Epidemiological trends in enamel hypomineralisation and molar-incisor hypomineralisation: a systematic review and...

To assess the prevalence of enamel hypomineralisation (EH), molar-incisor hypomineralisation (MIH), and hypomineralisation affecting the first permanent molars and incisors (M + IH). It was hypothesized that MIH prevalence had not changed significantly over the last two decades.

Published literature was screened via PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and an extensive hand search. A risk of bias assessment (RoB) was conducted. Prevalence estimates were synthesised in a random-effects meta-analysis and reported at the country-level, continent-level, and globally. Subgroup analyses between different MIH diagnosis indices were conducted. Global MIH prevalence trends between 2000 and 2020 were analysed at 5-year intervals.

Among the 746 retrieved references, 174 were eligible. However, 138 low-to-moderate RoB studies were included. EH global prevalence was estimated at 25.3% (20.0-30.6) across 21 studies from 15 countries. MIH prevalence was 15.5% (14.4-16.6) across 135 studies from 53 countries, with estimates ranging from 0.6 to 46.6%. Among these studies, 60 reported M + IH prevalence, estimated at 6.9% (6.0-7.7). The global MIH prevalence as analysed in 5-year intervals showed a relatively constant prevalence rate with no significant differences across the years. Similarly, MIH prevalence did not differ significantly based on the diagnostic index used.

EH phenotypes remain globally widespread with uneven distributions. Data doesn't support the postulated change in MIH prevalence. Assessments of all EH phenotypes and data from underrepresented countries are needed for effective dental health monitoring.

Oral health professionals should systematically and routinely screen for EH/MIH and discuss it with patients, particularly in high prevalence populations.