Hipomineralização Molar-incisivo e desempenho escolar de crianças de 8 a 10 anos de idade em Lagarto, Sergipe, Brasil.

Abstract

Teeth affected by molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH) can exhibit both aesthetic and functional alterations due to the presence of demarcated opacities of various colors and sizes, an increased risk of caries and post-eruptive enamel breakdown, and dentin hypersensitivity. Since oral health can reflect the general health status of individuals, oral alterations that cause pain have been associated with poorer school performance and increased absenteeism. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of MIH on the school performance of children aged 8 to 10 years enrolled in public and private schools in the municipality of Lagarto, Sergipe, Brazil. This observational cross-sectional study collected socioeconomic and demographic characteristics from a questionnaire administered to the children's legal guardians. Clinical dental examinations were conducted to diagnose caries, using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth index (dmft/DMFT) and MIH, according to the diagnostic criteria of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD). Additionally, the Brazilian adaptation of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ) short form was applied to the children, and their quantitative performance in basic school subjects, portuguese and mathematics, was analyzed using data obtained directly from the schools. The final sample consisted of 330 children, of whom 176 (53.3%) were female, with a mean age of 8.92 years. The prevalence of MIH was 18.2%, with severity levels classified as mild (13.7%), moderate (2.1%), and severe (2.4%). A significant association was found between caries experience and MIH severity (p = 0.035). Comparison of DMFT values showed that children with MIH had higher index scores (p = 0.018), as did those with more severe degrees of MIH (p < 0.001). However, no significant associations were identified between school performance variables and MIH. In conclusion, MIH was not associated with school performance in this sample, but it was linked to caries experience in schoolchildren.