Family structure and sociodemographic factors associated with molar incisor hypomineralization in children

TL;DR

This study found that family structure and sociodemographic factors are linked to molar incisor hypomineralization in children.

Contribution

The study identifies specific sociodemographic and family factors associated with MIH in children, particularly in relation to maternal nationality and family dynamics.

Findings

Children with a mother of Spanish nationality and higher education were more likely to have MIH.

Children not living with both parents were more likely to have MIH.

Migration-related factors were linked to MIH in children with foreign-born mothers.

Abstract

Molar Incisive Hypomineralization (MIH) is a condition in the dental enamel of multifactorial etiology and, in part unknown. This study aimed to determine if there are coincident family or sociodemographic patterns in the group of pediatric patients diagnosed with MIH. A cross-sectional descriptive observational study. An oral examination was performed to diagnose the presence or absence of MIH in children aged 6 to 14 years who attended the Dentistry Service of the Primary Care Center in Roquetes, Catalunya, Spain, plus a questionnaire created ad hoc with sociodemographic and family structure variables that the parents filled out during the visit. A total sample of 305 patients was recruited; 153 had MIH and 152 did not. The sample was grouped, according to the country of maternal origin: (1) children with a mother of Spanish nationality (44.92%), and (2) children with a mother of foreign nationality (55.08%). In group 1, a significant association was found between having MIH and the variables “Mother with higher education” (p-value = 0.002); “Child does not live with both parents” (p-value = 0.012); “Place of birth of the child other than the place of current residence” (p-value = 0.002). In group 2, the variables correlated with MIH were: “Mother’s locality different from the father’s locality” (p-value = 0.002); “Mother’s locality different from the child’s birth” (p-value = 0.001). Unfavorable sociodemographic factors, the phenomenon of migration, and the family structure of not living with both parents were associated with the presence of MIH in the children in the present study.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-026-39879-5.

Figures