Childhood malnutrition and hypo mineralized molar defects: a cross sectional study

Background :  Malnutrition is well-known to yield high morbidities and mortalities and considering its consequence on the oral cavity, malnutrition is shown to have pre-eruptive and post-eruptive outcomes. The objective was to assess the prevalence of hypo-mineralized second primary molar (HSPM), molar–incisor hypo-mineralization (MIH) and dental caries in malnourished children as well as addressing the relation between types of malnutrition of the children and their dental morbidities represented in HSPM, MIH and dental caries. Methods : This is a cross sectional analytical study. Malnourished children aged 5-10 years and presented to the Outpatient Clinic of Pediatric Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University were examined for HSPM. MIH using European Academy of Pediatric Dentistry criteria and dental Caries using def/ DMF indices. Results :   A consecutive sample (a long six months) of 54 malnourished children were enrolled in the study. Dental caries was a greater dental morbidity in the overweight and obese group. Besides, stunting was a greater risk in HSPM and MIH. There was an association between HSPM and MIH in a considerable percentage of the study group. Conclusions : Malnutrition is a risk factor for dental abnormalities. HSPM could expect the presence of MIH.