Services · Pediatric dentistry
MIH: chalky teeth in children
Molar incisor hypomineralisation: what is behind it, how to recognise it and how we protect affected teeth.
What is MIH?
An enamel formation disorder that is becoming more common
Molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) is an enamel formation disorder that has been occurring more and more frequently in children in recent years. It mostly affects the first permanent molars and often the front incisors as well. The teeth already erupt with a softer, porous enamel and are therefore much more sensitive and prone to caries.
Important for parents: MIH is not caused by poor dental care or too much sugar. The exact causes have not yet been conclusively clarified scientifically; environmental influences, infectious diseases or taking antibiotics in the first years of life are among the factors under discussion.
How to recognise it
Typical signs of MIH
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Discolouration
Whitish-yellow or yellowish-brown spots on the chewing and outer surfaces of the affected teeth.
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High sensitivity
Pain or a strong pulling sensation when eating and drinking cold, hot, sweet or sour foods.
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Enamel breakdown
The enamel is so soft, similar to chalk, that parts of the tooth crown can break off under normal chewing pressure.
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Sensitive when brushing
Children often refuse to brush these areas because the teeth react very sensitively.
What we can do
Our treatment options for MIH
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Intensive prevention and fluoride treatment
For mild forms without loss of substance, we regularly harden and seal the affected enamel with special, highly concentrated fluoride varnishes to make the tooth less sensitive.
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Fissure sealing
Protects the fissured chewing surfaces of the molars early on against caries bacteria.
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Gentle fillings
If parts of the enamel have already broken off, we stabilise the tooth with modern, biocompatible filling materials to prevent further crumbling.
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Close monitoring
We see children with MIH teeth at shorter check-up intervals, for example every three months, so that we can intervene immediately if anything changes.
Good to know
Goal: protect, relieve pain, preserve tooth substance
The primary goal in our practice is to protect the teeth permanently, relieve pain and preserve the tooth substance. The therapy is adapted individually to the severity of the condition. Thanks to modern, gentle treatment methods we can stabilise affected teeth very well today, so that your child can eat, drink and laugh again without discomfort.
Note on aesthetics: For mild forms of MIH, where the teeth mainly show cosmetically disturbing white spots, we can use gentle caries infiltration (Icon) to stabilise the porous enamel from the inside and significantly improve the appearance, without any drilling.