2%). Ograničena zamućenost gleđi bila je učestalija kod dece mlađeg uzrasta, dok je kod dece starijeg uzrasta učestalija atipična restauracija i ekstrakcija zuba kao posledica hipomineralizacije. Blaga forma je učestalija kod dece od osam godina, dok je kod dece od deset godina učestalija teška forma, kao i teška forma koja uključuje i ekstrahirane zube. Rezultati pokazuju da su prvi stalni kutnjaci najčešće zahvaćeni hipomineralizovanim promena. Zaključak: Procenat od 12,2% ispitanika sa promenama HKS na području severnog dela Kosova i Metohije nije zanemarljiv. Ovakvo stanje ukazuje na neophodnost rane dijagnostike da bi se blagovremenom prevencijom i terapijom sprečile i ublažile komplikacije ovog oboljenja.