Prevalence of molar-incisor hypomineralisation observed using transillumination in a group of children from Barcelona (Spain).

OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to investigate the prevalence of the condition, by using transillumination, in a group of children. Analysed the prevalence with regard to gender, jaw affected, and the teeth that exhibited dysplasia most commonly. METHODS: A sample of 550 children aged 6 to 14 years was selected at the Department of Paediatric Dentistry at the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, but among those selected only 505 children were eligible for inclusion in the study. The gender and age of the child, number of permanent teeth, number of teeth affected by MIH and their position were registered. RESULTS: Ninety patients (17.85%) had MIH. Of these, 45 were girls (50%) and 45 were boys (50%). A total of 8062 permanent teeth were observed. Of these, 344 (4.2%) were affected by MIH. Of the teeth affected, 198 (57.7%) were located in the maxilla and 146 (42.4%) in the mandible. This result was statistically significant (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The population studied showed a prevalence of MIH of 17.8%. The presence of the defect did not differ according to sex in this population. Defects were more common among teeth in the maxilla.